Dozens of New Yorkers gathered at Brooklyn Borough Hall recently to support a new legislative push aimed at easing the city’s stringent short-term rental regulations.
The proposed bill, Intro 1107, seeks to amend critical aspects of Local Law 18, which hosts argue has severely impacted their earnings and made it significantly challenging to rent out their homes on platforms like Airbnb and VRBO.
Local Law 18, enforced starting in September 2023, necessitates that hosts register short-term rentals with the Mayor’s Office of Special Enforcement (OSE) for all stays that are less than 30 days.
The law stipulates that hosts must be present during a guest’s stay and restricts occupancy to just two guests.
Critics contend these regulations render it nearly impossible for families to rent accommodations together.
An additional stipulation, known as the “Unlocked Doors Provision,” forbids internal doors from being locked, which means guests and family members must share unrestricted access to the entire unit.
Council Member Farah Louis (D-Brooklyn) is sponsoring Intro 1107 to mitigate some of the burdens laid out by Local Law 18.
The new proposal would allow owners of one- to two-family homes to provide short-term rentals for fewer than 30 days without being physically present in the unit.
Furthermore, the bill would increase the occupancy limit to four adults in addition to children and eliminate the Unlocked Doors Provision, granting both hosts and guests more privacy.
An increasing number of small-property owners rely on short-term rental income for their mortgage payments, and Local Law 18 has robbed them of this crucial financial resource.
At a rally on August 5, Kerri Patterson, an Airbnb host from Jamaica, Queens, spoke about her journey of achieving homeownership in 2016.
Patterson described how her success in the short-term rental market significantly enhanced her financial security.
“Hosting gave me something I hadn’t felt in a long time — financial security,” Patterson shared with the crowd, emphasizing the life-changing impact of her rental business.
With the implementation of Local Law 18, Patterson lamented how her regular bookings were canceled and it took eight months to obtain OSE certification.
She expressed concern that the requirements of having a host present at all times and the Unlocked Doors Provision deter guests seeking privacy during their stay.
“Now, with the new rules, I went from having a steady income to questioning whether I could pay my mortgage on time,” Patterson noted, highlighting the negative impact of these regulations on her financial stability.
Other hosts voiced similar frustrations in light of the new regulations.
Amy Werba, a host from Bed-Stuy, stated that the law infringes upon personal freedoms and makes affordable housing options rare for families visiting New York City.
“The inability to leave our home while renting it and the restriction of two guests only further complicate things for families,” Werba elaborated.
She remarked that families wanting to visit New York City often look for affordable accommodations in local neighborhoods rather than booking expensive hotels.
Owners Lory Henning and Cindy Keiter, who run a two-family home in Prospect Lefferts Gardens, shared their experience after hosting on Airbnb since 2019.
When Local Law 18 was enacted, they confirmed the cancellation of 27 bookings, which cost them thousands of dollars in income.
Their journey through the certification process was complicated, taking a year to meet the city’s certification requirements, during which they had to mislabel their listing.
Henning explained, “We had to list the space as a ‘room’ instead of a ‘guest suite,’ which misled potential renters and confused them.”
Tom Sneeringer and his wife Claudia, filling a similar role as hosts in Cobble Hill, echoed complaints regarding loss of rental income.
Renting out a unit while away helped them offset maintenance costs and kept rent affordable for their long-term tenants.
“The enforcement of the new rules has severely impacted our income, making it more challenging to keep our rentals accessible and maintain our building,” Sneeringer mentioned.
Local Law 18 was introduced as an action to alleviate New York City’s ongoing affordable housing crisis.
Nevertheless, public opinion on the efficacy of these regulations has produced mixed responses.
A recent poll conducted by Penta, which was commissioned by the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens Chambers of Commerce, revealed that 82% of New Yorkers do not believe the short-term rental rules have contributed positively to housing affordability.
Additionally, research by economic consulting firm Charles River Associates, which was commissioned by Airbnb, suggested that New York City missed out on nearly $82 million in tax revenue because of the new restrictions.
Backers of Intro 1107 argue that this lost revenue could have been utilized to support affordable housing initiatives.
Randy Peers, president and CEO of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, expressed concern over the efficacy of Local Law 18, stating that housing conditions are worse now than they were before the law went into effect.
“The initial promise was to help solve the housing crisis,” Peers said. “But today’s situation seems even more dire.”
The ripple effects of Local Law 18 extend to local businesses within the outer boroughs, as witnessed by Calvin Sennon, owner of Trini Jam BK in Canarsie.
Sennon reported that his restaurant and others nearby have experienced a significant drop in foot traffic since the implementation of the law, largely attributed to a decline in local tourism.
He stated, “Intro 1107 could revitalize neighborhoods like Canarsie and support small businesses, which are already struggling with inflation.”
In response to these developments, the coalition called Tenants Not Tourists, uniting various tenant unions and housing advocacy groups, has openly criticized the Penta poll.
Supported by the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council, this coalition referenced a different survey conducted by Tulchin Research.
According to their findings, a majority of New Yorkers are opposed to changes that would weaken the enforcement of short-term rental regulations.
The results indicated that 70% of respondents believe Airbnb’s lobbying could exacerbate New York City’s housing crisis, with 69% asserting that short-term vacation rentals contribute to increased rents and prices.
Whitney Hu, director of Civic Engagement and Research at Churches United for Fair Housing and a member of Tenants Not Tourists, warned that Intro 1107 would devastate the already limited housing supply.
She warned that it would push rents to unprecedented levels.
“Airbnb and its allies are funding campaigns that spread misinformation to further their anti-tenant agenda,” Hu commented, asserting that New Yorkers see through these strategies.
She added, “No amount of fake polling or tactics will alter the reality of the housing crisis on the ground.”
In light of continuing debates and public demonstrations, the future of short-term rental regulations in New York City remains uncertain as stakeholders on both sides strive to advocate for their interests.
image source from：brooklynpaper
