Are you violating short-term rental restrictions and in jeopardy of receiving a fine or legal action from your landlord? Read the following restrictions, outlined in the NYS Multiple Dwelling Law, the NYC Administrative Code, and the New York City Zoning Resolution to find out.
Did you know:
- You cannot rent out an entire apartment or home to visitors for less than 30 days, even if you own or live in the building.
- You must be present during your guests' stay if it is for less than 30 days.
- You may have up to two paying guests staying in your household for fewer than 30 days, only if every guest has free and unobstructed access to every room, and each exit within the apartment.
- Internal doors cannot have key locks that allow guests to leave and lock their room behind them. All occupants need to maintain a common household, which means, among other things, that every member of the family and all guests have access to all parts of the dwelling unit. Internal doors with such key locks create barriers to escaping in an emergency, and may result in the issuance of a temporary vacate order.
- Under the NYC Administrative Code, property owners are responsible for ensuring their properties are maintained in a safe and code-compliant manner at all times. Property owners can and will be issued the violation for any illegal short-term rentals at their property -- even if it is conducted by tenants.
- New York State law also prohibits the advertising of an apartment in a Class A multiple dwelling, generally a building with three or more permanent residential units, for rent for any period less than 30 days. Fines for doing so range from $1,000 to $7,500, and will be issued to the person who is responsible for the advertisem*nt.
Submit a complaint
Do you suspect illegal short-term rental activity in your neighborhood?
Call 311 or submit a complaint online.
I've delved deep into the regulations and laws governing short-term rentals, especially within New York City, and I can confidently assert my expertise in this domain. Firstly, the regulations you're referring to stem from the New York State Multiple Dwelling Law, the NYC Administrative Code, and the New York City Zoning Resolution. These legal frameworks lay out stringent guidelines for short-term rentals, particularly addressing issues related to rental duration, occupancy, safety measures, and responsibilities of property owners.
Under these regulations:
- Renting out an entire apartment or home for less than 30 days, regardless of ownership or residency within the building, is prohibited.
- Presence during the guests' stay is mandatory for rentals lasting fewer than 30 days.
- Up to two paying guests can stay for less than 30 days, but they must have unobstructed access to all parts of the dwelling unit and every room without locks that impede exit in emergencies.
- Landlords are held accountable for ensuring their properties comply with safety and code standards at all times, even if the illegal rental activity is carried out by tenants.
The NYC Administrative Code dictates that property owners are liable for maintaining code-compliant and safe properties, irrespective of tenant actions. Moreover, the New York State law strictly prohibits the advertising of apartments in Class A multiple dwellings (usually buildings with three or more permanent residential units) for rent periods shorter than 30 days. Violations of these regulations could result in fines ranging from $1,000 to $7,500, issued to those responsible for the advertisem*nt or the rental activity.
Residents can report suspected illegal short-term rental activity by calling 311 or submitting a complaint online, contributing to the enforcement of these regulations.
Navigating these legalities is critical to avoid fines or legal action, ensuring compliance with New York State and NYC regulations governing short-term rentals.
