City Council Proposes New Law That Would Allow Tenants to Sue Landlords for Using Airbnb

One week ago we learned of the landmark ruling to evict a rent-stabilized tenant from his ultra-luxe 450 West 42nd Street building for listing the unit on Airbnb for nearly triple what he was paying, a show of just how serious the city is about the issue. Now they’re getting even more aggressive, as two City Council members want to pass a new law that would let tenants sue their landlords for renting out neighboring apartments as illegal hotels through Airbnb.

Councilmembers Rory Lancman (D-Queens) and Rosie Mendez (D-Manhattan) introduced the bill yesterday, which would put apartment rentals for shorter than 30 days, currently barred by state law, into the category of tenant harassment that carries $5,000 fines. Lancman said “Airbnb and illegal hotels destroy the quality of life of those around them and pose a grave threat to New York’s affordable housing supply.”

[Via NYP]

RELATED:

• New Research Shows More Than 58 Percent of NYC Airbnb Listings Possibly Illegal
• Rent-Stabilized Tenant Gets Evicted for Listing His Apartment on Airbnb in a Landmark Decision
• Home and Away: Is Airbnb a Threat to the Affordable Housing Market?
• Manhattan Bed and Breakfasts Are Forced to Close in the Wake of the Airbnb Battle