City Council bill regulating Airbnb has enough support to pass

A City Council bill intended to rein in Airbnb already has enough support to pass.

Thirty-one Council members signed on the legislation, five more than needed for passage, Politico reported. Five more lawmakers said they would co-sponsor it, giving it enough support to avoid a veto.

The legislation — to be introduced Thursday — would require Airbnb and other short-term rental companies to give monthly data on booked listings to the city’s Office of Special Enforcement. The requirements would include hosts’ names and addresses and the addresses and booking numbers for listings.

Politico previously reported that, under the bill, companies can be fined between $5,000 and $25,000 for each listing that isn’t shared with the city.

Under state law, residents of most apartment buildings are barred from renting their units for fewer than 30 days unless they are present. Airbnb is pushing for a bill that would do away with this restriction.

The company has said the City Council’s bill violates internet privacy laws. It also questioned the methodology of Comptroller Scott Stringer’s report blaming Airbnb for rising rents in the city. [Politico] — Meenal Vamburkar