Why do property agents take a finders fee from the tenant

I think that is quite normal is some places. I am currently living in Hong Kong and when I found my flat, my landlord and I both had to pay a commission to the estate agent who dealt with the deal. This is why most people would prefer to find a place or rent out a place without using an agent.

It seems rather expensive but I have experienced and heard of a few unfortunate incidences affecting tenants that could have been avoided had a professional been the intermediary - especially in a new environment.