New York – Does The New Hotel Law Mean No More Craigslist Vacation Rentals?
New York – Now that New York has outlawed short-term apartment and room rentals, a practice that has given budget travelers an alternative to the city’s pricey hotels, we’ve got to wonder: How will the new law be enforced? The new law, signed by Gov. David Paterson on Friday, makes it illegal to rent space in most multifamily residential buildings for less than 30 days at a stretch. It reverses a 2009 court decision that sanctioned short-term rentals so long as fewer than half of all units in a residential building were used for non-permanent residents. The legislation points to Web’s role in making it “easier than ever to advertise illegal hotel rooms for rent to tourists.” Websites like Craigslist.org, AirBnb.com, and Homeaway.com have become popular clearinghouses for short-term rentals, with many listing accommodations — albeit of varying quality — for under $100. The average rate for a night in a New York City hotel last month was $231.
