New York City Council Members Cracking Down On Illegal Airbnb Activity
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork)-- City council members are working on their next step after a surprising study on Airbnb.
Recent research from a couple of community activists claims a lot of Airbnb properties in New York City are entire apartments or houses, being rented illegally.
Data shows more than half of the users are listing their whole apartments, which is technically illegal in New York.
"People just really trying to make dollars by converting residential housing into a hotel," Murray Cox told WCBS 880's Ginny Kosola.
Cox is a digital story-teller and activist and is accusing Airbnb of playing with the numbers.
"We have legislation we're just refining now that would significantly increase the fines on those hosts who are fond to be breaking the law," Councilwoman Helen Rosenthal said.
Airbnb Spokesman Nick Papas said the vast majority of hosts are everyday people who share their space a few nights a week.
