Leaders Agree On Property Tax Cap, Remain Split On Rent Laws

By: Erin Billups

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With rent regulations set to expire in less than a month, pressure is mounting on lawmakers to get a bill passed.

On Tuesday, legislative leaders reached an agreement on a property tax cap, but now the extension of current rent laws remains in question.

Rent reform rallies have become a weekly occurrence in the State Capitol. On Tuesday, members of the New York City Council also lobbied lawmakers on the issue.

“We really cannot move forward in New York City and create more affordable housing if we lose rent protection and lose all of the housing that’s preserved by it,” said City Council Speaker Christine Quinn.

Governor Andrew Cuomo said that the landmark agreement with legislative leaders on a property tax cap all but assures that rent regulations will be extended.

“There’s not going to be any bill signed or passed until we have a final agreement,” said Cuomo, “and the final agreement will have rent regulations and a property tax cap.”

The Assembly's property tax cap bill links it to the expiration of the rent bill, which is still in negotiations.

“In a form of bill language that is unprecedented, but I think legal, it says as long as that law exists, this law exists,” said EJ McMahon of Manhattan Institute’s Empire Center.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has said for some time that it only makes sense to link these two major issues aimed at keeping people in their homes together.

“Every argument you can make on property tax cap can be equally made in terms of rent regulation,” said Silver.

Although Republican Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos stood with the governor and speaker, he said he takes issue with the provision linking the expiration date to rent controls.

“I agree with the broad parameters of it,” said Skelos. “But we’re going to narrow down some of the parameters.”

While Skelos did commit to extending the current rent laws, he still will not say whether he will support strengthening them, which both the speaker and the governor are pushing.

“We are going through that,” said Cuomo. “We are not announcing an agreement on that today because we don’t have an agreement on that today.”