Overview
- The City Council’s Housing and Buildings Committee held a Nov. 20 hearing on Intros 948‑A and 1107‑A with testimony from the Mayor’s Office of Special Enforcement and nearly 90 public speakers, and no vote was taken as the bills remain in committee.
- The proposals would let owners of one‑ and two‑family houses rent for stays under 30 days without being present, raise the guest cap to four, allow interior door locks, and relax the common‑household access requirement.
- OSE chief Christian Klossner said the measures could undo Local Law 18’s gains—with active short‑term rental registrations now about 3,000—open the door to unhosted rentals, conflict with safety rules, and effectively change the legal definition of “family.”
- Committee Chair Pierina Ana Sanchez voiced serious concerns, noting the carveouts touch roughly 28% of city housing, while unions including 32BJ SEIU and the Hotel & Gaming Trades Council opposed the legislation.
- Sponsors Mercedes Narcisse and Farah Louis, joined by Kevin Riley, argued the changes offer a lifeline to struggling homeowners; Airbnb defended the bills and has backed the Affordable New York super PAC, funded with about $10 million and linked to more than $2.5 million in support for pro‑bill candidates.