Airbnb host tells News 12 he has lost over 40% of his yearly income due to a new NYC policy
News 12’s Julia Joseph sat down with a host in Bed-Stuy to see how his property is doing one year after a city law put restrictions on short-term rentals.
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Jason Mondesir-Ceasar has reached super-status on Airbnb.
"I'm a super host," he boasted proudly to News12's Julia Joseph, who caught up with the 10-year host last week.
Mondesir-Ceasar is the owner of a two family home in Bed Stuy. He used to live there with his two cousins, but when they moved out, he realized he could make some extra cash.
In 2014, he started listing his duplex on sites like Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com. He charges around $100 a night -- he is not looking to be rich he tells us. He just wants to help make ends meet.
But Local Law 18 is now impeding those efforts. Prior to the law, that went into effect last September, there was no person limit on how many guests a host could host at a time in a short-term rental. Now, the restriction makes it so a host can only host two guests at a time in a rental 30 days or less.
In addition, the law now prohibits booking platforms from allowing unregistered short-term rentals. Hosts can now only rent out one short-term at a time, and they must be present when guests are lodging. Mondesir-Ceasar says his top floor has been vacant the majority of the past year.
"During the pandemic, I hosted people who tested positive" he recalls. The host used his apartment as a haven for those infected with COVID who needed to quarantine away from family.
With the new restrictions, he cannot do that anymore for more than two guests.
The passionate host is advocating for changes to the law.
"Make an exception for one- and two-family owner-occupied homes to be exempt from the regulations of Local Law 18," he suggests.
News 12 reached out to the Office of Special Enforcement for comment. But we have yet to receive a response.
