Albany Eyes Airbnbs Regulations, Short Term Rentals

Airbnb’s Brian Chesky (Getty)

Short-term rental regulations have been tightened in New York and introduced in various upstate and Long Island cities, but New York’s capital remains the Wild West for Airbnbs.

For the first time, however, Albany plans to subdue them, the Times Union reported. Council member Sergio Adams is working on legislation in response to complaints about problematic short-term rentals.

The legislation, which has yet to be introduced, would require landlords to register properties as short-term rentals and pay a fee. This would allow the city to easily contact the owners in the event of a problem.

A handful of residents in the Hudson Park neighborhood recently called on the City Council to regulate or even ban short-term rentals. Residents complained that customers left trash outside and were unable to reach or even identify owners of rental properties.

“These rentals are commercial businesses in a residential area,” one resident said, according to the Times Union. “They are undermining the stability of our neighborhood.”

The real deal contacted Airbnb for comment.

Airbnb, VRBO and other short-term rental apps are facing a growing push for industry regulation. In New York, a state legislator recently introduced a bill it would help municipalities track, regulate, and tax short-term rentals through a statewide registry.

In response, an Airbnb spokesperson said in a statement, “We have worked closely with dozens of communities across the state, and as people continue to deal with the rising cost of life, we are committed to promoting responsible accommodation that contributes to the local economy. ”

The Hudson Valley town of Red Hook is among the upstate communities where short-term rental regulations are to be considered.

And in New York, where illegal rentals have widely escaped execution For years, Local Law 18 has required the creation of a short-term registry. The registration process remains a work in progress, but the Office of Special Application has proposed a set of rules for an implementation that could help landlords avoid fines for unauthorized rentals by their tenants.

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