The Manifesto for a Common Sense Approach to Regulating Airbnb
Photo Credit: Is there a rational way to regulate short-term rentals in such a way that benefits everyone? Airbnb
Skift Take
Can such a thing exist? Yes, but if we want it to work, we need short-term rental platforms and local governments to cooperate with each other.
Is there a rational, logical approach to regulating short-term rentals from the likes of Airbnb, HomeAway, FlipKey? It's hard to tell, quite frankly, when you consider the many regulatory battles facing these platforms in cities around the world.
In Berlin and soon, in Anaheim, Calif., short-term rentals are or will be banned, for example.
In New York City, according to statistics provided by Airbnb, more than half (nearly 54 percent) of its rentals might be considered illegal. Why? Because they likely violate an existing law that bans rentals of 30 days or less for entire apartments. The state legislature recently passed a bill that would fine short-term rental hosts for advertising illegal listings on platforms like Airbnb, HomeAway, and FlipKey. It awaits the governor's signature to be signed into law.
The city of San Francisco is being sued by Airbnb for wanting to toughen its existing short-term rental laws by fining Airbnb for allowing unregistered hosts to advertise lis
