Apartments in New York
May 16th, 2016, 10:52 PM
#21
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Can understand both sides of the story but coming from a small coastal town which relies heavily on tourism we have more apartments for holiday makers than hotel/ motel accomodation. But appreciate all the advice and at this stage we look like booking two hotel rooms.
May 17th, 2016, 06:20 AM
#22
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Almost all rental units in NYC are illegal. What is legal is:
Renting one room in an apartment in which the legal tenant is present (but likely still not allowed by the lease)
Renting one apartment in a family house with the owner living in it - but needs to be zoned as a 2 family house (VERY rare in Manhattan - but more common in some areas of the outer boroughs).
If there are 3 or more units (including the one in which the owner lives) short term rentals are illegal
Well NYS gets about 60 million visitors per year - but we have 9 million residents many of whom lack affordable housing, of which there is a huge shortage. The city has committed to creating more than 200,000 new affordable units in the next several years - but those plans tend to take longer than anticipated.
Renting one room in an apartment in which the legal tenant is present (but likely still not allowed by the lease)
Renting one apartment in a family house with the owner living in it - but needs to be zoned as a 2 family house (VERY rare in Manhattan - but more common in some areas of the outer boroughs).
If there are 3 or more units (including the one in which the owner lives) short term rentals are illegal
Well NYS gets about 60 million visitors per year - but we have 9 million residents many of whom lack affordable housing, of which there is a huge shortage. The city has committed to creating more than 200,000 new affordable units in the next several years - but those plans tend to take longer than anticipated.
May 17th, 2016, 09:13 AM
#23
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Yes, most units are illegal. Not all. Apparently there are many travelers who weigh their options and choose to rent from VRBO and other sites. There are probably are some people who have had trouble but since we rarely hear of any trouble befalling the renters, one can assume that most of the people who rent short term have not been thrown into jail or suffered fines or other negative consequences.
Best to be aware of the legal situation and then make your own decision.
There are people who will not dine at a restaurant rated a "B" by the Dept of Health. Maybe I willl start a thread on that!
Best to be aware of the legal situation and then make your own decision.
There are people who will not dine at a restaurant rated a "B" by the Dept of Health. Maybe I willl start a thread on that!
May 17th, 2016, 01:05 PM
#26
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Just because a place is listed on TA/Flipkey, VRBO, AirBnb, etc. does not make it a legal rental.
Even if they had the inclination, those companies do not have the time, money or manpower to verify the legality of their listings.
Even if they had the inclination, those companies do not have the time, money or manpower to verify the legality of their listings.
May 17th, 2016, 01:07 PM
#27
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They are not all necessarily illegal. Especially the Air B&B ones where the person is just renting out part of his or her apartment. Some buildings have rules against this sort of thing, but some do not.
You have to take each one, case by case.
As I said, plenty of people rent these places each year and I have never heard of a problem befalling the renters of even a rental that is not compliant with NYC law. I'd be more concerned with whether or not the rental lives up to its billing on the rental site. There is less room for error, but not none, with a hotel.
You have to take each one, case by case.
As I said, plenty of people rent these places each year and I have never heard of a problem befalling the renters of even a rental that is not compliant with NYC law. I'd be more concerned with whether or not the rental lives up to its billing on the rental site. There is less room for error, but not none, with a hotel.
May 17th, 2016, 04:17 PM
#29
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Sorry but MANY people have been scammed by fake listings and many others have had apartments canceled out from under them - either a few weeks in advance or upon arrival (owner decides they don't want to risk the fine if caught) since many legal tenants are becoming more activist in making reports.
I had the experience myself, with a couple of young women from Italy who were "rented" a non-existent apartment in my building and were out a lot of money they paid in advance.
I had the experience myself, with a couple of young women from Italy who were "rented" a non-existent apartment in my building and were out a lot of money they paid in advance.
May 17th, 2016, 05:21 PM
#31
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Of course there are many people that have been scammed by fake rentals! Obvious.
What I said, or meant to say, above, was that I have never heard of a renter who has suffered consequences of renting in a non-compliant rental. Not trotted off to jail, not fined, etc etc.
I gave a link to a nice rental apartment to someone looking in Harlem. Enough said.
What I said, or meant to say, above, was that I have never heard of a renter who has suffered consequences of renting in a non-compliant rental. Not trotted off to jail, not fined, etc etc.
I gave a link to a nice rental apartment to someone looking in Harlem. Enough said.
May 17th, 2016, 05:36 PM
#33
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"Why is it okay for Fodor's posters to rent an apartment in Paris where it's illegal also, but not okay in New York?"
Who said that? You have apparently not been on the Europe board lately. It is a very hot topic there too.
Who said that? You have apparently not been on the Europe board lately. It is a very hot topic there too.
May 18th, 2016, 04:05 AM
#34
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No the renter is not trotted of to jail or fined - they are not committing the crime. The landlord is committing the crime the renter is merely benefiting from the crime - like buying stolen goods. (If you are found with them they are confiscated and you are not repaid.)
But the renter can easily have the apartment canceled by a landlord now afraid of the consequences - either just in advance or when they actually arrive - and then have to find an apartment on the spot And there are still quite a few that are scams - no apartment at all or a bait and switch to a much smaller apt in a nasty building.
There was a poster here a few months ago who had been promised a 3 bed 2 bath apt in a luxury building and ended up with (if I remember exactly) a one bedroom high floor walk up with mattresses all over the floor and a bug infestation.
But the renter can easily have the apartment canceled by a landlord now afraid of the consequences - either just in advance or when they actually arrive - and then have to find an apartment on the spot And there are still quite a few that are scams - no apartment at all or a bait and switch to a much smaller apt in a nasty building.
There was a poster here a few months ago who had been promised a 3 bed 2 bath apt in a luxury building and ended up with (if I remember exactly) a one bedroom high floor walk up with mattresses all over the floor and a bug infestation.
May 18th, 2016, 06:45 AM
#35
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Received by air b n b owners today:
From: Airbnb Action <[email protected]>Sent: Monday, May 16, 2016 6:03 PM
Subject: Contact your state lawmakers to oppose A8704B
Airbnb Action
Big news -- tomorrow, the New York Assembly’s Housing Committee will vote on an unfair, anti-home sharing bill, and we need your help to stop it.
The sponsors of this bill claim that its intent is to punish commercial operators who list several entire units, but it is written so broadly that it could also unfairly punish New Yorkers who occasionally rent out their own home when they leave town to make extra money.
Email The Housing Committee
Put simply, this bill, A8704B, treats New Yorkers who share their homes occasionally the same as commercial operators who run illegal hotels. That’s not right!
Everyday New Yorkers who share their homes from time to time use the extra money they make to pay their mortgage, start small businesses, and make ends meet. Why are our elected officials considering legislation that would impose fines on regular New Yorkers? Our lawmakers should be looking at ways to help everyday New Yorkers during this time of rising rents and stagnant incomes, not trying to impose fines on them. Can you take a moment to send an email to the Housing Committee and ask them to vote against A8704B? It only takes a minute, and it could make a big impact.
What New York really needs is a thoughtful, sensible regulatory approach to home sharing that protects the responsible people and weeds out the bad actors. Bills like this one don't provide any solutions that help the tens of thousands of middle class New Yorkers who want to share their homes to make ends meet.
Please take a stand against this bill and email the Housing Committee right now.
Thank you for being a part of this!
Sincerely,
The Airbnb Action Team
© Airbnb, Inc. | Privacy Policy | Unsubscribe
From: Airbnb Action <[email protected]>Sent: Monday, May 16, 2016 6:03 PM
Subject: Contact your state lawmakers to oppose A8704B
Airbnb Action
Big news -- tomorrow, the New York Assembly’s Housing Committee will vote on an unfair, anti-home sharing bill, and we need your help to stop it.
The sponsors of this bill claim that its intent is to punish commercial operators who list several entire units, but it is written so broadly that it could also unfairly punish New Yorkers who occasionally rent out their own home when they leave town to make extra money.
Email The Housing Committee
Put simply, this bill, A8704B, treats New Yorkers who share their homes occasionally the same as commercial operators who run illegal hotels. That’s not right!
Everyday New Yorkers who share their homes from time to time use the extra money they make to pay their mortgage, start small businesses, and make ends meet. Why are our elected officials considering legislation that would impose fines on regular New Yorkers? Our lawmakers should be looking at ways to help everyday New Yorkers during this time of rising rents and stagnant incomes, not trying to impose fines on them. Can you take a moment to send an email to the Housing Committee and ask them to vote against A8704B? It only takes a minute, and it could make a big impact.
What New York really needs is a thoughtful, sensible regulatory approach to home sharing that protects the responsible people and weeds out the bad actors. Bills like this one don't provide any solutions that help the tens of thousands of middle class New Yorkers who want to share their homes to make ends meet.
Please take a stand against this bill and email the Housing Committee right now.
Thank you for being a part of this!
Sincerely,
The Airbnb Action Team
© Airbnb, Inc. | Privacy Policy | Unsubscribe
May 18th, 2016, 07:18 AM
#36
Maybe the Housing Committee is looking out for people who don't want to share their building with a bunch of random strangers.
Are there really "tens of thousands of middle class New Yorkers who want to share their homes to make ends meet"???
Are there really "tens of thousands of middle class New Yorkers who want to share their homes to make ends meet"???
May 18th, 2016, 08:20 AM
#38
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No - much of it is either:
A legal tenant who now lives outside of NY and rents out their whole apartment to a series of short-term tenants
Landlords who pull apartments off the market when a tenant leaves and rents out only short-term to get much higher income
And most NYers HAYE Air BnB and many more legal tenants are turning in those who are subletting apartment illegally
A legal tenant who now lives outside of NY and rents out their whole apartment to a series of short-term tenants
Landlords who pull apartments off the market when a tenant leaves and rents out only short-term to get much higher income
And most NYers HAYE Air BnB and many more legal tenants are turning in those who are subletting apartment illegally
May 18th, 2016, 09:43 AM
#39
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I'd like to hear more about the many legal tenants who are turning in illegal subletters.
Is there a link you can provide?
And what are the consequences? (Note that I am not asking what SHOULD BE the consequences, but what action has actually been taken against those subletters)?
Is there a link you can provide?
And what are the consequences? (Note that I am not asking what SHOULD BE the consequences, but what action has actually been taken against those subletters)?
May 18th, 2016, 09:46 AM
#40
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And to clarify, I am not asking about landlords with a string of sublets for rent or entire buildings converted into short-stay hotels. My question is about NYC residents who rent out their apartment.
