airbnb

[Janet79]

are we allowed to discuss channel 4 documentry about airbnb or is my post being blocked?

[Helen3]

- I would rather you didn't I haven't seen it yet 🙂

But can't see why a discussion would be blocked.

[Janet79]

Sorry Helen, I will say no more.  Tried to post this on the London page but couldn't so wrongly or rightly I started to get Airbnb paranoia or have I just drunk too much red wine?  Anyways, thought it would be an interesting discussion for us UK bnb'ers.

[Coleen2]

I'm in France... please do tell the details of this channel Air BnB documentary. I am interested.

[Janet79]

A brief synopsis: horror stories from hosts who's propperties were abused.  The social impact Airbnb is having on the housing shortage in London.  Social housing being sub-let to accomodate Airbnb guests.  A couple of hosts/guests who supported the concept in a positive light - to provide some kind of balance.  In no way did it represent my experience as a host so far.  Just thought it would be an interesting discussion point on the communitee forum.

[David126]

Channel 4 is a UK TV channel and unless things have changed dramatically specialise in shall we say the trashy tabloid end of the TV spectrum, I assume this was akin to Benefit Street, which I also have not seen but have heard a lot about.

[David126]

I can guess.....

Need a VPN!

[Janet79]

Hi David, just had to google VNP but now I get it! Obviously for TV purposes the documentry was pretty dramatic and negative but in no way did it represent my experience as a host over the last 3 months.  I think it highlighted the polarisation between those who operate within the original ethos and those who aim to capitalise on a more ruthless business like basis. 

[Zandra0]

I haven't seen it, but I've mentioned before I've seen mega hosts who planned on having 50+ listings on Airbnb.

You may not realise it but check out inside Airbnb: it's a really funky tool where you can check who is doing Airbnb and who is making tonnes of money. It's pretty freaky because you will find yourself on there and probably be slightly shocked they could know so much. When I checked last year there were over 30k hosts - and that's only in London. That's a serious amount of displacement given most of those listings are for whole home listings.

Airbnb does affect the housing market... A situation already bad in London given the amount of property bought by foreign investors. Looking at inside Airbnb. (Which is a very powerful tool) you can see large sections in areas like shoreditch totally given over to Airbnb. This changes the feel of neighbourhoods and for me is problematic.

There's definitely a tension between how Airbnb portrays itself; small, friendly, the chance to live like a local with a local, unique and the reality which is increasingly professional hosts looking to make a lot of money.

I don't know what the answer is; as a live in host it's been everything I hoped, but I can see the platform being used for rampant capitalism which I kind of have an issue with. It's something I've been feeling uncomfortable with for a while ...

[David126]

I posted a link about AirBnB wishing to target the mega hosts and that they have a special division to focus on this business stream.

[Janet79]

Thanks David, that sounds interesting.  I will look out for it.

[Janet79]

Thanks Zandra, much of what you say was discussed in the program including the inside airbnb statistics.  The number of airbnbs in London is quite staggering and obviously having a big impact on community and accomodation availability.  Naivley I was quite unaware that it's such big business in terms of specialist hosting agencies and megga hosts who operate multiple properties. I live outside of London and there are only a handful of airbnb properties in my neighbourhood.

I have two main thoughts about this;

1. It is quite clear Airbnb hosts are divided into two camps: those who subscribe to the original ethos, the small-time, live in hosts who are looking to help pay the bills or help with holiday money.  Then there are the are the cynical fat cats, (or rampant capitalist as you put it)  who never meet a guest or wash a towel and are only in it for the money. 

2. Airbnb have created a monster they can no longer control.  The beast has grown so big they are hiding under the table with a cushion over their eyes.   They appear to have no grip whatsoever on their business whether it be dealing with simple host/guest disputes or helping the authorities clamp down on those who abuse social housing. 

What's the answer?  If Airbnb continue to run the company with their eyes shut, government will regulate to gain control.  London is ripe at the moment for new legislation regarding empty investment properties, slum landlords and those taking advantage of the Airbnb concept.  In terms of hosting,  Airbnb need to make a moral judgement and decide what type of hosting style they really want to support, then take a hard line on those who don't meet the criteria.  Afterall, with an estimated worth of $10 billion, how much money is enough money? 

[Sharon114]

I am sure they said last night that airbnb are worth in excess of $20 billion.

[Zandra0]

@Janet0 I like a lot of what you're saying but I would given I'm a bit of a socialist. 😄 (a socialist who owns an iPhone and buys things off Amazon >.< )

Airbnb want to make money. Fine! But please don't pretend this is all about home sharing when it's not. The advertising and the way the company positions itself is starting to have a gap with reality; you are increasingly less likely to be living with a local and home sharing.

I've said before i'd like Airbnb to move the whole property listings to a different section of the website so it's clear ...

I imagine it won't be a hugely popular move and very unlikely to ever happen. But for me there's a clear difference between what I do and what Someone with multiple whole property listings does.

This is why cities like Berlin have now banned whole property listings for less than 30 days.

Regarding your point about London : I can't see it happening soon. Not when last year the chancellor gave a tax break to anyone making money via Airbnb, eBay or Amazon.

[David126]

The camps local to me are where people do live on pemises, 3 of us I think, a few hotels/bed and breaksfasts who use it as an add on to booking.com etc and list their cheapest rooms on ABB and the rest seems second homes.

ABB seem to be vaued last time I looked at $15,000 per listing, crazy.