Brad Lander Unveils “HomeShare NYC” to Boost City’s Housing Stock, Enhance Affordability, and Offer Financial Solution for Homeowners
Lander’s solution would enable owners to rent spaces in their homes – including some previously offered through Airbnb before the city’s laws were changed in 2023 – on a monthly basis, expanding affordable housing to an estimated 10,000 New Yorkers
Lander: “Like Airbnb, but for tenants, not tourists”
NEW YORK — As part of his commitment to make New York City more affordable, New York City Comptroller and mayoral candidate Brad Lander today announced an innovative solution to help tackle New York City’s affordable housing crisis by using existing housing more effectively. The plan, “HomeShare NYC,” will connect homeowners who have extra space in their homes with New Yorkers seeking to rent housing at affordable prices – like a CUNY student renting from empty-nesters or a senior.
“Here’s a win-win solution that will help renters frustrated that the rent is too damn high, and homeowners frustrated that they can no longer list their units on Airbnb,” said Brad Lander. “With HomeShare NYC, we can better utilize our existing housing stock, provide affordable rentals to thousands of New Yorkers, and put extra dollars in the pockets of homeowners. By working with tech platforms willing to follow New York City’s laws, and on-the-ground partners, we can combine ease-of-use with clear standards for safety and accountability. It’s like Airbnb – but for tenants, not tourists.”
Lander announced HomeShare NYC ahead of the “Tenants Not Tourists” rally today at City Hall calling on the City Council to reject Intro 1107, an Airbnb-backed bill aimed at rolling back regulations on short-term rentals of one and two-bedroom homes. Instead of putting more rooms on the market for tourists and turning a blind eye to price-gouging, Lander will partner with shared housing matching apps to enable New York City homeowners to rent extra space in their homes – including some spaces they may have listed on Airbnb, before the City Council passed Local Law 18 of 2023, prohibiting owners from renting out a whole house or apartment to guests for fewer than 30 days.
Home-sharing programs are expanding around the country, utilizing platforms such as Nesterly, PadSplit, HomeShare Online, and others. Through HomeShare NYC, the City of New York would partner with one or more such apps, in partnership with nonprofit or community-based organizations serving homeowners, tenants, and seniors, to combine the ease-of-use of an online platform, services to both homeowners and renters, and clear standards for safety and accountability.
Lander’s HomeShare NYC plan would add an estimated 10,000 rooms to rental housing supply and put extra cash in the pockets of thousands of New York homeowners, while strengthening social connections and combating loneliness.
HomeShare NYC will help homeowners, expand affordable housing options – and boost the city’s housing stock, instead of Airbnb’s coffers.
Read Lander’s full HomeShare NYC plan here.
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