New York City’s infamous Local Law 18, which puts restrictions on Airbnb and other short-term rentals, will go into effect on September 5th. After that, finding accommodation in NYC will get much more complicated for travelers.
The law, also known as Short-Term Rental Registration Law, was passed in January 2022. Some of its rules include that only two paying guests can occupy a single Airbnb or other short-term rental and that the host needs to be presence at a property during the rental period. It also forbids locking internal locks in the property, turning hosts and guests into roommates.
Hosts will also be required to register with the Office of Special Enforcement (OSE) and get their short-term rental approved. If they don’t register or fail to comply with the rules, they will be subject to fines between $100 and $1,000. Guests, on the other hand, won’t be penalized if they stay at such property.
According to lawmakers, the intention is to put an end to illegal short-term rentals, ensure guests’ safety, and bring relief to the stressed housing market. It is important to note that Local Law 18 only applies to rentals that last less than 30 days.
Airbnb will honor the reservations made on its platforms until September 5th through the end of the year. After that, only hosts registered with OSE will be able to publish their listings.
