Airbnb Preps for ‘Anti-Party’ Summer, Wants Neighbors to Snitch
bloomberg.com
bloomberg.com
If all hosts/property owners were required to live within a very short distance of the property (and a cap on total # of properties, I think the changes would improve Airbnb (but open a massive market opportunity for competitors).
Seems like Airbnb is kinda at odds with one of it's main reasons for existing.
Most people I know also don't own ridiculous mansions, so have been using AirBNB to rent locations for these events (again, causing no property damage). They are fine switching to VRBO/whatever but these are expensive locations so it seems strange that Airbnb wouldn't want the revenue.
I wouldn't even say damage is the main problem, so much as neighborhoods being descended upon by random people who don't care about the neighbors or their sleep.
Beyond just the summer, a lot of housing is being reallocated from long term, traditional tenants to airbnb, driving up rent prices.
It's (perhaps) Airbnb's job to anticipate this and act accordingly. Or perhaps the hosts?
Who typically rents a large house that can sleep 12 or more for a few nights at mega-bucks rate?
An oligarch and his entourage? A polygamous family of devout Mormons? Or a bunch of friends looking to party together on vacation?
Maybe it's just me but my money is on the latter more often than not.
Look at the size of the house and it's location and most sensible people should be able to tell right away if it is a party palace or not. If so, a party should be no surprise --- and the security deposit should be set accordingly.
If anything I would say it is more like renting out off-road race cars and then complaining people got them muddy.
Depends on the rules of the race organization. Even if the example was for road (circuit) races which frequently use stock-ish) car configurations, EVERY rental company has for many decades had explicit prohibitions to using the rentals in any competitive event.
Similarly, it is not the slightest bit unreasonable for AirBNB or the hosts to prohibit use of their properties for parties.
If you want to go car racing, the responsible thing is to check out the many type of racing (autocross, karting, road, rally, drag, etc.), the organizations that do it, buy, rent, or build a proper racecar, join a suitable sanctioning organization, get qualified, and go racing. The irresponsible way is to rent a hot car and take it to the local street racing meetup.
If you want to organize a party responsibly, you or one of your friends can prep their own house, or rent any of thousands of facilities that cater specifically to parties. But, if you want to be irresponsible, sure, say you're renting a house for a vacation stay, and then have your three dozen rowdiest acquaintances over for your next rager.
Just don't expect anyone to respect you or want you back when you do the latter. Also don't expect them to respect you for arguing for being irresponsible.
Sheesh
If they don't want to do this, they can always stop. Or maybe demand an adequate damage deposit ... or a longer term lease.
Otherwise, it seems they are at odds with a lot of their customer base.
I asked, politely, for them to turn the music down so I could sleep.
They responded by throwing anything they could get their hands on over the fence, including cinder blocks, bricks and the like.
So, I’m not a huge fan of any of that. Thankfully, it was an isolated incident.
Still, I see Airbnb allowing these on a case by case basis. The problem is that event centers charge and arm and a leg, especially so if it's a wedding. As long as noise can't bother neighbors and the owner is aware of the party, I don't see a problem.