New York City Council Member
Mercedes Narcisse
Intro 948A
A Local Law to amend the New York city building code and administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to boarders, lodgers or roomers in a private dwelling.
Backstory
Local Law 18 was designed to regulate the operation of illegal hotels and protect New York City's housing stock, which it did. However, its broad application also caused unintended consequences for small private homeowners, who became collateral damage of a policy written to target much larger, multi-dwelling properties. These homeowners, many of whom rely on short-term rentals as a financial lifeline, found themselves caught in a web of confusion and legal risks.
Intro 948 was introduced to address these concerns, initially expanding the occupancy threshold for short-term rentals in 1 and 2 family residences to allow homeowners to reasonably participate in the home-sharing market. However, as enforcement under the Mayor's Office of Special Enforcement (OSE) began, vague language in the law created confusion, making it difficult for homeowners to comply without fear of penalties.
The current version of Intro 948 seeks to increase the number of borders a permanent resident can have in their home. While this is a step in the right direction, further clarifications within the Administrative Code are still necessary to ensure consistent enforcement and protect small homeowners from undue penalties. The law must strike a balance—allowing homeowners to generate income while safeguarding the city's housing stock without unfairly targeting those who were never the problem.
Link to NYHOA Memo of Support
View the full amendment language here.
press:
Local editorial in the Canarsie Courier "Opinion: New York Homeowners Fight for Common Sense"
"Setting the Record Straight: Exposing HTC’s Misinformation Campaign on NYC’s Short-Term Rental Law"
"The Real Threat to Housing Isn’t Homeowners — It’s the People Lying About Them" Separating Truth from Agenda in NYC’s Most Manipulated Housing Debate
"The Airbnb Lie: How New York Hotels Backed a Law to Foreclose on Vulnerable Homeowners"
"The Manufactured Crisis: How Bias, Lobbying, and Media Collusion Hijacked NYC’s STR Debate" A comprehensive forensic breakdown of every lie, distortion, and manufactured talking point surrounding Intro 948-A.
"When “Tenants Not Tourists” Turns to Racial Hatred: The Hotel Lobby’s Dirty War on NYC Homeowners"
Daily News: "Helping NYC homeowners won’t harm neighborhoods"
Contact
For more information about Intro 948 and other initiatives, feel free to email us!