Council member aims to ease Airbnb, Vrbo restrictions for homeowners
Homeowners would be able to host a maximum of four people, up from the current cap of two, not including children.
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Council Member Mercedes Narcisse is looking to amend the language of Local Law 18, which banned short-term rentals across the city through services like Vrbo and Airbnb with specific exceptions for one and two-family homeowners.
Under the language introduced this week, known as Intr. 948A, those homeowners would now be able to host a maximum of four people, up from the current cap of two, not including children.
Airbnb hosts say in the two years since Local Law 18 went in effect, they have had to turn away families, even when they had the space.
"I list the second floor of my duplex, and that helps to offset the cost, for the affordable-rate tenant that I have on the top floor, so this is actually keeping affordable housing on the market, and this would help sustain that," said Jason Mondesir-Caesar, who lists his three-story home on Airbnb.
The new language would also allow hosts to lock off private areas, such as their bedrooms, from guests, which is currently not allowed by the law, and not have to be physically present in the rental during the duration of the stay.
In a statement to News 12, Narcisse said the changes are aimed at helping Black homeowners stay in their homes and continue to protect historic neighborhoods from predatory investors that could displace families.
"Intr. 948A is the solution working families and small homeowners need so they’re no longer penalized for responsibly using their homes to make ends meet and strengthen our local economy – all without affecting housing supply," she said.
In a statement to News 12 Airbnb said they supported the changes, stating they continue to believe short-term rentals were not the cause of the city's housing shortage.
"Two years after its passage, New York City’s short-term rental law has failed to deliver on its promise to improve housing affordability, rents continue to reach record highs, vacancies haven’t budged, and homeowners are struggling even as short-term rentals have," said Airbnb Spokesperson Michael Blaustein.
News 12 also attempted to contact Tenants Not Tourists, a group opposed to the rental regulations changes but did not hear back.
The measure would require a vote from the City Council to move forward, and according to Narcisse, no date has been set.
The group Tenants Not Tourists sent News 12 a statement: “This is Airbnb racing against the clock to deregulate housing and line their pockets at our expense.”
