UPDATE ON AIRBNB BILL FOR 1- and 2-FAMILY HOMES

As we predicted, the Airbnb bill has been resurrected by Mercedes Narcisse (the main sponsor). Now called Intro. 879 (previously Intro 1107 and Intro 948-A last year) and introduced on April 30, the bill will allow Airbnb to once again be used for short-term rentals, specifically and only in one and two-family homes. Each unit could rent out up to four rooms to different parties – and the owner would not have to be present! This would set the stage for real estate companies, hedge funds and other commercial players to start buying up one and two-family homes and turning them into full-service permanent Airbnb hotels – something that we believe would have disastrous results for our communities.

Now, Mercedes Narcisse (the prime sponsor), Kevin Riley, Selvena Brooks-Powers and Farah Louis (all co-sponsors) will continue to try to tie this to the upcoming World Cup event starting in June. Indeed, there has already been a push to create a “temporary exemption” carve out to the current rules to allow Airbnb short-term rentals in one and two-family homes; so far, this has gone nowhere, as even the most cynical elected officials understand that this would set the stage for full legalization in the future.

---