I'm so conflicted...

[Louise231]

First of all, I understand i'm part of the problem, but it feels like airbnb is starting to take over my building.

My building is pretty rare for Manchester city centre, the flats are really good sizes; large rooms, including large kitchens and priced cheaply, ie they're great to live in & the people living tended to stay for a long period of time so you could get to know each other.

Essentially they were flats for people who lived in the city centre long term, had pets, their own furniture, knew their neighbours etc...

(while i get this is a characteristic for many cities, manchester has a large youth population and a bunch of buildings where apartments are just investment properties full of 12 month rental contracts)

Anyway... I rent a room on airbnb because the flexibility works for me, i wouldn't have a long term 'flatmate' because it just wouldnt work, (and for years before i did airbnb i lived alone) so it's not like i'm taking away somewhere for a local to live. There are a couple of other private room listings in my building, although for different reasons they don't really get bookings.

But recently different flats have been re-furbed and for the short term rental market, first it was just one managed by a local co-host. But now another 3 flats are finished which are also airbnb bound- with smart locks, beds with bedding and cusions and the kitchen kitted out ...not for a long term resident (I had to go in to speak to a builder so i've seen the differences)

The building only has 20 flats, and the last 4 people to move out have been replaced by airbnb's . plus there's another flat up for sale i'm scared will go the same way.

I get that the building is in the most amazing location ever, but it's loosing what was special about it. Being full of people living their lives, in large, slightly rustic but cheap homes, not carbon copy, box like, tempory living accomadation.

It's not just the loss of neighbours that concernces me, given it's slightly rustic characteristics, maintanance issues (mainly plumbing issues) are not uncommon. (a quirk of how and why it was made in to flats in the first place) And without resisdents leaks are not noticed and acted upon.

Theres already been an issue with the flat converted first where a leak was left for ages. (Lack of guests, guests not noticing, or guests scared of getting asked to pay for repairs, who knows?)

And in the process of one of the newer refurbs another leak was serious enough to leak all over the stairs in the building and into the shop below. Yet trying to get into the flat to turn the water off without a person living in there is a nightmare. (as experianced already)

How do i reconcile the fact that stopping airbnb in my building, to stop whole flats loosing residents, will also mean stopping me and the other little fish with rooms from hosting?

Am i just being hypocritical? Or should I just accept gentrification is going to make these flats in a prime location change anyway, and profits are greater for the new owners to go with airbnb?

😞

[Sandra126]

There are whole streets in my village where nobody lives, or nearly. But this was the way before Airbnb as well.

[Kenneth-And-Lilia0]

Honestly, you're only real option is to join them and buy the flats yourself.  Not much else you can do except complain to the city and then if they say "no ABB", you can't do it either

[Gillian19]

@Louise231 This is why a lot of cities are clamping down on Airbnb and either limiting the number of nights for STR's or stopping it altogether. You've kind of answered your own question - you want it both ways - you want ot be staying in an Airbnb but not allowing everyone else to do it!!!

[Louise231]

@Gillian19But am i weird for seeing it different as a room vs a whole flat listing.

My guests stay, with me, and they become part of my neighbour-hood. Vs having no neighbour hood left, for them (or me!) to experiance, because im loosing my neighbours.

My friend (who rented) in the flat across the hall got kicked out as soon as the landlord did a refurb. (he wanted to rent per room rather than for the whole flat) She tried to rent another flat in the building, which was priced super high, so she asked for it to be lowered, they said no. (As an add in, this flat was up for rent for ages but because it was overpriced  -a basic two bed but priced like a fancy 3 bed- and eventually became the first whole flat to swap to an airbnb where they cound make the ridic price and have someone manage it for them)

Others sold have been fellow dog owners, i used to share chats with while taking them out, or international students living here while studying their degree. And after leaving, these people arn't being replaced.

The friend across the hall ended up moving down the street, to a tiny box studio to stay in the location, and half the flats in her building were up as studios on airbnb.

I don't know, it's just more in focus atm with the guest numbers increasing again (summer is quiet for Manchester)

[Jackie148]

Yes hypocritical you want it both ways, ultimately your in it for money just my thoughts

[Gillian19]

@Louise231 Apologies - I misread that part. This is exactly what they are clamping down on here in Sydney. No restrictions on renting a room out as long as the host lives there. But restricting STR's to 180 days for whole property rentals - which basically makes it not financially viable to continue with Airbnb.  Do you have the equivalent in the UK of strata laws that we have in Australia? thi swould be where as a block you can create a by law that stops STR's? But you would need to get in quick before too many go that way. Otherwise you will be relying on Council/Government to implement the restrictions.

[Louise231]

@Gillian19

Unfortunatly it was tried in London, But hosts just list 90 days on airbnb, and then the rest on bookin.com etc.

Airbnb stopped you going over the 90 but no-ones checking to see if it's booked from elsewhere.

[Paul154]

It is not necessary to stress about all these things that are out of our hands.

The market is a huge unstoppable force. It is bigger than you or I. People want what they want.

The market consists of adults with opposing interests to balance out each others greed.

While you may believe it’s “good”  to have “flats that are really good sizes; large rooms, including large kitchens and priced cheaply” in the middle of a highly desired city, have you considered the other side? Perhaps is not so “good” for the landlord. Perhaps he’s nearing retirement without enough funds for his future health needs.

The market also creates supply when demand is high.

When prices go up, competition comes in to create MORE housing.

This is one function of Airbnb. It is allowing denser housing. You are the perfect example. Without Airbnb, you may choose to house no one.

To sleep easy, have faith that the system works. We are all part of the solution. Airbnb come about as another way to create supply. The market is the market. Attempts to subvert it ALWAYS create worse problems. Do you really think that if Airbnbs were stopped, all the changes in your neighborhood would cease?

The communities that outlaw Airbnbs will not be as vital, nor reach the needs of their citizens as those that embrace Airbnb and the market economy.

[Susan17]

@Louise231 A timely article from today's Guardian... 

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/31/airbnb-sharing-economy-cities-barcelona-inequa...

[Paul154]

@Susan0, food for thought. The most important aspect of Gaby Hinsliff's article is that  it is an EDITORIAL.  Even though she writes "statements" under the color of truth (Airbnb does this, Airbnb is responsible for that...) it is an OPINION. The Guardian does not back her with research or documentation, it justs lets her say her opinion.