A majority of New York City residents oppose laws that restrict short-term rentals, according to a new survey from the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce that demonstrated voters\u2019 consistent concerns about housing affordability in the leadup to the November mayoral election.<\/p>\n
The poll, provided first to amNewYork, found that 78% of residents believe New York City\u2019s law banning short-term rentals, such as Airbnbs, should be revisited or are open to changing it, while 73% feel housing affordability is headed in the wrong direction.<\/p>\n
Even more, 95% of residents, agreed that New Yorkers need \u201cflexible ways\u201d to afford living in New York City, according to the poll.\n<\/p>\n
Local Law 18, which went into effect in 2023, essentially banned<\/a> rentals less than 30 days unless the host is present. Proponents said the restrictions were necessary to boost the city\u2019s long-term housing stock and prioritize residents over tourists amid record-low vacancy rates.<\/p>\n Many homeowners and business groups, including the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, argued that the law eliminates an income lifeline for homeowners and reduces tourism revenue. Airbnb and other short-term rental platforms, which saw their New York City listings plummet in the past two years, have been aggressive opponents of the law, endorsing<\/a> a bill to amend it that is currently before the City Council.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, which advocates for businesses, has said<\/a> the law constricted tourism in Brooklyn and the other outer boroughs, where there are fewer hotels than Manhattan. The poll indicated particular concern about fewer visitors to outer boroughs, with 77% of respondents saying that was a \u201cvalid reason\u201d to revisit the law.<\/p>\n Randy Peers, president and CEO of the chamber, said the poll demonstrates an urgent need to reform Local Law 18.\n<\/p>\n \u201cAs the affordability crisis in New York City continues to grow, our poll data shows that residents are demanding practical solutions that look to build more housing to scale,\u201d Peers said in a press release with the poll. \u201cNew Yorkers also recognize that significantly restricting homeowners from activating their space for short-term rentals is not a solution to the growing problem, and in fact, hurts the local economy more than it helps.\u201d<\/p>\n The poll came as New York City\u2019s affordability crisis takes center stage in the mayoral race, with Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani\u2019s economic messaging helping drive his success<\/a> in the Democratic primary. According to the survey, interest in revisiting the short-term rental law is higher among Mamdani\u2019s supporters, at 84%.<\/p>\n But Mamdani indicated he would oppose changing the law while the city\u2019s housing stock remains at record lows, saying New York City cannot afford more Airbnbs.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s nearly 14 percent of all rental units that could be taken from our housing stock and turned into Airbnbs,\u201d Mamdani said during a CBS interview<\/a> in March. \u201cWhat we need to do is create more housing.\u201d<\/p>\n Affordable New York, Airbnb\u2019s political action committee (PAC), spent nearly $450,000 opposing Mamdani in June, according to city data<\/a>.<\/p>\n City Council is now considering Intro 1107, a bill introduced in December that would amend Local Law 18 by eliminating the residency requirement and increasing the maximum short-term tenants. The bill, which was introduced by Brooklyn Councilmember Farrah Louis, has the support of Council Speaker Adrienne Adams.<\/p>\n Affordable New York has financially supported seven of the bill\u2019s eight co-sponsors, totaling<\/a> over $1.1 million in 2025.<\/p>\n After the bill was introduced, a coalition of residents and advocates formed<\/a> a coalition \u2014 \u201cTenants not Tourists\u201d \u2014 in opposition, which included major civil rights and housing advocacy groups.<\/p>\n \u201cAmid the ongoing housing crisis, it is nonsensical to convert residential homes into short-term rentals for tourists, instead of using this housing stock to help New Yorkers secure permanent housing,\u201d said Robert Desir, staff attorney in the Civil Law Reform Unit at The Legal Aid Society, at the time.<\/p>\n A 2018 analysis from the comptroller\u2019s office attributed<\/a> 9.2% of the total citywide rent increases to Airbnbs, which helped spur citywide opposition to short-term rentals. Airbnb fiercely pushed back<\/a> against the report\u2019s findings, but former Comptroller Scott Stringer insisted<\/a> they were accurate, negating the companies\u2019 claims.<\/p>\n The ban\u2019s detractors argue that despite those findings, there has been no evidence that the ban \u2014 which has been active for less than two years \u2014 has significantly decreased rents. Meanwhile, hotel prices have risen<\/a> dramatically.<\/p>\n