Success! NY Families Won't Be Kicked Out of Homes

It seems that Governor Cuomo and the New York State Legislature have struck a deal that will renew rent control laws that would have otherwise expired next month. The laws protect many working and middle class families by guaranteeing lease renewals and limiting rent increases, so a landlord can't suddenly decide to double your monthly rent. These laws help stabilize neighborhoods and prevent families from being priced out - or simply thrown out - of their homes.

Here's how the political battle shook out: Everyone seems to agree on extending these basic rent control laws. Democrats in the state legislature and Governor Cuomo also wanted to strengthen the rent regulation system. Specifically, they want to make it harder for landlords to pull rent controlled units out of the system (which they can do if a tenant's income goes over a certain point, or if a unit becomes vacant). State Senator Eric Adams, who has started a petition here on Change.org , also wants to re-regulate apartments "that have been deregulated under a flawed system that encourages fraud and tenant harassment."

Republicans in the State Legislature, on the other hand, would rather not extend this system, and are in fact looking to make it easier for landlords to deregulate rent controls units. That is, at least in part, because it is much more profitable for landlords to pull units out of the regulated system, and landlords and developers contributed generously to the Republicans who control the New York State Senate.

That is where the deal comes in. Republicans also want to limit local property taxes. So both sides have agreed to essentially bundle the tax cap and the rent control proposals. Democrats get an extension of rent control, Republicans get to lower property taxes. Both programs are temporary and will be revisited, though it isn't clear when. "The philosophies are the same: It's keeping people in their homes," said Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan). "If you own property, you pay property taxes; if you rent, you pay rent. Both of these are designed to give people an idea where their costs are going, and to keep it affordable for them to continue to live in their homes."

It certainly isn't a perfect deal, but it does ensure that families aren't kicked out of their homes and displaced. The deal isn't final yet, so you can still let Governor Cuomo know that you think the rent control system needs to be strengthened by signing Sen. Adam's petition.

Photo Credit: ngould