ALBANY, NY (WRGB) — New York State’s short-term rental legislation continues to be a sensitive issue.
The bill, which passed both houses of the state legislature, aims to create a statewide registry for short-term rentals and allow municipalities to collect sales tax.
At the heart of the debate is how to balance the needs of property owners who rent out their properties through platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO to generate income, on the one hand, and growing concerns about housing availability and neighborhood stability, on the other.
“We need to develop a better sense of this industry and where these (short-term rentals) are taking place,” said Assemblyman Pat Fahy (D), who introduced the bill in the Assembly.
“All we’re saying is it’s a business. Pay taxes like you’re in a motel or a hotel because there’s no fair dealing going on right now,” she added.
“By working with our partners in the state legislature, we have made significant progress on this legislation. It will create a fair short-term rental system that will directly benefit local communities by funding critical services such as public safety, social services and infrastructure improvements,” said Stephen J. Acquario, executive director of NYSAC.
On Monday, lawmakers joined county officials in urging Governor Hochul to sign the bill.
Some municipalities, such as Kingston, have already taken matters into their own hands and implemented local regulations for short-term rentals.
Tenants in these communities fear that the government could make it more difficult for them to advertise their properties.
On Monday, Kingston-based short-term rental property owners, including Giordano Rodriguez, met for a roundtable discussion to raise awareness of the issue.
BRIANA SUPARDI OF CBS 6: “What impact would government legislation on short-term rentals have on you as a property owner?”
GIORDANO RODRIGUEZ: “To become a local host, we have to do a lot of things, so anything extra that is placed on us is a burden.”
“There is a process in Kingston – you have to get the unit inspected, go through the licensing and permitting process and once you go through that, it goes to the board who has to approve it,” Rodriguez explained of Kingston’s short-term rental regulations.
He also fears that nationwide registration would impose additional costs on them, including insurance requirements.
He also fears that this would complicate the registration process and cause delays for property owners who want to rent out their properties on a short-term basis.
Under the bill, property owners would have to register their units with the state every two years, and municipalities with their own registers would have to maintain their systems and report information to the state quarterly.
The nationwide registry would be overseen by the Secretary of State and provide an overview of the growing short-term rental industry.
“It’s not about the registration aspect, it’s about what information you need, how detailed or how much information you need for a simple registration process and why that’s necessary. It just depends on what’s on the table, what information we should share, and that will determine whether we’re comfortable with it,” Rodriguez explained.
Although some fear a statewide registry would complicate operations, Fahy says most cities and counties she has heard from support it.
The bill still needs to be delivered to the governor’s desk. Once it is on the bill, the governor has until December 31 to sign it or veto it.
