Assemblywoman goes undercover in Airbnb sting

The sting was financed by the hotel industry-backed “Share Better Coalition”

Rosenthal on the hidden camera during the Airbnb sting operation
Rosenthal on the hidden camera during the Airbnb sting operation

A hidden camera was used to bust an illegal Airbnb listing in a state sting operation.

Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal is behind the recordings made during the undercover sting operation between April 13 and 20. The sting targeted Airbnb users offering multiple apartments for rent for just one night, according to the New York Post.

State law currently forbids leaseholders from renting out an apartment for less than 30 days if they are not at home.

“Airbnb has a lot of issues with New York, you know, because we are competitors with hotel,” the man, who called himself Carlo and was renting the apartment out for just one night, said. “If somebody asks you something, never mention in the building Airbnb, This is supposed to be residential.”

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The sting was financed by the hotel industry-backed, anti-Airbnb “Share Better Coalition.”

[NYP]Christopher Cameron