With less than a week left before programs that protect rent control for more than a million New York City apartment dwellers expire, Governor Andrew Cuomo is giving up on passing new affordable housing laws. Instead, the governor just wants an extension to keep what New York already has.

"My plan is, you can’t come up with a resolution in these next few days. And I'm not going to attempt to," Cuomo said in Albany Wednesday.

Both the rent stabilization law and the 421a tax abatement law protect and create affordable housing. Both remain in limbo as lawmakers decide their fate.

Builders who use the 421-a program receive significant tax abatement on properties for up to 25 years. In exchange, they are required to set aside apartments for low and middle income families. In the initial years of the abatement, buildings can receive 100 percent off their tax bill for the current assessed value of the property.

The rent stabilization law protects more than 1 million apartment dwellers in New York city from high monthly rent hikes. Landlords must adhere to increases that are decided by the city's Rent Guidelines Board.

Last week, Governor Cuomo said reforming New York City's rent laws could help stop the loss of affordable housing.

But Mayor de Blasio vehemently opposes an extension.

Instead, he is pushing for his rent law reform plan to be enacted by state lawmakers. It would offer real estate developers three options for providing affordable housing in exchange for receiving the 421a tax abatement. 

"An extender means that developers that build in 84 percent of New York City won't have to build any affordable housing,” said Alicia Glen, the deputy mayor for housing and economic development. “It means that developers who go into the ground while the law is extended have to provide way less affordable housing."

According to a de Blasio administration report, almost 257,000 apartments were removed from the rent stabilization program from 1993 to 2013. 

The real estate lobby also supports de Blasio's plan.

“We urge lawmakers to focus on the opportunity to create more affordable housing and local jobs. Our lawmakers in Albany have the leadership, the ability, and the time to deal with this critically important issue," said Steven Spinola, president of The Real Estate Board of New York or REBNY.

The laws will expire June 15th without action from state lawmakers.