When they start trying to outlaw you, you know you've made a big dent in their bottom line.
NY hotels trying to outlaw short-term home sublets (i.e. AirBnB)
11–20 of 85 posts
Re: NY hotels trying to outlaw short-term home sublets (i.e. AirBnB)
#12Nothing is as effective as government when it comes to curbing innovation.
Re: NY hotels trying to outlaw short-term home sublets (i.e. AirBnB)
#13Interesting comment on related article by NYT that offers some insight into what type of behavior this bill may be aimed at curbing ... http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/29/bill-could-make...
I've seriously underestimated the popularity of airbnb if people are purpose building structures (undercover no less) for the sole purpose of marketing them as a place to crash on airbnb. Also amazed that neighborhood groups have "Illegal Hotels Committee"s
Also amazed that neighborhood groups have "Illegal Hotels Committee"s
NYC is close quarters. It's not necessarily cool to have a different set of partying neighbors every day of the week.
Re: NY hotels trying to outlaw short-term home sublets (i.e. AirBnB)
#14I'm mostly interested that this doesn't touch on the more basic issue:
AirBNB is illegal not only due to short term hotel law, but also due to sublease law in NYC. You CANNOT sublet an apartment for more than it is worth in New York. I've met and heard of more than a few people who rent apartments and use AirBNB as a primary source of (as OP points out, untaxed) income. I'm surprised NYC landlords aren't more up in arms about this.
I don't agree with making it illegal outright, but I actually am kind of in favor of regulating and taxing this better, for the issues the OP talks about as well as the sublease issues.
Edit: After thinking about this a little more I realize the OP goes 90% of the way but doesn't quite cross the finish line with the argument. AirBNB IS the regulatory institution, and is doing a better job than the govt. My sublease point still stands.
Re: NY hotels trying to outlaw short-term home sublets (i.e. AirBnB)
#15Is the rental contract between the customer and the room provider or between the customer and airbnb?
One way to approach enforcement would to be to set a threshold on the number of units a room provider can offer without being subject to the hotel regulations. AirBnB can easily enforce such restrictions.
Re: NY hotels trying to outlaw short-term home sublets (i.e. AirBnB)
#16Interesting comment on related article by NYT that offers some insight into what type of behavior this bill may be aimed at curbing ... http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/29/bill-could-make...
I've seriously underestimated the popularity of airbnb if people are purpose building structures (undercover no less) for the sole purpose of marketing them as a place to crash on airbnb. Also amazed that neighborhood groups have "Illegal Hotels Committee"s
The illegal hotel problem (esp on the west side of NY) is indeed actually big enough to warrant a committee on the community board-- the west side is home to a lot of SRO's and seedy 'hotels' that cater to folks coming into NYC via the Port Authority bus terminal.
Re: NY hotels trying to outlaw short-term home sublets (i.e. AirBnB)
#17Earlier quoted context omitted.
I've seriously underestimated the popularity of airbnb if people are purpose building structures (undercover no less) for the sole purpose of marketing them as a place to crash on airbnb. Also amazed that neighborhood groups have "Illegal Hotels Committee"s
Also amazed that neighborhood groups have "Illegal Hotels Committee"s NYC is close quarters. It's not necessarily cool to have a different set of partying neighbors every day of the week.
Yeah, our neighbor pretty blatantly runs an illegal hotel out of her house in Brooklyn. Usually it's fine but she often has young, European guests who like to party in her backyard (about 10 feet from our bedroom window) until 6am. Luckily this is reserved for weekend evenings (most days) so we don't complain; though if it got out of hand, it might be nice to have some alternative to (almost never enforced) noise ordinances.
That said, I'd rather live with this than cut off opportunities/efficiencies created by airbnb!
Re: NY hotels trying to outlaw short-term home sublets (i.e. AirBnB)
#18I'm mostly interested that this doesn't touch on the more basic issue: AirBNB is illegal not only due to short term hotel law, but also due to sublease law in NYC. You CANNOT sublet an apartment for more than it is worth in New York. I've met and heard of more than a few people who rent apartments and use AirBNB as a primary source of (as OP points out, untaxed) income. I'm surprised NYC landlords aren't more up in a…
NYC is scam central when it comes to subleasing and renting out rooms. There are tons of people in rent controlled apartments who have no moral qualms about making a buck off of their sublettor or roommate. Another reason AirBNB is interesting because they are making it obvious who these people are and where they live...
Re: NY hotels trying to outlaw short-term home sublets (i.e. AirBnB)
#19I'm mostly interested that this doesn't touch on the more basic issue: AirBNB is illegal not only due to short term hotel law, but also due to sublease law in NYC. You CANNOT sublet an apartment for more than it is worth in New York. I've met and heard of more than a few people who rent apartments and use AirBNB as a primary source of (as OP points out, untaxed) income. I'm surprised NYC landlords aren't more up in a…
NYC is scam central when it comes to subleasing and renting out rooms. There are tons of people in rent controlled apartments who have no moral qualms about making a buck off of their sublettor or roommate. Another reason AirBNB is interesting because they are making it obvious who these people are and where they live...
Absolutely. The NYC real estate market is an absolute nightmare in so many ways. Right now it seems most akin to the DeBeers control over the diamond market (ie: an industry based on false scarcity).
Re: NY hotels trying to outlaw short-term home sublets (i.e. AirBnB)
#20I'm mostly interested that this doesn't touch on the more basic issue: AirBNB is illegal not only due to short term hotel law, but also due to sublease law in NYC. You CANNOT sublet an apartment for more than it is worth in New York. I've met and heard of more than a few people who rent apartments and use AirBNB as a primary source of (as OP points out, untaxed) income. I'm surprised NYC landlords aren't more up in a…
If you are charging more than an apartment is WORTH, then no one will pay.
I think you mean it is illegal to sublet for a profit (receiving more from the tenant than you owe to the landlord) which is not the same thing.