NYC Airbnb Hosts Explore Alternatives As New Bookings Are Blocked
Photo Credit: New York City has told short-term rental hosts to register their listings. Pixabay / Leonhard Niederwimmer
Skift Take
New York City is a bit late to the game compared to other tourist cities that have implemented Airbnb restrictions, but there are certainly more to come.
Hosts of at least 23,000 short-term rentals in New York City are being forced to reevaluate or end their businesses as Airbnb blocks them from making new bookings.
The city will start enforcing a law on September 5 that requires short-term rental owners to register as hosts, and Airbnb is blocking them from making new bookings after that date unless they have approval.
Local Law 18 passed in January 2022 after roughly 10 years in the making, according to Michael McKee, head of Tenants Political Action Committee, which is a member of the Coalition Against Illegal Hotels, a group that participated in writing the legislation.
Registration is meant to force hosts of short-term rentals to comply with long-standing laws to publish listings on Airbnb and other platforms. Among several requirements, registered hosts can only book stays for fewer than 30 days and must be present during the guest’s stay. Violators face thousands of dollars in fine
