What city department are you trying to reach by posting here?

Still no comment from the city of New Haven. It would be great to know what their position is on short-stay rentals on residential properties that are not zoned for such use. Are they dealing with the issue at all? Probably not.

Hi Rob,

I looked into this issue and I'm a bit confused why a Yale student would invest so much time and logistics into something that could catastrophically damage his reputation in an irreversible way.

Alikiah has started his business ReRent.co, via airbnb.com, with more than 20 apartments listed for stays. I also noticed there are many other Yale students who are doing the same thing.

Also, on the airbnb website there are conditions which outline exactly what they should do to avoid any negative legal consequences.

I find it hard to believe that so many Yale students would take such a risk that would endanger their future careers.

RFM
You posted this two weeks ago and city has not responded, I suggest you start calling. You may want to start with Yale,

If anyone is interested in an unsolicited opinion, the reason why people get involved in this kind of stuff with no attention to whether or not it is ethical, or even legal, is simply because they figure they can make money. I guess they think that if they are forced to stop, they will stop, but until then they will have made some money.

Unfortunately, the lack of ethics is widespread in civil life (just watch an episode of Judge Judy to see what creeps people can be), business (ever heard of Facebook?), and the highest levels of government (the EPA director using his position to get his wife a lucrative fast-food franchise, or the deputy chief of staff trying to hide out on payroll after his job is eliminated so he can make it to early retirement at 36, while using Homeland Security to reinstate the expired retirement plan).

And institutions like Yale, touting "innovative" business plans without even bothering to look at whether they are ethical or legal. In this case, the TSIA Center for Innovative Thinkiing at Yale features "Rerent by Alikiah" in their "Accelerator" program, which "guides student innovators", though clearly without the benefit of even thinking about the legality or ethical consequences of their ventures.

In this particular venture, which helps Yale students "to use Airbnb to monetize their apartment space while they’re away", there is no consideration of the fact that sub-letting is often prohibited by the terms of the lease, or the reality that the city requires a license for a "tourist hotel" if certain properties are used for nightly rentals. Not to mention the fact that "monetizing" your residence is likely to have negative outcomes for the housing market in the less conflictive areas of New Haven, artificially increasing the price of rents beyond what people who DON'T "monetize" can actually pay.

Not that New Haven is paying much attention, of course. They have been ignoring owners running illegal rooming houses for years (17 Mansfield Street, 19-21 Woodland Street, etc.)

Yes, Yale has some blame in this kind of thoughtless "business" practice. You would think that one of their core classes in the School of Management would be on ethics and legality. And if it is, it certainly isn't very effective.

https://www.city.yale.edu/blog/2018/10/11/introducing-citys-fall-2018-accelerator-cohort

The Livable City Initiative can be called for housing issues at 203.946.7090.

The City Plan Department / Zoning Division deals with regulations about this use of residential property, they can be reached at 203.946.6375 for any questions.

Thanks for fixing this request!