Outside of Airbnb, individuals are posting listings and searching for short-term leases in Facebook teams. Ads on Craigslist for leases have weekly or nightly costs listed—WIRED discovered one itemizing with a weekly and nightly worth on Craigslist that additionally seems on Airbnb, however can solely be booked for 30 days or longer on Airbnb. These off-platform leases pose dangers to each friends and hosts, who may get scammed with out the protections of larger firms like Airbnb. 

Craigslist didn’t reply to a request for remark. Meta, Facebook’s dad or mum firm, didn’t touch upon particular listings flagged by WIRED, however the firm’s insurance policies require consumers and sellers in Facebook Marketplace to adjust to native legal guidelines, and the corporate prohibits individuals from selling criminal activity in Facebook pages and teams.  

Then there’s Houfy, one other web site itemizing short-term leases. WIRED discovered that most of the listings come from friends who joined the location in September, the identical month New York’s new registration guidelines took impact. The intention is for friends to guide immediately with hosts—suppose Airbnb with out the charges. The website compares costs for a similar property on Airbnb and Houfy and claims to point out how a lot individuals can save by avoiding Airbnb’s charges.

Houfy has acquired a discover from New York City in regards to the new rule and is “reviewing how to comply with their rules,” Thijs Aaftink, CEO of Houfy, tells WIRED. Aaftink says Houfy, not like Airbnb and different rental websites, doesn’t take commissions on transactions between hosts and friends, and argues the corporate “is therefore not part of the transaction.” He says hosts are chargeable for complying with native legal guidelines when itemizing properties.

After the rule change, Airbnb is shifting consideration away from New York, which was as soon as its greatest market. Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky has lately said the corporate is exploring longer leases, in addition to automotive leases and eating pop-ups. And it’s got its eyes on Paris, its largest market and residential to the 2024 Summer Olympics.

“I was always hopeful that New York City would lead the way—that we would find a solution in New York, and people would say, ‘If they can make it in New York, they can make it anywhere,’” Chesky mentioned throughout an event in September hosted by Skift, a journey trade information website. “I think, unfortunately, New York is no longer leading the way—it’s probably a cautionary tale.”