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But Airbnb argues that the new rules are overly burdensome and complex, in part because they require hosts to obtain a unique identification account with the city, provide proof of identity and contact information, and clear all existing building violations on their properties, among other requirements.
“That is a de facto ban on short-term rentals in New York, and that's what the city is trying to bring about with these new rules,” Dunn said. “Airbnb will have to cancel thousands of reservations over the summer, impacting hosts and thousands of tourists planning to come to New York City. And so the city of New York is poised to be the Grinch who stole summer.”
The city has about 12,000 Airbnb listings that are booked for short stays on a regular basis. More than 60% of those are full homes or apartments, many of which will be barred from registering under the new rules. While these short-term rentals are common practice, they are already illegal under New York state’s multiple dwelling law, which only allows hosts to rent out their own homes while they are present.
In a separate lawsuit, three Airbnb hosts claim that some of the personal information that’s required to register their properties — including the number of people living in their homes who are unrelated to them — amounts to a “warrantless administrative search of their private personal information,” which they suggest is prohibited by the Fourth Amendment.
Gia Briscoe, a musician, said that Airbnb has helped her and her husband stay afloat and hang on to their Brooklyn Heights brownstone, which has been in her family for generations.