short term rental laws for owner-occupied houses in Brooklyn?

Bond, I’m actually asking about single family houses. Still it’s useful to understand the situation for multiple dwellings. I’ll post if I find anything definite about single or two family houses. I’ve long heard that you can have “boarders” in one family houses but not sure if they’d be considered short term renters, and can’t find anything clear and definite on the general topic. Please do the same.

gardenerbk

in About Brooklyn 11 years and 4 months ago

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gardenerbk | 11 years and 4 months ago

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I’m trying to get to the bottom of what seems murky territory and appreciate any clarity. It looks like short term rental in vacant apartment buildings are illegal, and the cause for controversy around Air B and B, but does anyone have solid information about what laws are for renting out rooms in owner-occupied houses (if you pay required taxes,etc.). Where can you find the laws spelled out? If rentals under 30 days, which I take to be short term, are illegal, are rentals for say 60 days legal in owner occupied homes? I’m not clear about when rentals or boarders become commercial activity in a residential home. Thanks in advance. Lee

mozeeatupu | 11 years and 4 months ago

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Here is the actual law http://www.nyc.gov/html/dob/downloads/pdf/NYS_chapter_225.pdf But you do know that if a person is living in a place for more than 3o days, they are automatically thought of as tenants and you have to go to housing court and do eviction proceedings to get them out.

gardenerbk | 11 years and 4 months ago

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Thanks. Still trying to decipher the actual law. Among other things I wonder if short term renters would be considered “boarders” (a term used but not defined). If a 30+ day renter is willing to sign a waiver reducing tenants rights, I wonder if that would have any legal weight.

concord | 11 years and 4 months ago

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After 30 days they might become month-to-month tenants in which case, if they refuse to leave, they will still owe you the rent for the month (need 30 day notice to vacate, etc.) this is no different than if you have a ‘holdover’ tenant who does not leave at the end of the lease…

mozeeatupu | 11 years and 4 months ago

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A tenant cannot waive their rights and anything they sign to that fact is considered void in court. There is a reason the short term law is written as such outlawing stays under 30 because beyond 30, you are in tenant territory.

Bond | 11 years and 4 months ago

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A lot of what you are asking is going to depend on what your place is. Multiple dwelling is primarily addressed in the law, so three family and better. Single or two family house owners (in my experience) usually have a much easier time in tenant landlord court. I have spoken with a few different lawyers who seem to feel that Airbnb is okay in a two family houses but they also cautioned that there is no real clear indicator as to which way the city is ultimately going to come down on the issue. As today’s ruling indicates, even administrative judges are a bit unclear as to what the rules are. Confusing and annoying, but still the way it is. Best of luck, please post if you find out any thing definite.