I bought a condo near a sporting/concert center and I live though hell during summer because my neighbors rent out their condos to concert going college kids on AirBnB.
I've written to my alderman, complained to the city with listings on AirBnb. Nothing. No response.
It would be a dream come true for me someone prosecutes AirBnb and puts the founders behind bars.
If you have an HOA, you should review the bylaws, etc. If the rentals you describe appear to be in violation, it might be worth speaking with an attorney about the possibility of a selective enforcement action.
Seconded. They're almost always in violation because mortgage underwriters don't like high numbers of rentals and they certainly wouldn't like any <30-day rentals. So standard HOA docs forbid all short-term rentals and often require jumping through hoops for 1-year rentals.
My HOA board was ready to put a lien on someone's condo because their dog frequently pooped in the common areas. HOA management companies issue liens with regularity and it would certainly force the owner to take action. I'd recommend attending the next board meeting an appealing directly to the HOA chair.
AirBnB violates NY's illegal hotel law (e.g. http://www.scribd.com/doc/142650911/Decision-and-Order-for-N...). AirBnB actively promotes in New York (they have been actively airing ads on local TV) and made no effort (at least, when the issue first flared up) to make users aware of the relevant laws.
OK, so they broke NYC law. I probably do that 25 times a day. So does everyone else. Did they do anything morally wrong? I mean the developers, not the people renting their apartments.
These are not victimless crimes, the neighbors are the victims, and AirBnb is willfully facilitating illegal and antisocial behavior. That's plainly immoral.
Renting your residence to vacationers is antisocial now. Ok.
I have to wonder what proportion of Airbnb's transactions ever cause any kind of disturbance to anyone. If it's the rule rather than the exception that "vacationers" turn out to be party animals who tear up the place, it's surprising that tenants in prosocial environments would even continue to take that risk.
Let me clarify... the noise is one thing, the constant flow of people another, and the issue of not feeling/being secure yet another (and not the least). Add to that the effects it has on rents and available apartments, and you might see my point that regulation of illegal short-term sublets by tenants in an apartment building is indeed in need of regulation.
When I was an apartment dweller, the noise, constant flow of people, and feeling of insecurity (and silverfish) went with the territory because that's the type of place I could afford. If I had been in a nice, quiet apartment with pleasant neighbors, I would have been wary of being evicted for violating the lease unless the risk of my "guests" causing a problem was very low.
That's why I have to wonder what the real situation is. I see a few complaints about disturbances with nothing being done by the landlord (which is what I'd expect at my old slum apartment), but nobody complaining about being evicted for using Airbnb (which is what I'd expect if a tenant were to turn a nice apartment building into a party hotel, as some complainers insinuate).
In any case, this seems like a problem that already has a resolution: Evict people for subletting if the contract prohibits it, regardless of whether the customers were found on a web site or in the back alley.
If it isn't willful, then you need to demonstrate that that you're not totally ignorant of the concerns people have. Educating yourself isn't our job; it's yours.
Comments
I bought a condo near a sporting/concert center and I live though hell during summer because my neighbors rent out their condos to concert going college kids on AirBnB.
I've written to my alderman, complained to the city with listings on AirBnb. Nothing. No response.
It would be a dream come true for me someone prosecutes AirBnb and puts the founders behind bars.
If you have an HOA, you should review the bylaws, etc. If the rentals you describe appear to be in violation, it might be worth speaking with an attorney about the possibility of a selective enforcement action.
Seconded. They're almost always in violation because mortgage underwriters don't like high numbers of rentals and they certainly wouldn't like any <30-day rentals. So standard HOA docs forbid all short-term rentals and often require jumping through hoops for 1-year rentals.
My HOA board was ready to put a lien on someone's condo because their dog frequently pooped in the common areas. HOA management companies issue liens with regularity and it would certainly force the owner to take action. I'd recommend attending the next board meeting an appealing directly to the HOA chair.
What have they done wrong? Made it easier for people to share living space? God forbid people make tools that make travel easier and more accessible.
AirBnB violates NY's illegal hotel law (e.g. http://www.scribd.com/doc/142650911/Decision-and-Order-for-N...). AirBnB actively promotes in New York (they have been actively airing ads on local TV) and made no effort (at least, when the issue first flared up) to make users aware of the relevant laws.
OK, so they broke NYC law. I probably do that 25 times a day. So does everyone else. Did they do anything morally wrong? I mean the developers, not the people renting their apartments.
These are not victimless crimes, the neighbors are the victims, and AirBnb is willfully facilitating illegal and antisocial behavior. That's plainly immoral.
Renting your residence to vacationers is antisocial now. Ok.
I have to wonder what proportion of Airbnb's transactions ever cause any kind of disturbance to anyone. If it's the rule rather than the exception that "vacationers" turn out to be party animals who tear up the place, it's surprising that tenants in prosocial environments would even continue to take that risk.
Let me clarify... the noise is one thing, the constant flow of people another, and the issue of not feeling/being secure yet another (and not the least). Add to that the effects it has on rents and available apartments, and you might see my point that regulation of illegal short-term sublets by tenants in an apartment building is indeed in need of regulation.
When I was an apartment dweller, the noise, constant flow of people, and feeling of insecurity (and silverfish) went with the territory because that's the type of place I could afford. If I had been in a nice, quiet apartment with pleasant neighbors, I would have been wary of being evicted for violating the lease unless the risk of my "guests" causing a problem was very low.
That's why I have to wonder what the real situation is. I see a few complaints about disturbances with nothing being done by the landlord (which is what I'd expect at my old slum apartment), but nobody complaining about being evicted for using Airbnb (which is what I'd expect if a tenant were to turn a nice apartment building into a party hotel, as some complainers insinuate).
In any case, this seems like a problem that already has a resolution: Evict people for subletting if the contract prohibits it, regardless of whether the customers were found on a web site or in the back alley.
Is the guy running a crack house doing anything morally wrong if he isn't selling crack himself - simply taking a cut from those that are?
I don't mind a reasoned argument, but willful ignorance of viewpoints you don't like is an embarrassingly bad approach. It's transparently dumb.
Maybe it's not willful, and that's why I'm asking? Would you care to help alleviate my ignorance?
FWIW, I've actually heard a lot of viewpoints against AirBnB; I just think they're all poorly reasoned.
People don't want to be regularly woken by strangers in their building.
Well unfortunately, that happens in any apartment building. It's not specific to AirBnB. Anything else?
If it isn't willful, then you need to demonstrate that that you're not totally ignorant of the concerns people have. Educating yourself isn't our job; it's yours.
Did you read the article?