New York Controversy: A crackdown on "no-tels" (Vacation Rentals)

Part of the issue is that some of these apartments are rent-controlled or rent-stabilized (technically different in NYC, but same concept). The result is that the leaseholder is making a fat profit, while the actual owner of the property is forced by the government to rent the apartment for way below market rates.

Isn't that already specified in the terms of the lease?

Isn’t what already specified in the lease? Can’t sublet? Yes, but it’s impossible to enforce. It’s not like the landlords are going to help enforce it — they’re not going to get paid any more than the government-decreed rental rate no matter what, and when tenants are having trouble making the rent payments (like now), it’s actually beneficial to the landlords to let this sort of arrangement proceed undisturbed.

When there’s an active, public market in “no-tel” rentals, it obviously greatly increases the amount of this going on, and the profitability. Easier to outlaw it completely.

Better yet, get rid of all the unConstitutional rent control laws, and let private property owners set their own rules re sublets. But of course, that’s far too radical a proposal for the NYC government to consider. Only tweaks to the socialist system are open for consideration.

On a related note, there’s also quite of bit of similar stuff going on in public housing projects, though obviously not as a susbtitute for real hotels. A friend of mine lived in such an arrangement briefly, where the apartment was officially leased to a welfare mother who supposedly had multiple children (including teens) living there, thus qualifying her for a huge apartment. But only two younger children actually lived there, and the woman (who obviously wasn’t paying a dime for the apartment in the first place) was renting out rooms at standard NYC rental rates. The welfare crowd is actually very pro-capitalism, as long as somebody gives them the capital for free.

Hundreds of New Yorkers, like others nationwide, have been making a few extra dollars by using sites such as AirBnB, Crashpadder, Roomorama, and Craigslist to sublet pullout sofas, living rooms, and whole apartments. But that may end soon. This week, New York state senators vote on a bill that would make it illegal for any homeowner or renter to sublet for less than a month. The new law would be a blanket ban on short-term rentals no matter how ethical the renter is. (It's always been illegal to violate co-op leases and condominium bylaws.)

I'm sure this crackdown will be just as effective as the Rent Control Act. Abby Hoffman was living under an assumed name, on the run from various charges -- and yet managed to sublet his rent-controlled apartment all during his exile.

KC Craig, Craigs List Kansas City: For those who contend Hamas and other militant Arabs in Gaza are seeking a peaceful solution with Israel you'll have a hard time explaining these rocket attacks by them. Hamas will not remove or disavow from it's charter the destruction of Israel as a goal. What is the point of Israel agreeing to a ceasefire with Hamas when it is obvious that the sole purpose is for Hamas to lick their wounds and rebuild their offensive arsenal. Hamas does not want peace with Israel, never has and never will.

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