Affordability was surely the goal of City Council member Chi Ossé’s law, which took effect in June 2025. The Fairness in Apartment Rental Expenses Act, on the other hand, doesn’t make housing less expensive to build, renovate or operate. In most cases, it forces owners to pay the broker rather than make the tenants pay when they sign the initial lease. In real estate, there’s a law of conservation of money. The FARE Act reduces the cost of moving frequently and increases the cost of staying put.