Over a quarter of Airbnb hosts in New York City appear to be ignoring strict short-term rental regulations, with notable cases, like a Brooklyn landlord who advertised his space using a fake profile of an attractive woman.
In the past 11 months, 605 registered hosts have received warnings from the New York City Office of Special Enforcement for activities such as renting out entire apartments for less than 30 days or hosting multiple guests simultaneously.
In a review conducted in March, the Office determined that about 27% of these listings were operating illegally.
One example highlighted in a city complaint involves a loft advertised by a profile named Eva. Described as an interior designer and “passionate about creativity,” the listing was actually registered under a man named Akiba Biness.
Another case is that of Chanaya Vines, a property owner in Brooklyn who has reportedly accumulated numerous violations for using false images and names in her Airbnb listings.
One property featured a photo of a young woman named “Avi,” who supposedly speaks multiple languages and claims to be a “design wizard” during the day. However, the unit is registered to Moshe Katzberg, depicted in the lawsuit as a man with a long beard.
In another listing, a couple presented themselves online as paired hosts, but the rental was actually registered under Chananya Vineth, the owner. There are claims that Biness enlisted family and others to help register various properties in the area.
A complaint also discusses a loft advertised by “Eva,” who purportedly embodies creativity, yet the lease is assigned to a bearded man, Akiba Vines.
Attempts to reach Biness and his associates for comment were unsuccessful.
According to city allegations, these properties generated over $1.3 million in illicit earnings. After multiple complaints were logged about illegal activities, OSE fined Biness a total of $47,000.
The complaint asserts that Biness and his associates provided false documents to obtain registrations for illegal short-term rentals.
A requirement from local regulations mandates that hosts must provide a government-issued ID to register. The complaint argues that using misleading imagery is deceptive to potential guests.
The company behind the listings, Unique Away, stated it aims for transparent communication with guests, as reflected in positive reviews, claiming that any misleading elements are misinterpreted.
Unique Away declined to comment further.
The city alleges that following property registration, Biness quickly altered his online listings—from legal accommodations for two guests to illicit rentals for larger groups.
OSE’s Executive Director emphasized the need to hold violators accountable to ensure fairness in the market for compliant hosts.
Biness and his associates face significant financial repercussions, including $1 million in damages and daily fines for illegal rentals.
Airbnb is not mentioned in legal actions and does not assume responsibility for host actions. A company representative indicated that they have not received communication from the city regarding these violations.
New York’s short-term rental laws became effective in September 2023, mandating host registration and compliance with local codes. Compliance has reportedly led to a significant decrease in Airbnb’s presence in the city.
Most hosts, however, are adhering to the established rules, according to officials.
