Here’s an annoying new twist on “if you see
something, say something”: Some influential San
Franciscans are proposing that the city start paying snitches
to report neighbors who may be renting out spaces via Airbnb.
Airbnb, which
launched in San Francisco, matches up travelers with local
residents who have space—be it a couch, a spare bedroom, or a whole
place—to rent out for a few nights or a few weeks.
A ballot measure backed by former city Planning Commissioner
Doug Engmann would ban these temporary rentals in any San Francisco
neighborhood not marked for commercial zoning. It would also
require hosts to get permission from landlords or homeowners
associations, enact insurance requirements for hosts, and—most
controversially—set up a financial reward system for residents who
rat out neighbors violating the law.
The language of the proposal isn’t available yet, but
Engmann said it will likely match existing city laws that
financially reward citizens for reporting various crimes. “Right
now, it’s totally unregulated, and the law is being violated,”
Engmann
told Venture Beat. “I have a real problem with
businesses that basically build a revenue model on encouraging
their hosts to do illegal activities—that’s basically what Airbnb’s
business model is.”
You could put it like that. Or you could say Airbnb
built a revenue model on encouraging their hosts to do legal
activities that freaked out politicians (and well-connected
competitors) enough to ban them.
Airbnb rentals are often much cheaper than hotels and nicer than
hostels, which makes it and similar sites (like VRBO) quite
attractive to travelers. These sites are also good for homeowners
and renters, who can make extra cash off temporarily unused space.
But politicians aren’t huge fans, because they facilitate
transactions between individuals without government regulators
getting a say or a cut. For more on New York’s Airbnb battle, check
out this 2013 video from Reason TV.
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