New York City Could Lose 10,000 Airbnb Listings In Short-Term Rental Crackdown | New York

New York City’s latest plans to crack down on illegal short-term rentals — which could remove up to 10,000 Airbnb listings later this year — are sparking fierce debates over housing, hotels, the tourism market and rights residents.

The new rules will hit New Yorkers who earn extra income by hosting – renting apartments on Airbnb and similar platforms – but flout city laws, while potentially easing the burden on long-suffering town tenants.

Hosts denounce crunch like an overtaking by city officials, while tenant and community advocates celebrate.

With the new regulations, the city aims to enforce regulations regarding thousands of illegal short-term rentals across the city, according to Christian Klossner, executive director of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Special Enforcement, which will oversee enforcement.

“Ordinary people have been drawn to the site where it is easy to advertise illegal occupation without restraint,” said Klossner, who pointed to the Airbnb site. main landing page who recruits hosts based on the income they could earn from fully occupying the house, which is not allowed in the city.

Local Law 18, passed by the city council last year, would now require short-term rentals to be registered with the city.

Legal short-term rentals are all properties where no more than two people are accommodated, the host resides in the accommodation unit, and guests have access to all parts of the accommodation unit, according to the city.

Under repression, hosts will need to prove that they reside in the rented properties, that the home complies with safety code and other requirements that amount to stricter enforcement of existing laws regarding multiple dwellings and permanent residences.

Platforms that advertise short-term rentals, such as Airbnb and Vrbo, would also be required to ensure that all hosts using the app follow city law and are properly registered.

Previously, the city relied on individual complaints to resolve short-term rental issues or relied on platforms to enforce regulations themselves.

But under the new rules, any host in violation could be fined between $1,000 and $5,000.

Tom Cayler, president of the Coalition Against Illegal Hotels and a member of the West Side Neighborhood Alliance, pointed out that Local Law 18 aims to enforce housing requirements that already exist.

“We haven’t made any changes to the law. All this registration requires is that the platforms and hosts comply with applicable laws,” Cayler said.

This is the last chapter of the long saga which stung residential communities, hospitality businesses, advocates for affordable housing and city ​​leaders across the United States and in many others nearby countries and far against the long proliferation the power and attractiveness of accommodation platforms given the flexibility they offer travelers.

Santa Monica, Calif., which Klossner cited as a model for New York, banned rentals of entire units for less than 30 days, reports the Los Angeles Times. Santa Monica also requires those who participate in home sharing, such as renting a spare room, to register with the city and pay additional income taxes.

philadelphia cream also brought stricter regulations with the new year.

There are over 40,000 Airbnb listings in New York, according to data from Inside Airbnba data project about Airbnb and its impact in cities around the world.

“They changed the use of an apartment from a residential property to a hotel,” said Murray Cox, founder of Inside Airbnb.

Proponents of Local Law 18 have also criticized the impact that short-term rentals can have on neighborhoods.

According to Klossner, neighbors living near a short-term rental often complain of disruptions, including noise, weekday parties that can lead to excessive drinking and drug use, and other disruptions as well as problems. of security.

“People want to feel safe and peaceful in their homes,” Klossner said.

“Short-term rentals very often turn into a disruption of that peace.”

But Farhana Chowdhury, for example, wrote on an online city forum that renting space through Airbnb has helped her pay for her mortgage and her children’s college education.

“It is unfair that we are so restricted in our own homes,” Chowdhury said.

Airbnb also has commented on the pending law, saying new regulations could hurt New Yorkers who rely on short-term rentals amid the city’s rising cost of living.

Airbnb Regional Public Policy Manager Nathan Rotman released a statement, NPR reportedwho said, “Airbnb agrees that regular New Yorkers should be able to share their homes and not be targeted by the city, and we urge the administration to work with our host community to support a regulatory framework that helps hosts responsible and targets illegal hotel operators.”

But Klossner and Cox pushed back, with Cox adding that many were complaining are “anti-tenants”.

“They’re taking housing off the market that should be rented to tenants,” Cox said.

“Airbnb is that tool for landlords who don’t want to be landlords.”

Klossner said long-term occupation was the goal.

“The city is in the midst of a housing shortage. Every housing unit that is only legally used for permanent residence must be used for permanent residence,” Klossner said.