Can You Airbnb Trump Tower? NYC Listing Offered Central Park Views And More

An apartment in Trump Tower’s Midtown Manhattan location was available for rent on Airbnb before President Donald Trump moved into the White House, according to a Monday New York Times report. The listing, which came equipped with floor-to-ceiling windows, sweeping views of Central Park and Rockefeller Center as well as luxurious amenities had been available since September 2016 but was recently removed.

The apartment, located on 5th Avenue, was owned by a woman named Lena Yelagina and had been available for rent for as few as three nights at a mere $300 to $400 a night. Airbnb removed the listing following an inquiry from the New York Times, despite the fact that the apartment was booked well into April and May. More than 500 people had also viewed the listing within the days leading up the apartment’s removal from the rental site, New York Times reported.

There was also Secret Service detail on the premises of the extravagant New York City apartment building. Renters would have to check in with the agents at least once upon their arrival.

Following New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s law against Airbnb, which was signed into legislation back in October 2016, home owners have not been allowed to rent out their residences for less than 30 days or they could face fines up to $7,500 for illegal listings. Airbnb had filed a lawsuit against the city in response to the law, leading the company to drop the suit Friday under conditions that only renters would be fined for allowing guests to rent a space for less than 30 days.

Two New Yorkers have reportedly already been slapped with $1,000 fines for listing for allowing people to rent residences for less than 30 days.

Under Airbnb policy, hosts were not required to reveal the address of a listing until after a guest has booked, which could be one of the reasons the company was unaware of the Trump Tower listing for so long. After booking with Yelagina, guests who had at the residence said they were only given the building’s exact address, 721 Fifth Avenue, and weren’t made aware that the apartment was located inside of Trump Tower until they arrived.

A representative for Trump Organization told the Times that Airbnb listing Trump Tower condos for rent on the site was not allowed.