New York Vans Removed From AirBNB
At least three customized vans, lacking showers, which were being rented out as curbside accommodations on the Upper East Side of NYC, have been removed from Airbnb, after being parked for at least 5-6 months.
An Airbnb spokesperson stated, “After conducting an investigation, these listings have been taken down as they violate the platform’s rules against rental listings on public land.”
The three listings on Airbnb, originating from the Upper East Side, had reviews dating back to February and were titled as “Lovely rv place,” “NYC Van Experience,” and “The NYC RV.” These vans caused outrage among local residents, who complained about guests resorting to urinating and defecating on the street.
All three listings featured the same type of vehicle, equipped with a bed, a small sink, and a toilet placed between the two car seats. A sign on the toilet lid read, “For Emergency Use Only Please! Please avoid using for #2!”
Despite being removed from Airbnb, these mobile accommodations are still available on Tripadvisor and Flipkey. Both platforms did not respond to inquiries from the Daily News about the vans.
Councilwoman Julie Menin of the Upper East Side requested Airbnb to remove the listings and has been in touch with the NYPD to further investigate the matter. She emphasized that city streets should not be used illegally as Airbnb rentals, especially on densely populated residential roads.
The Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, which oversees short-term rentals through their Office of Special Enforcement, appears to be taking its time in addressing the issue of van rentals in the Silk Stocking District.
In a separate incident in 2021, the city seized seven vans in the East Village and Chelsea that were being used as Airbnbs, triggered in part by a viral YouTube video made by a guest who paid $97 to stay the night.
In December, the city passed a law mandating all Airbnb hosts to register their units with the Mayor’s Office of Special Enforcement.
Airbnb is currently suing New York, claiming that the registration rules are overly burdensome for hosts, and the deadline to register, initially set for July, has been extended to September.
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