New York City will implement a new law that will allow it to almost ban Airbnb rentals thanks to severe restrictions. What if France was inspired by it?
We will call it “Local Law 18.” Thanks to this text, adopted in January 2022, but which came into force on Tuesday, September 5, the city of New York can impose strict restrictions on short-term rentals, mainly Airbnb or Vrbo accommodation. Draconian, this regulation is almost synonymous with a ban on these platforms for many hosts and travelers.
Serious consequences for Airbnb, but also for hosts and travelers
Now, all short-term rental hosts must register with a city-run service, and they can host no more than two guests at most. But the worst condition is that they must reside in the accommodation directly… even when travelers are staying there!
This radical decision aims to resolve the problems of noise, waste and overall disorder caused by rentals, and thus preserve the life and integrity of the Big Apple’s residential neighborhoods.
The new rules are now so strict that Airbnb considers that a “ de facto ban » was pronounced against her in New York. And if the online home rental giant is affected, its guests will be too. Many of them depended on this practice to make ends meet. By extension, it is also travelers who will suffer, as hotel prices have literally jumped in the city since COVID-19. Airbnb accommodations were more affordable accommodation for them. It remains to be seen whether hotels will align and lower their rates.
A movement that is not necessarily limited to New York
While New York represents only a small share of Airbnb’s global market (the city has “only” 40,000 such accommodations), the move shows how local governing bodies can quickly eliminate short-term rentals and mitigate their impact on certain depopulated neighborhoods. And the most famous American city is obviously not the only one to take measures against short-term rentals.
Cities like Dallas and Memphis have already implemented similar restrictions. In San Francisco, rental of entire residences through Airbnb is limited to 90 days per year. In Europe, Amsterdam has dropped this limit to 30 nights each year to combat abuse. Berlin even banned Airbnb for a time before authorizing it again.
In France, we are also trying to control, or even slow down, the progress of Airbnb and equivalent platforms. Paris, Marseille and other cities in France have already followed the legislation on seasonal rentals, which limits the number of nights to 120 per year. With effects that are being felt in certain areas of the country.
Concerning the New York case, Airbnb tried to challenge the decision in court last June, but without success. The judge found the restrictions “ entirely rational “.
Sources: Wired, NYC.govClubic
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