Host Advisory Board members

[Mike-And-Jane0]

Interesting to see that some board members who haven't posted here since 2017 are suddenly posting multiple times. The cynic in me suggests that Airbnb have asked them to do so to find out what is going on in Airbnb land.

Perhaps they should have just invited some of the more prolific posters on the community centre to be on the advisory board!

[Mary996]

Good points @Helen3 . Re: closure without ref to Host. Gosh this is a long thread!!

[Nathalie-Et-Gilles0]

@all

"COVID-19-related circumstances not covered include: transport disruptions and cancellations; travel advisories and restrictions; health advisories and quarantines; changes to applicable law; and other government mandates such as evacuation orders, border closures, prohibitions on short-term rentals, and lockdown requirements. The host’s cancellation policy will apply as usual."

This is totally normal to apply the cancellation policy and not to repay guest when there are travel restrictions and illness because it is covered by travel insurances.

In France, it is illegal to repay for this reasons.
Travellers must pay with a CB insurance included or take a travel insurance or rent a place with a flexible cancellation policy.

Airbnb now suggests to subscribe a travel insurance.

They understood their behaviour last spring was not serious and that there are win-win solutions.

https://www.airbnb.fr/d/travel-insurance

https://multirisk-insurance.europ-assistance.com/en/country-selection?destination=/en

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Nathalie-Et-Gilles0 Whist the Airbnb policy may comply with French law it doesn't comply with English law. If a government mandate shuts down a listing (as it has currently for tourists in the UK) then the host MUST refund. Travel insurers in England know this and will not pay out on their policies because the policy holder should claim from Airbnb/the host.

[Nathalie-Et-Gilles0]

@Mike-And-Jane0 

This is why i try to explain that as Airbnb rent in all the world and will never know not only all the laws of all the countries on earth but also all the city regulations.

Do you have any idea of the number of housing rules there are on this planet?

It is impossible.

Rules change all the time at each vote of a city council or parliament somewhere in the world (taxes, number of days, minimum, maximum, type of travellers, autorised, forbiden, restricted, type of rental (room or apparment) etc).

It takes me a lot of time to follow the changes in my city which does not have the same rules as the nearest city in the suburb.
Cross the street, you can rent ...or not.
In Canada, some streets have the right to rent and in other streets, they, can't... in the same city!

If Airbnb is simply an intermediary between the owner and the tenant, Airbnb must apply the contract and the host's settings.

And the host must set up his listing in accordance with the laws of his country and city.

If Airbnb does not apply host's settings (and contract), it means it is not an intermediary but an active third party to the contract.
And the Uber common law could be applied.

I prefer to manage my listing by myself according to local laws.
Don't worry, fines are so high (50'000€) that it discourages to fraud.

[Sarah977]

@Anonymous  Seems pointedly on topic to me. And you pretty much nailed it. 

Just another corporate PR exercise, transparently, to experienced hosts, disguised as something else.

@Mike-And-Jane0  Wow. So this is just about more meetings, more talking, and useless commitees like "sustainability, diversity and belonging, and host empowerment with new tools and education".

I assumed the commitees would be dealing with issues like Reviews, Cancellations, Customer Support, you know, the things hosts actually need dealt with.

How naive of any of us who even had a glimmer of hope this host advisory board would be of any value to us whatsoever.

"Host education"? Gimme a break. That's just blatantly insulting.

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Sarah977 @Anonymous I couldn't agree more.

I could further categorise the 4 bullet points as

Talking

Telling

Talking

Talking

Sadly no action or meaningful change appears to be planned anywhere.

@Bez8 As the only HABM who I can remember do you agree or disagree with the points Andrew and Sarah have made? Please do send the message to Airbnb that their PR stunt of the HAB is very disappointing.

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Sarah977 If host education involves telling new hosts that the security deposit doesn't really exist, that any claims must be made before the next guest's check in time, and pet damage isn't covered  then it might be worthwhile........... Oh dear - why am I being so optimistic?

[Nathalie-Et-Gilles0]

@Mike-And-Jane0 

"Oh dear - why are you being so realistic?"

I do not know where you are going to get such ideas!

One more :

Airbnb does not apply its owns conditions and changes them all the time without notice including to existing reservation.

I know why we are not the best marketing board members 🙂 

[Mike-And-Jane0]

Indeed @Nathalie-Et-Gilles0 . I suspect hell will freeze over before @Anonymous , @Sarah977 or ourselves are invited!

[Mary996]

@Till-and-Jutta0 

Hi... Great to meet you. I was drawn into this by an amusing grafiti cartoon. Something about Eric Clapton. I'm more a Fleetwood Mac person...!! But anyway that's how I got here. Bit of a shock! So I gather there is now a mediating group between ourselves and Management. That's great. You have my support. Thank you. 

[Helen350]

But, @Mary996  - if you read the couple of pages above, & contributions from Mike-and-Jane0, Andrew0, Sarah977 & Nathalie-et-Giles, you will see that Till et al will NOT be mediating between hosts & management; rather it's all another useless PR exercise, & meaningless discusssions on 'diversity' & 'belonging'! - Have a read, upthread!

[Mary996]

Only if we  participate with such an appalling attitude!!! Honestly we can make this work. I feel very positive about it and don't agree with your analysis. Also I do appreciate that I respectfully asked you not to call in other members. If they've joined the thread they will see my contribution and hopefully allow me to participate in the way in which I choose without the appalling bullying that I have experienced and seen metered out to others. Once again @Helen350  please do not call in others when you communicate with me. Some of the people you name above have not met me and I do not want my relations with them to be prejudiced. I very much look forward to making the acquaintence of other CC members independently. 

[Helen350]

@Mary996 I did NOT call in others cos I did not tag them! (I omitted the @ when I typed their names, so they will not get a notification. ) Rather I mentioned them to draw your attention to their excellent contributions upthread, above! - Have a read! Andrew & Sarah & Mike & Jane have analysed perfectly what this  new initiative HAB, is all about - it's about spin, it has nothing to do with engaging opinions of grassroots hosts... We all have our own reasons for hanging around this forum - but it is unlikely that Airbnb management will have any interest in our opinions, as explained above. Perssonally, I don't feel that strongly about it, Airbnb works for me quite nicely, but some WOULD welcome chaange.....

[Mary996]

@Helen350 I read the entire thread very carefully but just don't share your point of view. Best wishes

[Mary996]

@Bez8 

I would like to Congratulate you on the wonderful news that you are to become a father! Thanks for sharing that with us.