By Bill Parry
Queens residents want their Airbnb.
A Quinnipiac poll, released Tuesday, shows that 60 percent of Queens voters say they should be able to rent rooms in their homes to strangers who pay. Meanwhile, 29 percent of Queens residents did not support room-sharing, according to Quinnipiac.
The poll, which was not paid for by Airbnb, shows that citywide room rentals were favored 56 percent to 36 percent.
“Today, a new independent poll confirms that New Yorkers support home sharing,” Airbnb Head of Global Public Policy David Hantman said. “This poll confirms what we’ve known for some time: The majority of New Yorkers support home sharing and believe they should be able to share the home in which they live.”
The greatest opposition came from the Bronx and Staten Island, where half the voters said no to room rentals. Citywide, support was strongest among young people, with 64 percent of people between 18 and 29 endorsing the idea.
State law bans sublets shorter than 30 days when the primary tenant is not home, and state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has been investigating suspected violations by Airbnb. His office does not comment about ongoing investigations.
A study showed that the house-sharing website Airbnb generated $12 million in Queens last year alone. The analysis showed that 680 hosts in Queens lodged 16,200 guests in their homes earning $4 million, while visitors spent $7 million with businesses throughout the borough.
“Airbnb is helping Queens residents pay their bills and pursue their dreams while giving travelers a new, authentic way to experience New York City by staying in different neighborhoods,” company CEO Brian Chesky said in February.
The Quinnipiac Poll shows that the service remains popular in the borough.
“We’re proud that the Airbnb platform helps New Yorkers share their space with responsible travelers from around the world,” Hantman said. “We look forward to continuing to educate even more people about the Airbnb community in New York and how Airbnb hosts and guests make this amazing city an even better place to live, work and visit.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparry@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4538.
