Here’s the best advice for a holiday vacation rental: Don’t assume anything. For example, don’t assume your home has a washer or dryer, or air conditioning. Don’t assume cleaning is included. Don’t assume the property description is accurate or honest or that you’re looking at the lowest price. And don’t assume the price you see is the price you’ll pay. [Editor’s note: Amazing that so many don’t understand the risks and down-sides of Airbnbs] (2024)
Airbnb resists subpoena for listings data. Why Portland’s enforcement remains lax - oregonlive.com. City officials say Airbnb still isn’t complying with Portland’s fundamental legal requirement for short-term rental platforms: checking that hosts who list properties on its site have a valid permit number on the city’s short-term rental registry before Airbnb starts taking bookings and related fees. (2024)
South suburban woman says Airbnb host charged her over $18K for damage she didn't cause. [Editor’s note: Few realize the risks when renting from Airbnb] (2024)
Alderman recuses himself from short-term rental hearings. (2024) Note: we’ve heard of this happening numerous other times - a clear conflict of interest for city leaders.
Airbnb Lawsuit in New York Exposes Fake Listings Issue. Airbnb has a fake listings and verification problem — and the company knows it. While Airbnb has verified many hosts in recent years, that doesn’t always mean its listings accurately represent the property the guest is trying to book. (2023)
Airbnb Hosts Try to Evade City Regulations, From Copenhagen to Catalonia. As tourists flood back, cities have responded with a flurry of new rules on short-term rentals. But policing this housing sector remains a challenge. (2023)
Displaced college senior Turns to Ted for $2,500 refund from Airbnb. Can you ever trust when renting an Airbnb? (2022)
Airbnb is more successful than ever. Why is everyone so mad at it? Do you get the feeling that Airbnb is basically the ‘emperor with no clothes’ - they’re clueless about what’s really happening and the negative impacts to so so many - or they just don’t care. (2022)
How illegal Airbnbs slip through the cracks. (2022)
Airbnb and new property owner apologize for 'slave cabin' listing. (2022)
Neighbors Don't Let Neighbors Operate an Airbnb. The ostensibly friendly neighborhood rental company has a black box division and is spending tens of millions of dollars in an effort to avoid any form of government regulation. (2022)
Nearly 1 in 5 Airbnb listings in L.A. violate law. (2022)
Airbnb Lobbying based on ‘straight-up lie.’ (2022)
Police Allege Airbnb Host Took Over 2,000 Images of Guests Naked, Having Sex. (2022)
Can you trust Airbnb online reviews - probably not. 'Perfect' dock at Ontario Airbnb suite submerged – but the company didn't allow a negative review. (2021)
Airbnb is funding deregulation campaigns in cities around the world. Residents beware! Airbnb is on a mission to override your city’s longstanding residential zoning ordinances and commercialize your neighborhoods. See research report. (2021)
Father Says Airbnb Aid After Daughter’s Death Was Damage Control. Company provided money and support when a New York high school teacher was found unconscious in a rented villa in Mexico. Her father now says the family was caught up in an effort to avoid a ‘public relations nightmare.’ (2021) See also: Airbnb has secretive 'black box' team paying out $50 million a year to keep disaster stays out of press.
Airbnb Is the Next Groupon - It Just Doesn’t Know It Yet. The future is bleak for the world’s biggest broker of ghost hotels. Airbnb has a scam problem. And a theft problem. And a gun-control problem. And a racism problem. And a pop-up brothel problem. (2021)
Airbnb Executive Resigned Last Year Over Chinese Request for More Data Sharing. Company says it declined to disclose more details with China and is transparent with users; former FBI official was told by co-founder, ‘We’re not here to promote American values’ (2020)
Airbnb Reveals Potential Noncompliance of U.S. Sanctions. (2020)
Airbnb hit with proposed class-action lawsuit. Lawsuit alleges three claims against Airbnb: breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and violation of California consumer protection laws. (2020)
‘A Bargain With the Devil’—Bill Comes Due for Overextended Airbnb Hosts. Entrepreneurs built mini-empires of short-term rental properties, borrowing against revenue that’s now vanishing under coronavirus lockdowns. 1/3rd of Airbnb units are owned by investors with 25+ properties, another third by investors with 2-24 properties. Again dispelling the myth of Airbnb as ‘mom-and-pop’ owners. (2020)
AirBNB may have to answer a few more questions about cost of local legal compliance on its way to the IPO. The cost of lawsuits against cities and lobbying states is adding up quickly. (2020)
Airbnb has spent at least $1,250,000 to prevent local regulation of Florida rental properties. (2020)
Inside the Rise and Fall of a Multimillion-Dollar Airbnb Scheme. Multiple misleading identities, more than 100 host accounts and 18 corporations were created to run an illegal hotel business in Manhattan, according to a lawsuit filed by the city. (2019)
Airbnb guests accuse it of deleting negative reviews and boosting bad hosts. (2019)
Airbnb is engaged in “a city-by-city, block-by-block guerrilla war” against local government. (2019)