by Jason Clampet, Skift
Late last week, vacation rental site Airbnb received good news when a $2,400 fine issued against Nigel Warren, one of its New York City hosts, was overturned by the Environmental Controls Board. Airbnb had footed the legal fees for Warren following the initial ruling in May.
The court threw out the fines because Warren’s roommate was present during the Airbnb rental. New York state law prohibits the rental of an entire unit for less than 30 days if the owner or tenant is not present.
State Senator Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan), who helped write the law that made most short-term rentals in Manhattan illegal, responded to the ruling with a statement clarifying her position, and re-iterating her arguments against Airbnb’s activities.
“Airbnb may have scored a PR victory with the success of this appeal, but that’s all it is,” Sen. Krueger wrote. “The vast majority of Airbnb’s business in New York City — short-term rentals of apartments in residential buildings without any permanent residents present — remains unambiguously illegal. Some may call that ‘paradigm-breaking’ or ‘disruptive’ — but ultimately, it’s just irresponsible and greedy.” ...
Airbnb Is Not off the Hook in New York City, Says Chief Legislative Critic
