What could go wrong when sharing your address with thousands of strangers over the internet? A new bill sponsored by State Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal would force Airbnb hosts to do just that.
Anyone who lists an apartment on the short-term rental site in New York would have to include the unit’s address, down to the apartment number. Rosenthal argued the bill would create “an open and honest system that prioritizes transparency and safety” and make it easier to unmask illegal listings.
A spokesperson for Airbnb said the bill will “put thousands of lives at risk.”
People who post illegal listings (such as renting out an entire unit for 30 days or less if the tenant or owner isn’t also present) could face fines ranging from $1,000 to $7,500, the New York Daily News reported.
Rosenthal is a member of ShareBetter, the hotel industry-backed advocacy campaign that pays for anti-Airbnb ads, lobbying efforts and also hires spies to pose as tourists to expose illegal listings. Last week Airbnb filed a complaint against the group, alleging it failed to register as a lobbyist. [NYDN] — Konrad Putzier