“We are not aggressively saying there is something wrong with this law, we understand why. We think there may be some modifications for us doing it the right way.”
Aubrey Eric Smith, a short-term rental host and member of the Restore Homeowner Autonomy and Rights (RHOAR) NYC. A new law implemented in New York City known as Local Law 18, or the Short-Term Rental Registration Law, will change how travelers stay in the nation's largest city.
sep 6, 2023
What to Know: There are around 40,000 Airbnbs in New York City. But a law that went into effect on September 5, 2023, requires hosts on rental websites such as Airbnb and VRBO to register with the Mayor's Office of Special Enforcement. Under the law, "rentals shorter than 30 days are only allowed if hosts register within the city," (ABC News). The host must also be physically present in the home during the rental period and no more than two guests are allowed to rent at once. Airbnb and VRBO are currently unable to process rentals for hosts that have not registered and those who don't comply may be charged up to $5,000.
- Airbnb has said that "New York City's new short-term rental rules are a blow to its tourism economy and the thousands of New Yorkers and small businesses in the outer boroughs who rely on home sharing and tourism dollars to help make ends meet."
- The Mayor's Office of Special Enforcement has said that "Registration creates a clear path for hosts who follow the city's longstanding laws and protects travelers from illegal and unsafe accommodations, while ending the proliferation of illegal short-term rentals."
Airbnb limits reservations in New York as short-term rental rules go into effect