Search Travel Market Report

mainlogo
www.travelmarketreport.com
  • News
  • Tours & Packages
  • Cruise
  • Hotels & Resorts
  • Destinations
  • Retail Strategies
  • Niche & Luxury
  • Well-Being Travel
  • Training & Events
  • Who We Are
    • Anne Marie Moebes
    • Brian Israel
    • Dan McCarthy
    • Denise Caiazzo
    • Dori Saltzman
    • Kelly Fontenelle

Judge Blocks New York City Law Aimed at Cracking Down on Airbnb

by Jessica Montevago / January 11, 2019
Judge Blocks New York City Law Aimed at Cracking Down on Airbnb

Photo: Shutterstock


The ongoing saga between Airbnb and New York City continues as a federal judge last week blocked the city’s effort to crack down on short-term listing sites.

The City Council unanimously passed a law in July that, beginning in February, would have required Airbnb and similar websites to provide city officials with information on every short-term listing in the city, including hosts’ addresses and identities, in order to crack down on those that violate New York’s short-term rental laws.

Mayor Bill de Blasio signed the law in August, saying it would help combat illegal hotel operators who are reducing affordable housing.

Airbnb and another home-sharing site, HomeAway, quickly filed a lawsuit, asserting the bill was unconstitutional for violating the privacy of law-abiding hosts.

Judge Paul A. Engelmayer, of the United States District Court in Manhattan, granted Airbnb and HomeAway’s request for a preliminary injunction, stopping the law from going into effect, because it potentially violated the guarantee against illegal searches and seizures in the Fourth Amendment.

“The city has not cited any decision suggesting that the governmental appropriation of private business records on such a scale, unsupported by individualized suspicion or any tailored justification, qualifies as a reasonable search and seizure,” Judge Engelmayer wrote in a 52-page decision.

The law would have also required hosts to list whether the dwelling is their primary residence and whether the entire unit or a portion is available for short-term rentals. Failure to provide the information would warrant fines of $1,500 for each listing that was not disclosed. It would have likely exposed thousands of listings for violating state law, which says it is illegal in most buildings for an apartment to be rented out for less than 30 days unless the permanent tenant is residing in the apartment at the same time.

Airbnb said the decision is “a huge win for Airbnb and its users,” including “thousands of New Yorkers at risk of illegal surveillance.”

The injunction will remain in effect until the litigation is resolved. However, city officials remained confident the new law will ultimately prevail.

“The law is pointed at a real problem and we think it’s a good law. So you know, when a judge does a temporary injunction, there’s still a whole lot of legal process to be had and we believe we’ll ultimately prevail,” Mayor de Blasio said.

“We have a huge city with a lot of Airbnb activity and a lot of concern in our neighborhoods and unfortunately a lot of examples of abuse. And to put a strong data regimen in place made all the sense in the world.”

  0
  1
Related Articles
New York Kicks-Off Third Annual Winter Outing
Lawmakers Want Answers from Airbnb on Misleading Hosts and Listings
Airbnb’s New Luxury Rental Tier Caters to the Ultra-Wealthy
Airbnb Moves into Adventure Travel
Airbnb to Buy HotelTonight, Pushing Deeper into the Hotel Industry
Six of the Hottest Hotel Openings in New York City
Why One Travel Agent Doesn’t Use Airbnb
New York City Council Rules Airbnb Must Disclose Host Information
EU Says Airbnb Not in Compliance with Consumer Regulations
Shared Economy Services May Be Losing Their Popularity

MOST VIEWED

  1. Why Travel Advisors Need to Learn to Say No to New Business
  2. U.S. Passport Renewal Processing Time Now 8 to 11 Weeks
  3. U.S. Passport Renewal Waiting Time Could Soon Get Even Worse
  4. Government of Canada Updates Its Mexico Travel Advisory
  5. European Union Delays Launch of ETIAS Until At Least 2024
  6. Royal Caribbean Eliminates Sky Pad Experience

MOST EMAILED

  1. U.S. Passport Renewal Processing Time Now 8 to 11 Weeks
  2. U.S. Passport Renewal Waiting Time Could Soon Get Even Worse
  3. Why Travel Advisors Need to Learn to Say No to New Business
  4. European Union Delays Launch of ETIAS Until At Least 2024
  5. Travelers Believe That Working With Advisors Is Only Way to Get a True Luxury Experience
  6. 9 Travel-Advisor Friendly Paris Boutique Hotels to Know About
TMR THIS WEEK
Sponsored by Explora Journeys
//services.travelsavers.com/AMGService.svc/REST/GetImage?ImageID=78f79d51-15c7-ed11-b00b-005056a8720b&Width=350&Height&250

All About Culinary Immersion at Sea

Travel advisors can help their foodie clients enjoy true immersion experiences by booking them on culinary-focused cruises.

Read More...
TMR Subscription

Subscribe today to receive daily in-depth coverage, analysis of industry news, trends and issues that affect how you do business. Subscribe now for free.

Subscribe to TMR

Top Stories
Jamaica Tourist Board’s Donnie Dawson Announces Retirement
Jamaica Tourist Board’s Donnie Dawson Announces Retirement

Dawson first joined the organization more than 40 years ago. 

Read...
Amsterdam Schiphol Could Soon Be Forced to Cap International Flights
Amsterdam Schiphol Could Soon Be Forced to Cap International Flights

The move is one of the first, major flight caps instituted on an international hub due to sustainability concerns. 

Read...
Inside Brightline's Advisor Advantages, Updates on New Routes
Inside Brightline's Advisor Advantages, Updates on New Routes

Florida-based Brightline continues adding new routes and services.

Read...
A Massive Sargassum 'Blob' Could Heavily Impact Florida Beaches this Summer
A Massive Sargassum 'Blob' Could Heavily Impact Florida Beaches this Summer

This year’s summer travel season could look slightly different at some of the world’s best beaches.

Read...
Culinary Adventures: Villa Rentals Can Take Your Clients' Tastebuds on a Journey
Culinary Adventures: Villa Rentals Can Take Your Clients' Tastebuds on a Journey

There is no denying that food is one of the most essential elements of travel. 

Read...
Amtrak Introduces Off-Peak, Late-Night Discount Fares
Amtrak Introduces Off-Peak, Late-Night Discount Fares

Late-night travelers and night owls rejoice.

Read...
TMR OUTLOOKS & WHITE PAPERS
river cruise 2022
group outlook 2022
lux cruise outlook
CP White Paper
Multi-Gen Outlook
River Cruise Outlook 2019
View All
Advertiser's Voice
https://img.youtube.com/vi/BDz_-mzUmZA/0.jpg
Meet South Africa with Your Local Guides
About Travel Market Report Mission Staff Advisory Board Advertise
TMR Resources Webinars Calendar of Events Outlook/Whitepapers Previous Sponsored Articles Previous This Week Articles
Subscribe to TMR
Select Language
Do You Have an Idea Email
editor@travelmarketreport.com
Give Us a Call
1-(516) 730-3097
Drop Us a Note
Travel Market Report
71 Audrey Ave, Oyster Bay, NY 11771
News |Tours & Packages |Cruise |Hotels & Resorts |Destinations |Retail Strategies |Niche & Luxury |Well-Being Travel |Training & Events |Who We Are
© 2005 - 2023 Travel Market Report, an American Marketing Group Inc. Company All Rights Reserved | 243 South Street, Oyster Bay, NY, 11771 USA | Telephone (516) 730-3097| Terms and Conditions
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy