Introduction to the Conflict
After the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce released a poll claiming a majority of New Yorkers support short-term rentals, a tenant advocacy coalition went toe-to-toe with homeowner groups as the fight over Airbnb laws intensified.
The poll, reported exclusively by amNewYork on Tuesday, found that 78% of residents believe New York City’s law banning short-term rentals, such as Airbnbs, should be revisited or are open to changing it.
The Tenants’ Perspective
But the “Tenants Not Tourists” coalition, which opposes short-term rentals in favor of long-term tenants, said the poll was “wildly inconsistent” with previous findings and did not reflect New Yorkers’ views. The coalition instead pointed to a June poll, which found that 56% of New Yorkers opposed legislation that would loosen restrictions on short-term rentals.
The Homeowners’ Perspective
The two sides each referred to the other as an “astroturf” campaign, meaning disingenuous organizations with shady funding, in statements to amNewYork. Since 2023, New York City’s Local Law 18 has essentially banned rentals shorter than 30 days unless the host is present in the same unit. Proponents said the restrictions were necessary to increase the rental housing stock amid a historically low vacancy rate, but opponents accused it of hurting small owners.
The Battle Over Short-Term Rentals
The battle reignited in November 2024, when Brooklyn Councilmember Farah Louis proposed Intro 1107, an Airbnb-backed bill that would loosen restrictions. The Tenants Not Tourists coalition formed in response. Whitney Hu, director of civic engagement and research at Churches United for Fair Housing, a Tenants Not Tourists coalition member, said the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce’s poll was a “sham” and was “faking” support.
Accusations of Astroturf Campaigns
“The reality is that Airbnb’s bill would decimate our housing supply and drive rents to new record highs,” Hu wrote in a statement. “That’s why Mayoral candidates from Zohran Mamdani to Eric Adams have publicly opposed efforts to overturn our housing laws, and why the vast majority of elected officials are standing with New Yorkers against this bill.” A spokesperson for Tenants Not Tourists noted that the June poll was more transparent, which stated that it was funded by the Hotels and Gaming Trades Council, a labor union that has backed the coalition against Airbnb.
The Poll’s Funding Sources
The Chamber sent the cross-tabulation results to amNewYork when asked, which showed that the poll asked 503 adults across the five boroughs but did not distinguish between homeowners and renters. The full results, reviewed for the first time by amNewYork, show that the poll also found 55% of residents surveyed at least somewhat supported the city’s current short-term rent regulations. But a majority also believe the law should be revisited, as the Chamber said Tuesday.
Homeowner Groups’ Rally
The coalition’s response came as homeowner groups held a rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall against Local Law 18. Amy Werba, a homeowner from Bedford-Stuyvesant in Brooklyn who spoke at the rally, said the restrictions were hurting small owners amid the city’s affordability crisis. “Renting my home has been a crucial source of income that has given me stability as a single mother and now semi-retired homeowner in Bed-Stuy,” Werba said at the rally.
The Role of Airbnb
The Tenants Not Tourists spokesperson aimed to discredit the rally, saying its sponsors were “allied with Airbnb” but did not disclose their financial relationship. One of the rally’s prime sponsors, Homeowners for Financial Empowerment, is a lobbying group created by Airbnb, according to the company’s own policy strategy director, Bloomberg reported in January. Airbnb gave the group $450,000 in 2024, according to state data.
The Future of Short-Term Rentals
Hu added that Airbnb has financially supported homeowner groups to target Local Law 18, demanding the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce reveal its funding sources for the poll. “Across the world, Airbnb and its allies are bankrolling dark money astroturf campaigns like this one to spread lies to advance their affordability-killing, anti-tenant agenda,” Hu wrote. “But New Yorkers aren’t falling for Airbnb’s sham tactics, and no new ‘poll’ faking support for their dangerous legislation will change that.”
Conclusion
The battle over short-term rentals in New York City is a complex issue, with both sides presenting valid arguments. While the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce’s poll suggests that a majority of New Yorkers support revisiting the law, the Tenants Not Tourists coalition argues that this poll is inconsistent with previous findings and does not reflect the views of the city’s residents. As the city navigates this issue, it is essential to consider the perspectives of all stakeholders, including tenants, homeowners, and the city’s affordable housing crisis.
FAQs
Q: What is the current law regarding short-term rentals in New York City?
A: New York City’s Local Law 18 essentially bans rentals shorter than 30 days unless the host is present in the same unit.
Q: What is the Tenants Not Tourists coalition?
A: The Tenants Not Tourists coalition is a group of tenant advocacy organizations that opposes short-term rentals in favor of long-term tenants.
Q: What is the role of Airbnb in the short-term rental battle?
A: Airbnb has financially supported homeowner groups to target Local Law 18 and has spent millions of dollars on campaigns attempting to gather support for Intro 1107, the bill that would loosen restrictions.
Q: What are the arguments presented by the two sides?
A: The Tenants Not Tourists coalition argues that short-term rentals would decimate the city’s housing supply and drive rents to new record highs, while homeowner groups argue that the restrictions are hurting small owners amid the city’s affordability crisis.
