Should I tell my customers My place is not legal for Airbnb before they come?

[Ray231]

I’m considering doing Airbnb for the summer, and I know that my landlord won’t say yes to my Airbnb idea, I’m worried that if my customers ran into my landlord in the elevator then they will have this conversation...so should I talk to my customers before they come?

[Lynette57]

I would suggest not doing it at all if you dont want your lanlord having every reason to remove you from your premises. and your already worried he/she might find out. Also if your guests find out they could be given a full refund and you will end up with nothing but trouble and heart ache

[Emilia42]

There are many guests out there who would not book with you or cancel their reservation when they are told an Airbnb is not legal. Sounds shady to me. I agree with @Lynette57. Your current situation does not allow for Airbnb. Wait and start one when it does.

[Sarah977]

@Ray231  Seriously? You think it's okay to Airbnb a place you're renting when you haven't asked the landlord's permission and you're sure they'll say no? 

That's not only extremely rude, but illegal, Ray, and it's just a matter of time until you get evicted.

[Inna22]

@Ray231  have you given any thought to what is supposed to happen to your guests in case your landlord does find out in kicks them out?   Did you really type the word “illegal” in the title of your post and that was still not your clue?  Have you thought about what would happen to your credit history and future rental ability if you get evicted? Have you thought about why your landlord would not allow Airbnb and do you have absolutely no concern and respect for him/her?  

 Ray,  most of you guests will not think it is cute or ok  to do what you are doing and will not want  to jeopardize their vacation by staying with you . So no, don’t tell them. But please, do yourself a favor and do not list your place.  If you are mature enough to live on your own, I hope you are mature enough to pause and realize that this is just not OK to do and you will be hurting yourself more than you will gain.  

[Stephan-And-Skye0]

Yikes ... don't do it!  

[Ben551]

@Ray231.... if you play with fire, you'll burn yourself... and in this case, your guests too.

[Robin4]

@Ray231 

Ray, Airbnb is not for everyone....it's not just about a few dollars to cover the rent! There are insurance issues and a whole lot of things you haven't thought about yet like parking, noise, shared facilities.

At the very least if Airbnb finds out you are listing your property illegally and without all the proper approvals they will immediately remove your listing and close your account.

I know it looks tempting Ray but like evryone else here I would say.....DON'T DO IT!

Cheers.....Rob

[Alon1]

@Robin4 

re: "it's not just about a few dollars to cover the rent!"

A touch of irony given that's the way it all began if we recall  the Chesky & Gebbia Genesis story as noted on Wikipedia:

    In October 2007, the Industrial Designers Society of America was hosting a conference in San Francisco and all hotel rooms were booked. The pair could not afford rent for the month and decided to rent their apartment for money.They purchased three air mattresses and marketed this idea as "Airbed and Breakfast", with three guests staying the first night.

I haven't delved further into this story, but it certainly begs the question if C&G informed their landlord?

[Robin4]

@Alon1 

Yeah very good point Alon, that was indeed exactly how they started off but, that first year got them vitually nowhere, it wasn't until that Democratic convention in Denver in 2008 that launched Obama that they really got their idea off the ground and went from a struggling threesome of entrepreneurs to a company with a structured framework.

These are different times Alon, home hosting is not just about opening up the spare room on a whim any more. There are all sorts of regulations we are ball and chained by these days.

So, you are right Alon, a touch of irony there, we can wish for the past, but none of of us can go back there and bring it to life again!

Cheers......Rob

[Alon1]

@Robin4 

Of course, but we're entitled to dream:

   'All across the nation such a strange vibration
   People in motion
   There's a whole generation with a new explanation
   People in motion people in motion'

['If You're Going to San Francisco...']

[Robin4]

@Alon1 

Ahhh, Scott Mckenzie....when was it 67-68, something like that.

When I was growing up we had a couple of protest singers Alon....Bob Dylan  and a native Detriotian called Sixto Rodrigeuz!

Rodriguez career never really took off; he brought out a couple of albums but they seemed to disappear into obscurity. Legend had it that he was so pi*sed off that his career never went anywhere that he self emulated on stage during a performance one night....end of career! In fact he went back to his family scrap metal business in Detroit and there spent most of the rest of his life, married and raised three daughters. 

Unknown to him he was bigger than the Beatles in South Africa.....These were the days of those iron fist apartheid rules P.W. Botta and F.W deKlerk and the populous were looking for a protest banner and Rodrigeuz was that banner.

In 1996 a South African Journalist tracked down one of Rodrigeuz daughters and in the process of a phone conversation said to her...."How did you handle your fathers death those years ago"....to which she said.."What death, he is here with me now, would you like to talk to him"!! A concert tour of South Africa was organised in 1997 to sell-out crowds....Searching for Sugarman. That was followed up with another tour in 2008 called 'Dead men don't tour'! obviously a shot at the self emulation story!!

Alon, I had heard all about Sixto and seen the film 'Searching for Sugarman' but always wanted to know if the reality was as big as the legend that had sprung up around Ridrigeuz.

One nice warm summer night we had Airbnb guests Rosemary and Tony here. Tony was from Cape Town and had not long been out here in Australia. Sitting around our outdoor table having a drink, out of the blue I leaned accross the table and said to Tony..."What can you tell me about Rodrigeuz?". He sat up in his seat and in the broadest Afrikaans accent said....

"Rodrigeuz.....he vas bigger than God"!!!!

So there you go Alon.

Cheers......Rob

[Paul154]

@Ray231 

In answer to your question, I would not point out the illegality of your Airbnb apartment, nor would I admonish my guests to not speak to your landlord. It just magnifies the issue. 

You can ask guests not to announce your business to others. 

Many hosts here are trying to scare you. While they do have valid concerns, you know your situation best. It is possible to run a discreet Airbnb business. Many people do. 

Good luck

[Robin4]

@Paul154 

That answer does disappoint me a bit Paul, I don't think that is does any of us good to advise people to do things that we know could cause trouble.

What your saying is Paul, it is fine to lodge a false tax return, many people do it and if you can get away with it without getting caught, well and good.

What happens when Ray returns from time away from her apartment to find her posessions removed and her lease terminated because she broke the terms of it. Do you think she will thank you for your advice when she herself is out on the street....and having been evicted, have little chance of getting another rental agreement and end up in welfare housing.

We should never suggest that hosts operate behind Airbnb or anyone elses back. Sorry Paul, I respect you but, I don't think, on this occasion, that is sound advice.

Cheers......Rob

[Lisa723]

@Ray231 yes, of course you should, so they can make an informed decision about whether to stay in an illegal listing where they can be evicted at any time, or... not. @Paul154 I am also frankly surprised by your response-- this is exactly the kind of thing that gives legit Airbnb listings a bad name. Unless you are trolling Ray, which, now that I think about it, seems quite plausible. Or maybe Ray is trolling all of us...