A google search:

"PROPERTY-owners in Paris who offer short-term rental contracts have been warned they face a large fine and a criminal record if they fail to get the necessary permission from the city council..."

http://www.connexionfrance.com/paris...s-article.html

sf7307, sorry, but I feel I need to explain where I got that idea. In probably 98% of all instances in cities around the country, rules about parking on public streets are set by the county, city, or state governments, and not determined by a vote or decision of a homeowner's decision. Even if a HOA requests a certain rule in their area, it is still usually up to the local law enforcement to set those rules and to enforce them. Homeowners (or condo owners) are not allowed to go out and fine people who park on public streets where it is forbidden. This is totally unlike the idea that a homeowner's association in a condo CAN impose fines and enforce rules about what owners do within that building. That's why I feel the two issues are nothing alike -- or certainly not "just alike". And a person in a house choosing whether to follow the local rules about parking really is not just like a condo owner renting out his apartment to troublemakers. First of all, a condo owner who doesn't abide by the rules within his building can be fined BY that building and even removed if necessary. Have you ever heard of a person's private home (house, coop, or condO) being confiscated because he chose to park in a no parking zone in his neighborhood? I haven't.

No- but I know of many instances of homeowners being fined for parking on the street during hours (often midnight to 6 am) during which it is not allowed. And while the laws are enforced by the police, they are usually town laws that are supported by the homeowners - or they would have them changed. And these are not "rules" of home association they are town laws, applicable to the entire town.

Just like town in which only single family homes are allowed- yes, it's a law - but one that the local homeowners want - or they wouldn't have elected the town government which enacted it.

And yes, if a home is found to be an illegal 2-family residence the owners are forced to resolve the issue - or they could lose their Certificate of Occupancy and have their mortgage rescinded.

Patrick,

Sigh! Give it up!

Oh, yes, of course SusieQQ, I have now that it has been fully explained just above your post. Clearly because people elect their officials then following the traffic or parking rules in public thoroughfares which were made by those officials is JUST LIKE owners of apartments following the rules of the properties they purchased. How stupid of me not to see that all along. In fact now I understand that paying taxes is just like renting an apartment since the taxes are set by the people elected by the apartment owners too. I apologize for not seeing that all along.

But Suzie, I'm curious why you always tell me to give it up, when it is always at least two people continuing to debate a subject. It's too bad you apparently don't believe in your own thoughts enough to bother to try to explain them when others don't understand them. Why do you consider explaining yourself such a bad thing -- and only when I try to explain myself, but not when others continue to try to explain themselves. Seems kind of one sided to me.

Here's the deal in NYC (where I live):
You are supposed to follow the rules of your building in which you live. I live in a co-op with very specific rules. I am not allowed to "rent" my apartment out via vrbo or wherever else and profit from it. I cannot make money from a sublet, nor can I let anyone aside from immediate family stay here for more than 30 days without my visiting at least once a month. It is what it is. Yes, there are ways to get around it but once you get busted I'm sure it's a pain in the butt.

I'm moving to a condo so the rules are more lax. BUT there are still rules. Can I rent my condo out to whomever I want? Yes. Can my neighbors? Sure. Here at the co-op I cannot do that. Every building is different. One of my friends is moving and he had to get board approval just to sublet and the board also has to approve the subletor.

Whatever the fight y'all are having may be, if someone wants to "rent" an apartment for a week or two in NYC then you better be really sure you are going to have a play to stay because there are a lot of scam artists here (not me!) and you may get totally screwed. Take Doug's advice, get a hotel, and suck up the price to visit this great city. If you don't want to then stay home.

I mean that in the sense that we love visitors, but don't complain to us if you get screwed with an illegal apartment and no place to stay. It's expensive here-we have to deal with this every day and we're not all millionaires!