N.Y. life worsens for Airbnb renters

ulations that the company argued would address concerns about shortterm rentals without onerous fines.

Most people who list a rental on Airbnb are looking to make a little money while they’re out of town, according to Chris Lehane, head of global policy for San Francisco-based Airbnb. The company says the 46,000 Airbnb hosts in New York City have generated more than $2 billion in economic activity.

“It’s baffling to us in this time of economic inequality that folks would be looking to impose fines of as much as $7,500 on a middle-class person looking to use the home that they live in to help make ends meet,” Lehane said before the bill was signed.

An investigation of Airbnb rentals from 2010 to 2014 by the office of state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman found that 72 percent of the units in New York City were illegal, with commercial operators constituting 6 percent of the hosts and supplying 36 percent of the rentals.

Schneiderman vowed to fight any legal challenge to the new law.

As of August, Airbnb had 45,000 city listings and 13,000 others across the state.

SHANNON STAPLETON/ REUTERS FILE Opponents of Airbnb rally before a hearing called “Short Term Rentals: Stimulating the Economy or Destabilizing Neighborhoods?” at New York City Hall in January. Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a legislative proposal into law Friday that puts Airbnb renters...