Dispute in ‘Air’ over rental bill

DUELING RALLIES greeted a bill introduced in the City Council on Thursday to crack down on home rental company Airbnb.

The new legislation had 38 sponsors Thursday — more than enough to pass the 51-member Council. The bill would require Airbnb to hand over the names and addresses of all its listings to the Mayor’s Office of Special Enforcement.

But the company is fiercely resisting the measure, which has dramatically cut down its business in other cities where it’s been enacted.

It’s against the law in New York state to rent an entire apartment in a building with four or more units for less than 30 days, a provision that makes many Airbnb listings illegal.

Renting out a room within an apartment, on the other hand, is legal, as is renting a single-family home.

The firm is fiercely resisting the legislation, accusing the enforcement office of overly aggressive tactics.