Airbnb's Anti-Party Tech Cracks Down on High-Risk Reservations

[discocrisco01]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by JudyM (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: PC Magazine

Less than two months after formalizing its ban on unauthorized events, Airbnb is introducing new anti-party tools that identify potentially high-risk reservations.

Launched first in the US and Canada, the system considers factors like the user's history (or lack) of positive reviews, duration of membership, length of planned trip, distance to listing, weekend vs. weekday booking, and more.

Guests who are flagged by the system and unable to make entire home bookings can still reserve a private room (where the host is more likely to be on site) or a hotel room.

"The primary objective is attempting to reduce the ability of bad actors to throw unauthorized parties which negatively impact our hosts, neighbors, and the communities we serve," according to an Airbnb announcement(Opens in a new window).

Read more: https://www.pcmag.com/news/airbnbs-anti-party-tech-cracks-down-on-high-risk-reservations

[AllyCat]

1. I just don't think Airb&b is healthy for communities

They can crack down on partying all they want but it doesn’t change what they are. They buy up homes in communities that are no longer available to families and individuals looking for affordable housing. They drive up home prices and rents. They charge ridiculous fees in addition to the price for the stay. The “cleaning fee” people report and then they have to clean the property before they leave!

[Maraya1969]

2. You wouldn't believe how many calls and messages I get asked to buy my house

More than any other spam It's all about buying my house and I would never sell it to one of these people anyway.

Plus I bet they lowball everyone.

(I'm in SW FL. A tourist town)

[Merlot]

3. AirB&B doesn't buy houses - investors do

so yes, it's really messed up when investors take homes off the market. However, there are people who use the site when they have a guest house, need to make extra money by renting out a spare room, or are going on a vacation and can let out their own house. It's a great idea, it's the investors who have created the problem.

And seriously, AirBnB - it took you this long to figure out out to stop parties? FFS, in Vegas all ABnB rentals not in a property with a permit must be 30 day minimum. Cuz, ya, they had a party problem in Vegas.

[AllyCat]

4. Communities need to insist on owner-occupation for a certain amount of the year.

That would stop some of the ridiculous inflation in the housing market.

Needing a place to stay out of town…hotels, motels, camps, and other traditional places don’t gouge people trying to just have a place to stay.

[Merlot]

5. Well, that would put a lot of landlords out of business

You know, the ones who own the houses and rent them to people, not doing the AirBnB thing.

The major threat to home ownership and housing inflation are corporations who buy up homes and rent them, perform little or no maintenance and don't get rid of bad tenants.

I personally like the idea of AirBnB when it's just people letting out rooms in their homes. I think it offers a nice alternative to staying in big hotels which if you've seen the prices to stay for a night are just not possible for some people. The AirBnB's make for a fun adventure but needs to be regulated.

[AllyCat]

6. There are other jobs. There are other bridges and vacant lots f

For the homeless families I suppose.

[Merlot]

7. Homeless families are a failure of all of society - not landlords.

[Quanto Magnus]

8. They also need to do better

in warning customers that the AirBnB is next to a party house....

Just a couple of weeks ago.... Stayed at an AirBnB in Santa Cruz.... that turned out to be below a frat house or something...

Bass so loud, our ceiling was vibrating... Little petulent children trying to start a fight.... "I'll beat you all up 1 on 1!!!!! Come on! 1 on 1!!!!!!!"

The bedroom I was in had no privacy.... Curtains didn't cover the whole window, so all the party kids could watch me... It was kinda creepy...

And it went on until 4am...

I don't ever want to use AirBnB again after that.... I'm not cool with what they charge and not being able to rest...

And they absolutely don't give a shit about their customers once they've gotten their money

[JudyM]

9. Locking

The forum hosts’ consensus is that this is not important breaking news, but would be great to repost in General Discussion to inform folks who might be on Airbnb’s bad boy list.