The exemption authorized by §
158-13 of this article shall apply to qualified owners of qualified residential real property for as long as such qualified owners remain qualified owners, without regard to the ten-year limitation period provided in Real Property Tax Law § 548-b(2)(c)(iii).
Qualified owners of qualified residential real property may
apply for the exemption provided for by this article at any time after
the effective date of this article. Application shall be made on or
before the first appropriate taxable status date, as provided in Real
Property Tax Law § 548-b(3).