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New Yorkers Fight Back Against Airbnb Renters
While many travelers enjoy the benefits of using budget-friendly vacation rental sites like Airbnb, residents of New York are growing angrier over the service. The main reason for the unhappiness is when people use sites like Airbnb, they are supporting a sharing economy, meaning the need to make purchases is eliminated and instead people share.So, what's the big deal? Sharing is caring, isn't it? Maybe, but it also disrupts the current economic situation. Moreover, renters are able to get around many legal issues this way.
According to the New York Times, certain residents of Stuyvesant, New York, are angry about the leniency given to this new generation of renters, who seem to be able to do anything they please when it comes to renting. In fact, many are searching Airbnb and similar sites to try to find neighbors who are taking part to rat them out and raise complaints to officials. Certain issues upsetting them include excess noise, mess, bed bugs and the safety concerns that come along with having a complete stranger in the building. Additionally, many of those renting out their apartments aren't legally allowed to be doing so.
A solution to this problem is still being figured out. For now, legislators and business bureaus are working with these companies to find a middle ground that will satisfy all parties.
What's your opinion?
[Image via zoetnet]
Filed under: Activism, North America, United States, Hotels and Accommodations, Budget Travel, Internet Tools, News, Consumer Activism
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Elizabeth Jul 26th 2012 7:29PM
I love Airbnb and I use it as a host. While I understand some of the concerns people may have over Airbnb hosts, it's simply not the same thing as a hotel... or even a bed and breakfast, if you ask me. It's much more like Couchsurfing with an additional fee. In my case, almost all of that fee goes to buying food, drinks, fresh flowers, gas for rides, repairs for the bikes we lend out, etc. for the guests. Most people who rent from me become friends and come back again and again--as friends. There shouldn't be a limit to how many friends a person can have in their own home, or with what frequency. Collecting a fee from a renter doesn't make an Airbnb host a hotel, bed and breakfast, or landlord. It's apples and oranges.
nimish Jul 27th 2012 4:07AM
Airbnb is helping my family in more ways than one. It has brought smiles and new friends for my retired parents. I love the service.
Naomi Aug 7th 2012 1:55AM
I live in a medium sized apartment building.
The guy next door rents his whole apartment out on AirBnB. Basically turning it into a hotel. Since he started doing it my life has been a living hell, I shall list some of the problems:
1.) Guests banging on my door, or trying to get access to my apartment because they didn't realize they are renting the one next door. Sometimes this happens at 5 in the morning.
2.) Loud obnixous people, sometimes 8 or more, partying through the night 'Oh sorry about the noise, it's our last night'
3.) Bedbugs, since he started letting it out on AirBnB, we have got bedbugs, the exterminator said they started next door (big surprise there).
4.) Groups of random people constantly coming and going at all hours.
It really is not nice to live in an apartment when part of it is being used as a hotel. It has made my life miserable.
Allison Aug 7th 2012 11:46AM
I take offense to the term "rat them out." The people in Stuy Town are trying to protect their community against problems such as bed bugs, crime, and preserving the already limited resources they have to maintain the 70+ year old buildings.
There is proof the current rise in bed bugs parallels the current rise in illegal hotels. One Airbnb host glued her neighbor's locks shut when she suspected her of turning her in, and guests have started altercations with residents trying to gain illegal access to the buildings.
All of this was in the Times article. Any one of these problems is difficult enough to deal with but all three? Stuyvesant Town has been aware of the problem for years and has done little. My hat is off to the people trying to keep the community healthy, safe and stable. I don't want this element around my children.
Victoria Aug 7th 2012 3:08PM
These illegal hoteliers (because that is what they are) should not only be ratted out to the landlord or property owner, but also to the IRS. Chances are they are not paying tax on their windfall income and do not have any of the safety measures in place that hotels and guest houses have to have.