New York City’s crackdown on illegal short-term rentals has significantly impacted apartment owners and renters attempting to skirt the law. However, illegal rental schemes have not disappeared entirely. To tackle this issue effectively, NYC co-op and condo boards have adopted a range of strategies to curb illicit rentals.

These are the board’s key strategies:

1. Online Spot Checks: Regularly search platforms like Airbnb, Vrbo, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace for listings of units in your building.

2. The Prohibited Building List: Apply to place your building on the Mayor’s Office of Special Enforcement (OSE) prohibited buildings list, ensuring all short-term rentals in the building are illegal.

3. Engage Building Staff: Train staff to watch for and report suspicious behavior, such as guests arriving at odd hours or not knowing the apartment owner’s name.

4. Educate Residents on Rules and Consequences: Clearly communicate the city’s short-term rental laws and potential fines to residents. Well-informed residents are less likely to violate the rules and more likely to report violations.

5. Implement a Guest Registration System: Require residents to notify management when guests stay in their apartment during their absence. Use property management software to track registrations and deny access to unregistered guests.

(source: brickundergound.com, picture: karla alexander)