{"id":196724,"date":"2025-09-03T11:43:14","date_gmt":"2025-09-03T11:43:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/196724\/"},"modified":"2025-09-03T11:43:14","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T11:43:14","slug":"two-years-later-momentum-grows-to-reform-nycs-short-term-rental-rules","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/196724\/","title":{"rendered":"Two years later, momentum grows to reform NYC\u2019s short-term rental rules"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Two years after NYC\u2019s short-term rental law took effect, New Yorkers are worse off.<\/strong> Independent housing and cost-of-living data confirm that Local Law 18 (LL18) has unquestionably failed to deliver <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2023\/09\/05\/nyregion\/airbnb-regulations-nyc-housing.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">on its promise<\/a> to ease the housing shortage, as the city\u2019s affordability crisis only deepened. Instead, the city\u2019s short-term rental law has squeezed homeowners who rely on income from hosting short-term stays and reduced visitor spending that helps sustain outer borough small businesses.<\/p>\n<p>Now, a broad coalition of civil rights activists, housing advocates, and small business leaders is urging the City Council to pass <a href=\"https:\/\/legistar.council.nyc.gov\/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7019728&amp;GUID=8AEB11B2-70A0-4258-BDF2-1CD2D516F3D4\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Intro. 1107<\/a>\u2014modest reforms that would restore income opportunities for homeowners, expand affordability, and ensure tourism dollars reach every corner of the city\u2014without taking any housing units off the market.<\/p>\n<p>              Independent data confirms:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Rents have surged, vacancies remain flat<\/strong>\u2014Citywide average rents have climbed to $3,730, a 8.1 percent increase since 2023, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/streeteasy.com\/blog\/methodology-price-and-rent-indices\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">StreetEasy\u2019s Rent Index<\/a>. In the outer boroughs, the rent burden is even heavier when compared to people\u2019s income, or Area Median Income. At the same time, despite an over 90 percent decrease in short-term rentals in NYC, rental vacancies have dropped 0.5 percent from two years earlier, showing no sign of meaningful improvement in housing availability, according to StreetEasy\u2019s Total Rental Inventory data as of July.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>              <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/AD_4nXeKLlLl2jl9JSv_byUvA9O94a9gudffwtS50Oh9quV5bKWpMy4zQflU0SIgfErtWEXLP5GVDyxvz2WzYT6g3oBvJlhHC6TD.png\" alt=\"\"\/><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Black and Latino families are leaving NYC as cost of living rises<\/strong>\u2014The cost of living in New York City is now <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/cost-of-living-calculator\/us\/ny\/new-york-city\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">74 percent higher<\/a> than the national average, with almost <a href=\"https:\/\/www.osc.ny.gov\/reports\/new-yorkers-need-housing-insecurity-crisis\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">3 million<\/a> New Yorkers paying more than 30 percent of their income on rent, putting them at risk of homelessness. The trend is worse among Black and Latino households who have left New York City at higher rates, demonstrating how the city\u2019s affordability crisis is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2023\/01\/31\/nyregion\/black-residents-nyc.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">disproportionately impacting<\/a> communities of color.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Neighborhood businesses have lost vital income<\/strong> from visitors who once spent roughly $800 per trip in local shops and restaurants but are increasingly priced out of the city due to lack of affordable lodging options.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Small businesses in the outer boroughs <\/strong>are facing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.brooklynpaper.com\/op-ed-one-year-later-brooklyn-chamber-of-commerce-sounds-alarm-against-nyc-short-term-rental-rules\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">reduced foot traffic<\/a> and declining sales, a sign of weakening neighborhood economies. Citywide employment has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/08\/13\/nyregion\/nyc-jobs.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">decreased or remained stagnant<\/a>, underscoring the strain on small businesses\u2014the city\u2019s largest employers and a vital source of local jobs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>              Fewer visitors and higher costs<\/p>\n<p>As communities across the city are seeing their local economies hit hard by a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/05\/08\/nyregion\/nyc-tourism.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">steep decline in tourism<\/a>, New York City is also a far less affordable destination after LL18 for low- and middle-income travelers, especially families with children. Hotel costs continue to reach record-highs, up 12.6 percent in the last two years\u2014more than triple the increase nationally\u2014and families who once relied on affordable short-term rentals are increasingly priced out. Visitors who want to stay in the outer boroughs\u2014often to be close to loved ones, drop off college students, or remain near a hospital for essential care\u2014now have few, if any, options.<\/p>\n<p>              <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/AD_4nXf5CTmbVDu8Oeq9OstO6DU7SGTfY2bY4RlTozqXTQUrFgkV6fmcSUYphCTbOMCAxraA5_yFd2MmRfDhup1iLOCkDkeJFkpM.png\" alt=\"\"\/><\/p>\n<p>As a result, trips that once supported local shops and restaurants are either being cut short, pushed into midtown Manhattan\u2019s high-priced hotel market, or abandoned altogether, leaving both visitors and neighborhood businesses worse off. Rising travel costs are likely a factor contributing to NYC\u2019s tourism bureau <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/05\/08\/nyregion\/nyc-tourism.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">cutting its 2025 forecast<\/a> for visitors, including 400,000 fewer domestic travelers.<\/p>\n<p>              Growing momentum for common-sense changes without taking away homes<\/p>\n<p>Supporters of Intro. 1107 are urging the City Council to pass modest reforms that will make a significant difference to the livelihoods of many in their communities, while helping to return visitors to the city. Intro. 1107 would make three simple changes:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Allow New Yorkers in private homes to share them while away<\/li>\n<li>Increase the guest limit from two to four<\/li>\n<li>Permit the use of internal door locks so guests and host can have increased privacy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The bill aims to put money back in the pockets of everyday New Yorkers, helping pay for bills and essential home repairs. The coalition backing the legislation understands that Black and Latino families are at the greatest risk of displacement if the City Council does not act, and supports these changes to keep families in their homes, sustain small businesses, and ensure that the benefits of tourism are spread equally across all five boroughs.<\/p>\n<p>              A broad homeowner-powered coalition<\/p>\n<p>Coalition members have joined rallies, community meetings, and even a local door-knocking campaign to share the stories of New Yorkers most impacted by the current rules. This homeowner-led advocacy reflects the urgency of the moment\u2014with each passing month, more families and small businesses are feeling the impact on their pockets. Here are some of their stories:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Cindy-and-Lori-2-Landscape.jpg\" alt=\"Two women hug at front door of home.\" class=\"wp-image-442359 size-full\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>Lory and Cindy are proud homeowners in Prospect Lefferts Gardens. They turned to hosting to help make ends meet and fund home investments after decades of hard work. After losing vital income under Local Law 18, they\u2019re speaking out for Intro. 1107 so responsible couples like them can keep their homes, travel together, and continue supporting their Brooklyn community.<\/p>\n<p>Kerri is a homeowner in Jamaica, Queens who has relied on hosting for nearly seven years to achieve financial stability and keep her family in their home. Last month, she spoke out for fair rules like Intro. 1107 so responsible hosts like her can continue supporting their families and neighborhoods. (Credit: Photo by Gabriele Holtermann, Brooklyn Paper.)<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Intro1107Rally_080725-5.jpeg\" alt=\"Woman speaks in front of rally crowd.\" class=\"wp-image-442368 size-full\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Jorge-1-Landscape.jpg\" alt=\"Man pets dog on stoop in front of home.\" class=\"wp-image-442358 size-full\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>Jorge is a lifelong New Yorker and proud Bedford-Stuyvesant homeowner who turned to hosting to help his family cover their mortgage and weather challenges like layoffs. He\u2019s advocating for Intro. 1107 so residents like him can keep their homes, support local shops, and welcome visitors to their neighborhoods.<\/p>\n<p>The advocacy of these homeowners has captured the attention of civil rights, housing, good government, and business leaders. The NAACP of Brooklyn and Jamaica, the New York City Housing Partnership, the New York Urban League, all five borough chambers of commerce, and over a dozen other organizations have joined homeowners to demand the City Council take action. Their combined voices represent a broad cross-section of New Yorkers and reflect a growing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unisa.edu.au\/media-centre\/Releases\/2025\/strict-rules-for-short-term-rentals-and-airbnbs-no-solution-to-our-housing-crisis\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">academic<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bizjournals.com\/pacific\/news\/2025\/08\/13\/world-cup-airbnb-regulations-inventory.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">consensus<\/a> that agrees that the current rules are failing to improve the housing crisis, are hurting communities, and that targeted reform is both urgent and necessary.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cBrooklyn\u2019s communities are united in the commitment to advancing homeownership and the broader pursuit of equity and economic prosperity for those who have long been marginalized. The diverse voices of Brooklyn\u2014young people, elders, and multi-generational homeowners\u2014underscore the urgent need for policies that ensure every resident can build generational wealth and stability. Intro 1107 is a crucial step toward fairness, empowering homeowners to maintain economic resilience and remain rooted in the communities they have built. The bill provides practical protections, allowing primary homeowners to rent responsibly without sacrificing privacy or safety, and helps ensure that the path to prosperity remains open to all Brooklynites. The NAACP Brooklyn Branch stands firmly in the fight for economic justice, recognizing that affordable, stable housing is essential to thriving neighborhoods, strong schools, and unlocking the full potential of every community member. We look forward to collaborating with our partners and coalition members to convene a roundtable with our Economic Development Committee to center a vision of homeownership rooted in equity, justice, and opportunity for all across Brooklyn.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Joan Alexander-Bakiriddin, President of NAACP Brooklyn Branch<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cFor too long, communities of color in Queens have carried a disproportionate burden of rising housing costs and shrinking stability. Homeownership is overwhelmingly how we build generational wealth, yet systemic barriers continue to lock too many of our neighbors out of that chance. Int 1107 is a crucial step toward fairness, protecting Black homeowners\u2019 ability to remain in their neighborhoods, and ensuring that every family has the tools they need to face the broader affordability crisis, including the choice to responsibly short-term rent their home. The NAACP Jamaica Branch understands that housing justice is inseparable from economic and racial justice. When homeowners can afford to stay, neighborhoods thrive, schools strengthen, and families are able to plan for their futures. This bill helps safeguard the promise of homeownership in Queens, and we are proud to stand with our neighbors and this broad coalition of advocates in urging swift passage to preserve affordability, equity, and community for generations to come.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Candace Prince-Modeste, President of NAACP Jamaica Branch<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cOverregulation is a major contributor to the affordability crisis in New York City and the prohibition against primary residents of 1-2 family houses from sharing their homes, when they\u2019re away, is an example that the City Council can act to remedy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Kathryn Wylde, President and CEO of Partnership for New York City<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cCurrent short-term rental rules are hurting, not helping everyday people. In the midst of an affordability and housing crisis, neighborhoods like Bedford-Stuyvesant\u2014where short-term rentals help families and neighborhood businesses stay afloat\u2014are suffering the most. New York City\u2019s homeowners should trust that the city has their back during these economically challenging times. Intro 1107 offers a common-sense solution that empowers struggling homeowners to earn extra income for bills and essential repairs, all while safeguarding long-term housing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Jamie Smarr, President and CEO of the New York City Housing Partnership<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cCurrent short-term rental rules disproportionately impact neighborhoods beyond Manhattan and marginalized communities. We have heard stories from our own members who are homeowners that can no longer make their mortgage, small businesses that are seeing less customers from out of town, and visiting relatives who no longer have a place to stay near their families. This law needs to be reformed to support New York families and our communities across all boroughs.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Arva Rice, President and CEO of the New York Urban League<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cThe City\u2019s strict regulations on short-term rentals have significantly affected local restaurants in the outer boroughs and Upper Manhattan. With fewer short-term rental options, visitors are less likely to explore these neighborhoods, impacting the local economy. It would be beneficial for the City to reconsider its current approach to short-term rental regulation and find a balanced solution that allows responsible homeowners to participate, helping to support businesses across all boroughs.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Sandra Jaquez, President of the New York State Latino Restaurant, Bar &amp; Lounge Association<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>The growing momentum behind Intro. 1107 is clear.<\/strong> New Yorkers cannot afford another year under policies that limit income opportunities, kill jobs, and displace Black and Latino residents. The City Council must ensure that the benefits of tourism can continue to be a lifeline for families building a future in our city. Acting now will help stabilize neighborhood economies and keep long-time residents in their homes. Every month without reform means more families pushed to the brink and more low- and middle-income tourists priced out of New York. The choice is simple: deliver common-sense reforms that work for all New Yorkers, or risk deepening a crisis that is already harming the very neighborhoods the city should be fighting to protect.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Two years after NYC\u2019s short-term rental law took effect, New Yorkers are worse off. Independent housing and cost-of-living&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":196725,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5122],"tags":[5229,405,403,5226,5225,5228,5227,67,586,132,5230,68,2969],"class_list":{"0":"post-196724","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-new-york","8":"tag-america","9":"tag-new-york","10":"tag-new-york-city","11":"tag-newyork","12":"tag-newyorkcity","13":"tag-ny","14":"tag-nyc","15":"tag-united-states","16":"tag-united-states-of-america","17":"tag-unitedstates","18":"tag-unitedstatesofamerica","19":"tag-us","20":"tag-usa"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115140192447819027","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/196724","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=196724"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/196724\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/196725"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=196724"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=196724"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=196724"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}