New York City

Airbnb sets up super PAC to lobby for short-term rentals

January 14, 2025 Brooklyn Eagle Staff
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CITYWIDE — THE ONLINE RENTAL company Airbnb has created a Super PAC to incentivize politicians to support short-term rentals. “Keeping New York Affordable” will have $5 million to back City Council candidates for primary elections in June. According to real estate site Rabbu, there are 2,835 active short-term rentals active in Kings County, with an average rate of $166 per day and a 40% occupancy rate.

The New York Post reports that Airbnb wants to reverse regulations on short-term rentals that cap the amount of guests who can stay within the unit, and require that the owner of the home be present in the residence throughout the rental. In September 2023, these regulations went into effect – one cause, according to Airbnb, of the prices of hotel rooms increasing dramatically, although opponents place the blame on the migrant crisis.

Local supporters of restoring short-term rentals include Brooklyn councilmembers Farah Louis and Mercedes Narcisse. The opposition to undoing restrictions on Airbnb is the Hotel Trades Council, as well as housing advocates, who say the short-term rental restrictions free up apartments for local residents.

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