Issue Position: Reform Rent Laws

Issue Position

Jessica will fight to strengthen rent laws and keep apartments affordable. Right now, Albany controls rent laws--not the City of New York. Jessica will fight to give New York City back the power over its rent laws, reform the Major Capital Improvements (MCI) law, and get rid of the preferential rent scam. Jessica also wants to repeal vacancy decontrol--so rents stay affordable even after a rent-stabilized or rent-controlled tenant moves out. Jessica will also fight to ban the vacancy bonus that gives landlords a 20% increase in rent each time an apartment turns over, rewarding landlords for harassing and evicting long-term tenants. These are the most effective ways to preserve New York City's dwindling affordable housing stock.

"I pay preferential rent, which means my landlord can raise the rent to market rate each time my lease is up--a difference of more than $500 today. That's enough to leave a family of four, like mine, on the street. And that's how many working families end up homeless. We all need stronger rent laws."

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