Pre-crime returns to America with new Airbnb law

Sovereign Man ^ | 24 October 2016 | Simon Black

[stocksthatgoup]

It’s not your home. The government owns everything. Now you know it.

[metmom]

And the idiots in NYC still continue to vote democratic.

When will they learn?

[BenLurkin]

Is it legal to advertise for prostitution in NYC?

Should it be?

[Alberta's Child]

If this person actually had a clue about anything, she’d realize that Airbnb has NEVER generated a profit and has lost billions of dollars since it was founded.

This makes me wonder why they're in business at all.

I'm not sure the State of New York is even capable of preventing people from renting their homes out for short-term rentals -- even if it's illegal by other measures (violates a lease provision, zoning code, etc.). All this law does is prevent you from doing it through a third party like Airbnb.

Now Airbnb and its users just have to figure out how to circumvent the law. Rent an apartment out in midtown Manhattan, but call it "Jersey City East" in the Airbnb ad.

[Fido969]

So, offering to sell drugs, or soliciting for prostitution is a “pre crime” as well?

Smoke another joint and go back to sleep.

[Alberta's Child]

I have never lived in a place where I would even WANT people to rent their homes out on a short-term basis. Any apartment building where I lived had clear provisions in the lease that prohibited this, and in any single-family home where I lived I would never want a transient population living next door.

I understand why people think this is a violation of their God-given rights, but Airbnb is a lot like Uber and Lyft in that it exploits loopholes in perfectly reasonable laws and regulations to let people pretend they're operating legitimate businesses.

[ncfool]

I wonder if this effects the VRBO site which does exactly the same think as AirBNB

[Fido969]

I wonder if this effects the VRBO site which does exactly the same think as AirBNB

I guess it depends on who is giving the political contributions.

[Kickass Conservative]

Just the beginning in Hillary’s America.

[sparklite2]

I wonder if it’s illegal to advertise pre-teen sex.
It’s not like you’re doing any. And child porn.
We’re all some number of degrees from being incarcerated, I guess. It reminds me of the prisoner standing in his cell, shouting out through the bars, “I’m free! I’m free!”

[unlearner]

“Airbnb is a lot like Uber and Lyft in that it exploits loopholes in perfectly reasonable laws and regulations to let people pretend they’re operating legitimate businesses.”

“Perfectly reasonable laws”, huh?

There is a big difference between regulations that actually protect public safety and laws designed to prop up non-competitive business practices implemented by crony capitalists. Because that is EXACTLY what these laws are about.

It has become too expensive to start a small business in many places in this nation. They are being regulated to death.

As a result, only businesses with billion dollar war chests can survive, which is why Lyft, Uber, and Airbnb are still in business. And even they cannot survive in some cities because of bureaucracy.

Even the oppressive Roman government that tried to kill Jesus as a baby did not regulate private home ownership to the point where Jesus had no place to be born.

All 3 of the businesses you cited have mechanisms in place to vet both buyers and sellers of services through their platforms. When local communities have existing zoning regulations or deed restrictions, property buyers understand this when they buy. When the government adds new restrictions it robs property owners of their rights.

Seeing these rights as “loopholes” sounds a lot like big government liberal speak.

[Sasparilla]

...It’s not your home. The government owns everything. Now you know...

Another result of Democrat rule, where fringe lunatic liberals want control of ever facit of your life, liberty, family, and property. A vote for any Democrat is a vote for less freedom and more control over you.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

All this law does is prevent you from doing it through a third party like Airbnb.

Nope. The law prevents you from advertising. Period.

My suggestion? File a LLC and advertise your spare room as an "Executive Suite."

[Alberta's Child]

I agree with all of that, but you're missing an important point as it relates to New York City:

When local communities have existing zoning regulations or deed restrictions, property buyers understand this when they buy. When the government adds new restrictions it robs property owners of their rights.

A recent study in New York City indicated that 64% of the housing units were occupied by renters, not owners. So any principles related to "property owners" goes right out the window in that case. I would venture to guess that the vast majority of these properties are covered by lease terms that prohibit or severely restrict sub-letting, anyway.

The remaining 36% probably includes a very large number of condominiums or co-ops, where the occupants may be "owners" but have already signed away many of their rights as property owners when they bought into that arrangement.

I'd be curious to know how many people in New York are really affected by this stupid law.

[Alberta's Child]

All 3 of the businesses you cited have mechanisms in place to vet both buyers and sellers of services through their platforms.

And all three of them will not hesitate to turn around and use the power of government -- that they complain about today when they're trying to get a foothold in the market -- to keep out new competitors in the future.

If you think that sounds outrageous, consider this: Uber has recently signed an agreement with the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC) that requires Uber to operate pretty much like an ordinary, regulated limousine company in NYC. Uber and TLC are now partners in a legal battle to keep Lyft out of New York City.

[Dawn53Fl]

We’re not in NY, but I have several friends that rent out rooms in their home through AirBNB. Their clientele has been quite fascinating. Folks from many countries, and states (we do live in a vacation area.)

We have rented vacation property through VRBO for many years. We’ve rented in country and out of country, and have always been pleased with the destination rentals. Our kids even rented VRBO apartments for their honeymoon.

The rub in our area is there is a tourist tax collected on hotel rooms. The AirBNB folks don’t pay that tax, and therefore their prices are much less
than a hotel would be. They’ve been pushing to tax the AirBNB rentals for the past year or so.

[Alberta's Child]

I wonder what jurisdiction (if any) New York would have if you advertised a New York rental exclusively outside of New York. Would they have any legal recourse if an Airbnb ad for your home showed up in California or London, but not in New York?

[bgill]

Advertise for 30 day rentals with no penalties for breaking the contract after 3 nights.

[bgill]

It’s not fun living next to noisy partying weekenders. Sadly, half the houses on our street are listed on a weekend rental site. This trend coincidentally started about 8 years ago. It’s the only way the owners can keep up with property taxes rising 10% each year for the past 25+ years. Ha, y’all just thought Texas didn’t have high taxes. Surprise!