Crackdown could hit Airbnb bookings

Airbnb-style property rentals face a crackdown because members of New York’s City Council fear they are driving up housing prices.

 

Homeowners who use the listings sites may be soon be forced to register their properties with the council after its members unanimously passed a bill.

 

Bosses of the listings sites would also be required to file monthly reports about their hosts and hand over their details if the plans are approved by city mayor Bill de Blasio. If they fail to disclose the information they could be fined $1,500 per listing.

 

Officials say they need the information to police hosts that operate illegally, which they say are driving up rents.

 

Airbnb said that the bill represented an “unreasonable violation of users’ privacy”, which they fear could see bookings halved.