For those unaware, Local Law 18 officially went into effect earlier this year. The law requires anyone seeking to rent out housing in New York City for fewer than 30 consecutive days to register with the Mayor’s Office of Special Enforcement. It’s the city’s latest hammer to crack down on illegal short-term rentals, but in effect the law could result in the removal of up to 10,000 Airbnb listings this year.
The registration compels hosts to demonstrate their residency in the rented properties, that the residence complies with safety codes, and other conditions that would strengthen the enforcement of current regulations governing multiple dwellings and long-term habitations. In the past, the city relied on individual complaints to handle problems with short-term rentals or relied on platforms to enact the rules. However, under the new regulations, hosts who break the law could face fines of $1,000 to $5,000.
As the city tightens control of unlawful rentals in an effort to protect the availability of housing for tenants, new rules are provoking a vehement disagreement. The new regulations might ease the burden on long-suffering city tenants while hitting those New Yorkers who earn extra money by hosting their apartments on short-term rental platforms.