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by dickeytk 2419 days ago
I would be very surprised if that was the case. It's certainly not in the US or UK: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1985/68/part/X in the US it"s that it needs a window + closet I think.
4 comments

It should be noted that this act doesn't define what a bedroom is, it only says that a room is available as sleeping accommodation if it's a type of room that's normally used as a bedroom or a living room. This would likely rule out larger kitchens with a bed in them but I'd be surprised if a living room/kitchen combo are ruled out given that studio flats with a combined bedroom/living room/kitchen are fine.
This act defines what should be counted as 'room' for overcrowding purposes.

Now courts are not stupid. In such cases 'bedroom' would take the meaning that is generally understood. A kitchen or living room with beds in them are not understood to be 'bedrooms' if you ask someone at random, and thus advertising "3 bedrooms" when in fact there is only one with beds in the kitchen and living room would most likely be deemed misleading and false advertising.

San Fransisco in general like in Craigslist and not AirBnB has plenty of listings of apartments where a dining room + living room where they added a flimsy partition to separate the two and advertise as a bedroom. I guess no one complains tho since you just choose not to rent since renting long term is usually a look before signing proposition where as AirBnB you pay before you go and it needs to be correct site unseen
I fully agree, if somebody is falsely advertising a 3 bedroom flat/house on AirBnB they'll lose the court case purely on advertising laws, I was just replying to the linked act since it doesn't really define what a bedroom is at all.
Depends on the state, I'm sure, but in Hawaii it was a minimum of 70 sq ft with a minimum width (smallest dimension) (8ft?). In Canada (and I suspect the US), there has to be a window large enough for emergency egress.
From sibling comment:

In continental Europe, where armoires are a thing, I actually can’t remember living in any home that had a closet in any room with a bed, so I can’t see closet being in the definition of bedroom.

Did you read my comment? I never said closets are a thing in europe. I said that I think it's part of the regulation in the US. More importantly I linked to detailed regulation in the UK that defines what a bedroom is.
> Did you read my comment? I never said closets are a thing in europe.

On the contrary, you were discussing Europe specifically, and, you didn’t italicize you think, you wrote certainly:

>> ”In many places (e.g. in Europe) there is no standard definition of bedroom at all.”

> “I would be very surprised if that was the case. It's certainly not in the US or UK.”

You’re defending your second sentence, but the assertion I’m replying to is your reaction on Europe in the first one.

Remember AirBnB is worldwide and most of the world’s homes are the continental armoire model not US/UK closet model.

If this were true, it would mean that many, many bedrooms in New York City are legally not bedrooms.
I don't know much about NY but there is clearly loads of regulation and building codes defining these kind of things. I'm sure the definitions vary based on when things were built and to what purpose the definition is being used. New construction is going to be subject to much more scrutiny than anything else.

Here's some information on NY: https://www.hauseit.com/legal-bedroom-requirements-nyc/

> For a bedroom to be considered legal in NYC, it must satisfy the following requirements:

> Be a minimum of 80 square feet

> Have a minimum width of 8 feet in any dimension

> Have a minimum ceiling height of 8 feet

> At least one window measuring no less than twelve square feet

> There cannot be a need to pass through any other bedroom in order to access the bedroom

> Two means of egress, including a window and a door that can be opened from the inside

Though I did read in NY there is no storage requirements.

just guessing that the difference is short term vs long term rental. A falsely advertised long term apartment is something that people visit before renting so if it doesn't match the description they just don't rent and don't feel too annoyed. AirBnB tho people show up with suitcases and so it's very annoying but of course fixing it at the moment is a huge inconvenience
That is correct. Illegal subdivision of apartments in New York is not uncommon.