New York State Dismissed From Vacation Rental Lawsuit; NYC And Airbnb To Settle Soon

It might be only people who enjoy renting an entire apartment to vacation in New York City who remember the legal fight between the state of New York and Airbnb over a new state law. Last month, the governor signed a bill limiting rentals in New York City and imposes stiffer penalties on people who rent out entire apartments. While it’s a state law, the lawsuit has been dismissed, and it’s the city that will enforce the law.

New York’s state attorney general, Eric “I’m Still Not Spider-Man” Schneiderman,” took some time off from warning people about immigration scams to file a settlement of the federal lawsuit against the state of New York and the city of New York [PDF].

The state agreed not to actually enforce the new law until this lawsuit was resolved, and the state has now been dismissed from the suit.

That leaves Airbnb and the city to face off over the new restriction on subletting whole apartments for 30 days or less and fines of up to $7,500 for Airbnb “hosts” who violate the law.

In a letter also filed in the court docket, one of the city’s representatives told the federal judge that the two remaining parties in this case expect to come to an agreement early in December.

(via Bloomberg)

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