The Threat of Eviction May Be the Biggest Challenge for Airbnb and Its Peers

David Shea, a retired typographer, thought that he was renting out his large enclosed terrace to a visitor from Miami who was looking for a cheap place to stay for a few days in Manhattan. The man had contacted him through Roomorama.com, one of several websites that connect travelers with private hosts.

... The next month, Mr. Shea received notice that he was facing eviction proceedings. The man from Miami, it turned out, was actually a private investigator sent in by his co-op board. Mr. Shea, 78, is now fighting to remain in his apartment, arguing that eviction is an excessive punishment.

... His case — and five other recent eviction proceedings for similar infractions in Penn South, his co-op development — has become another battleground in the fight over whether New Yorkers should be permitted to rent out their spare beds, rooms or entire apartments to travelers through websites like Airbnb.