What's currently legal in NY and what's coming up.

[Elena472]

Hello there,

I'm looking for an entire apartment to rent in NYC on January 2018 for me and my boyfriend for one week.

I do presently see a lot of apartments available to be rent, is there any restriction on the basis of the new law in NYC?

Is it something I need to check with you straight or individually with the host? Is it something general which applies to all the hosts and to all apartments or changes depending on some rules?

thanks a lot

best regards

Elena

[Oomesh-Kumarsingh0]

@Elena472 You are a guest and you don't need to worry about restrictions, just book the place you who to stay preferably look for an instant bookable apartment. Good luck!!! 

[Elena472]

Thanks for your reply Oomesh. Alternatively for a superhost, I guess..

[Marit-Anne0 · Accepted solution]

@Oomesh-Kumarsingh0

If there are restrictions (and I believe there are), listings can be taken down at short notice and bookings cancelled.  Would that be your concern @Elena472 ? If it is, it is a very valid one.

[Elena472]

Dear Marit indeed this is the concern of mine, I'll be on holiday and I would avoid to hacve issues with the apartment before or during my stay. how to check these restrictions in advance?...

[Oomesh-Kumarsingh0]

@Elena472 You can always check the number of reviews on the host page this may help you feel more comfortable to book but once again dont worry too much take it easy and have a nice day.

[Oomesh-Kumarsingh0]

@Marit-Anne0 Show me a case where a listing was taken down in NYC regreting the matter that Elena has mention. @Elena472 Dont worry too much everything will work fine if Airbnb is allowing a host to rent their property on the network rest assure that the host is genuine and is not doing anything illegal. Let all be optimistic : )

[Marit-Anne0]

@Oomesh-Kumarsingh0

An article on the matter

https://skift.com/2016/10/30/some-new-york-city-hosts-are-still-confused-about-new-airbnb-advertisin...

[Casita-By-The-Texas-Bay0]

@Marit-Anne0  @Elena472  It actually happened to me last month!

I made a reservation for an apartment in Manhattan, and a couple of days before my arrival the host cancelled all his reservations and took down his listing!

I messaged him right away and he told me that the rules had changed in his building and he had to take his listing down...at least I was still a couple of days away from my trip, but even the guests that were supposed to show-up the next day were cancelled.

I ended up renting another place, just to receive a long list of "special arrangements" from the  host the night before my arrival (too late for me to cancel my reservation as it was a non-refundable situation). The host asked things like "do not make noise, do not talk to neighbors even if they talk to you, do not answer the door if somebody knocks, do not let neighbors see you carrying luggage"...It was an awkward situation that made me feel like I was doing something wrong!...never again! I will avoid all of this by booking a hotel for my next stay in Manhattan.  

[Marit-Anne0]

@Elena472

As I am not a host in NYC, I am not updated on the matter, just noticed what I have seen on forums and in the press.  There is really no way to find out if a rental is legal or not, but you can assume that many if not all inner city entire apartment rentals are in some sort of grey zone.  

Perhaps search the forum for posts and also TripAdvisor NYC travel forum could be a good resource for info.  

You could book a hotel at a refundable rate for back-up.  It is very unlikely that something will happen once you have arrived and installed at the property.  

[Marit-Anne0]

@Oomesh-Kumarsingh0

I cannot tell specifically about NYC and that is why I asked @Elena472 to seek more information/assistance.  Airbnb does not "let" hosts list, it is entirely up to the host to comply with the local rules and regulations. Anyone and their uncle can list on airbnb and we all know that not all hosts are all that professional.  And some hosts may simply take their chances of not being caught or being reported. You will find illegal sublets too on airbnb.  

Having been victim to a last minute apartment cancellation myself, I know how it feels, not to mention that my budget suffered badly having to find a replacement last minute in high season.  

That said, there is always a slight risk of cancellations when using the private rental market.  Life happens to airbnb hosts as well and there can be extenuating circumstances where a host needs to cancel.  

[Oomesh-Kumarsingh0]

@Marit-Anne0 It is so sad to hear that you went throught such situations on Airbnb. But as i said earlier lets be optimist people, i know you are because you are still on the network even after going throught a bad situation. i have been hosting on Airbnb for more than 2 years and i have never cancel any reservation apart from that i have been in the real estate business for 9years renting apartments to tourists and have never let anyone down but one thing i have learn in this business is to always make the guest comfortable rather than scaring them with things that can rarely happen. I know sometimes life is unfair but we must always see the glass halfly filled. Good luck for the future!!!

[Marit-Anne0]

@Oomesh-Kumarsingh0

What me and you achieve as hosts is really irrelevant to what can happen out there.  There are many with a less professional approach and the possibility ruining peoples holidays do not give them sleepless nights.  

What @Elena472 does in the end is up to her of course, but my advise would be to have a realistic approach and a plan B.  

[Oomesh-Kumarsingh0]

@Marit-Anne0 I hope @Elena472 that she will be able to book a nice place on Airbnb in NYC and enjoy her holidays.

[Marit-Anne0]

@Elena472 @Oomesh-Kumarsingh0

Perhaps the NYC discussion board can shed some light

https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/New-York/ct-p/new-york