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LANDLORDS HAVE BEEN evicting tenants in San Francisco because they put their homes on Airbnb.
Now, 20,720 people have signed an online petition calling for lawmakers in the US city to fix the law so that the evictions can be stopped immediately.
Airbnb allows people to rent out their home, or a room/rooms in their home, through its website.
In a mail to its users today, Airbnb said that some hosts in its hometown of San Francisco have been evicted or fined because they shared their homes.
On Tuesday, President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors David Chiu proposed new rules that would help San Franciscans share their homes. This is an important step, but there is still work to be done.
“Right now – some predatory landlords are evicting Airbnb hosts, leaving them only 72 hours to vacate their homes and no opportunity for recourse,” said Douglas Atkin of Airbnb.
Petition
A petition has been set up by an Airbnb host and the leader of the Home Sharers of San Francisco Airbnb Group calling on lawmakers to fix the situation.
He said that under most standard leases, “landlords can evict individuals or families and give them only 72 hours to vacate their homes with no opportunity for recourse on the basis that their home sharing activities amount to a violation of the City’s Administrative Code, as currently written”.
He added:
Some property management companies even instruct their employees to pose as guests on Airbnb to book rental properties they manage in order to secure the evidence they need to begin eviction procedures against tenants.
According to Business Insider, San Francisco resident Jeffrey Katz received a 72-hour eviction notice that stated: “You are illegally using the premises as a tourist or transient unit,” charging him with violating the city’s ordinances.
A new proposal by Supervisor Chiu would allow permanent residents to rent out their homes on a short-term basis – but they would have to be in residence for three-quarters of the year, says CBS.
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I dont see the problem, the landlords own the property, the tenants sign a contract, break the contract and you risk being evicted.
Idiot tenants breaching their leases by subletting.
You’re right – they did break the law so they should face consequences.
Still maybe the legislation needs changing. As long as the property is maintained and the landlord gets his rent what’s the problem. I know it’s a real struggle for many in SF to pay the sky high rentals.
Also it would provide real value to tourists arriving in SF.
At least the landlords stateside can actually do something about their tenants flouting the terms of the lease … Here they would have to deal with the ridiculous PRTB … Wait months to get a hearing and more than likely receive no rent in the meantime …. And the the PRTB finding in favour of the tenant as the land lord forgot to cross a ‘t’ on one of the forms.
I don’t see why landlords should have a problem with this as long as their rent is being paid and no damage is being done to the property.
Tenants have no right to sub-let and thereby profit from a service that is not theres to provide.
Because a landlord presumably is happy with the tenants they let to. They have no control over who the tenant sub lets to.
Extra wear and tear
That could all be added in as terms and conditions. Wear and tear, insuring the room etc. let the landlord get his piece of the pie – after all it’s all about the money – it’s not some morality.
A friend lives in San Fran with his missus, 2 years ago he rented another 1 bed just so he could let it out on AirBnb.
He charges $125 a night and is fully booked 365 nights a year, it’s like a full time job for him, he even hires a cleaner.
I know in Dublin there are hundreds of people sub letting illegally on AirBnb, why the hell not if it helps pays the scandalous rent, AirBnb cover damages for guests so landlords should have no problem.
I assume that your friend is making considerably more from AirBnB than he pays in rent for the apartment. You don’t mention whether the landlord is aware, but judging by you opinion of illegal subletting in Dublin, I’m guessing they’re not.
I think scandalously high rents are greedy and unethical, but if the landlord is charging close to the going rate and is fair and decent towards the tenant then it is equally unethical to sublet illegally. Typically the landlord has made a significant financial investment in buying the property and decorating and furnishing it to a reasonable standard. They need the rent to recoup their costs and then make enough profit to make the venture worth their effort. If there is a way of making more profit from their property then that is their opportunity to take advantage of, not their tenant’s.
I don’t know a lot about business but in my layman’s opinion if the landlord has any financial sense they should “evict” your friend (their tenant) and make it available on AirBnB themselves. If they don’t want to do the work of dealing with new AirBnB tenants every day they should demand a considerable percentage profit from your friend or employ him to manage it.
Well said donal…. exactly my toughts…
I read that in an Ali G voice….reconize!
Lol!
I don’t see the problem here at all. If you don’t own the property, you have no business putting rooms in said property up for rent. If I did that, and was caught out by the landlord, I’d fully expect to be evicted.
My tenant should be thankful that at least I gave her 3 weeks to vacate my property after I found out she was hosting people from Airbnb. Thankfully, my neighbor called me and told me that on numerous occasions, people were staying at my house. In fact, on one weekend, there was a wedding. My daughter found my house listed on Airbnb and I took action. How dare she rent my house without my permission. I work hard for that house and it will be my retirement home in a few years. I want to know, am I entitled to the profits she made off of MY home? Oh, and she thinks she is getting her security deposit back which I am looking into.
have your say