you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] 129 points 11 months ago (37 children)

Tbh I’m a bit surprised how quickly Airb’n’b enshitified. It’s not even a competitor anymore imo.

  • source
  • hideshow 37 child comments
  • [–] 62 points 11 months ago (5 children)

    Too many people who should not own and rent investment properties bought investment properties to rent as ABnBs. It broke the spirit of the thing, which was to rent space in your house, not a property used solely for that purpose.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 5 child comments
  • [–] 6 points 11 months ago (4 children)

    Why haven't zoning laws caught up?

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 4 child comments
  • [–] 12 points 11 months ago (3 children)

    They do but it’s apparently hard to enforce.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 3 child comments
  • [–] 10 points 11 months ago (2 children)

    Couldn't you just search Airbnb for your jurisdiction, then catch the landlord red handed?

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] 8 points 11 months ago

    I would agree.

    I say it less as I know why and more that I know a lot of municipalities (including mine) have laws and codes in place that prevent using properties as hotels, and have had them for years, and yet they still operate.

    So either they’re hard to enforce or they’re understaffed to do so.

  • source
  • parent
  • [–] 2 points 11 months ago

    They can pretend they live there. It's harder than you think. And legislation takes time that a new app development does not. It is also local, so you are talking about thousand of civic governments not in concert with each other, and often playing the game with rental properties themselves.

  • source
  • parent
  • [–] 46 points 11 months ago (8 children)

    The early days were actually great. People renting out spare rooms for cheap was a win/win, but of course "entrepreneurs" had to turn that into a side business and AirBnB had to maximise profits so it all went to shit.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 8 child comments
  • [–] 48 points 11 months ago (4 children)
  • [–] 23 points 11 months ago (1 child)

    Once again, Late Stage Capitalism in the root problem in all enshittification of an otherwise innocent and slightly innovative idea.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
  • [–] 5 points 11 months ago

    It’s so funny because that’s exactly how capitalism ruins great ideas. I’m actually proud to have never used AirBnB, but when it first came out, it was probably a great way to save vs hotels that were overpriced and have massive overhead anyway.

  • source
  • parent
  • load more comments (1 reply)
  • [–] 12 points 11 months ago (1 child)

    They have also destroyed rent in lots of places. Here in Spain prices have more than doubled for rent since AirBnB is a thing. Landlords even tell you that they get way more money from airbnb, so supply and demand and all that.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
  • [–] 23 points 11 months ago* (17 children)

    Tbh ive booked no less than 8 airbnbs in the last 3 years and have always had zero issues in any of them. No ridiculous rules or deposits or anything, and a lot more privacy than getting a hotel. More importantly, always far cheaper than getting a hotel that isn’t questionably shitty

    In that same span of time, Ive booked like 4 hotel rooms. One was a four star property that was great but stupid expensive. One was a “3 star” property that was shoddy as fuck, had bedbugs, and refused to give me a refund despite bringing one of the bugs to the front desk and politely declining to be put in another room. The other two hotels were decent but cost more than what they were worth compared to a STR. Hence I roll on with airbnbs

    Why anyone would pay more for less space and less privacy I fail to understand

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 17 child comments
  • [–] 36 points 11 months ago (11 children)

    Just an FYI, since privacy seems to be a big concern for you… AirBnB used to allow hosts to hide cameras inside of their rented spaces. It was explicitly allowed in their renting rules, under the premise of allowing owners to enforce rules and collect evidence in case of excessive mess/damage/theft. They banned hidden cameras in 2024, but over half of rental owners still admit to using them, and about half of all guests still report finding one inside of their rented spaces if they bother to look.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 11 child comments
  • [–] 5 points 11 months ago (1 child)

    AirBnB never allowed hidden cameras; they allowed visible indoor cameras in common areas like a living room or kitchen. This isn't to say that some nefarious hosts might have hidden cameras, which has always been an issue, but to say that they explicitly allowed it in their policy is patently false.

    Here's the archived version of the policy page in 2022: Use of cameras and recording devices

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
  • [–] 1 point 11 months ago (3 children)

    I meant privacy moreso as in coming and going as I please without interacting with anybody or being surrounded by other guests. But that is a valid separate concern I suppose

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 3 child comments
  • [–] 0 points 11 months ago (4 children)

    This is blatantly false. Got a source for your claim?

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 4 child comments
  • [–] 1 point 11 months ago (3 children)

    Which part are you suggesting is false?

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 3 child comments
  • [–] 0 points 11 months ago (2 children)

    That it was explicitly allowed in the rental agreement for the purpose of collecting evidence of rulebreaking.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] 1 point 11 months ago (1 child)

    I don't know if you're going to find anything that explicitly states that the security cameras are intended for security, but

    https://news.airbnb.com/an-update-on-our-policy-on-security-cameras/

    you're looking for this.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
  • [–] 2 points 11 months ago

    From your link:

    Historically, Airbnb allowed the use of indoor security cameras in common areas of listings, such as hallways and living rooms, as long as they were disclosed on the listing page before booking, clearly visible and were not located in spaces like sleeping areas and bathrooms.

    How do you read that and conclude “they explicitly allowed hidden cameras”?

  • source
  • parent
  • [–] 10 points 11 months ago

    What sort of hotel are you staying at?

    I just looked and the cheapest air BNB in my city is literally someone's RV for $100 a night.

    In most cities I can grab a room in a nice hotel for $100 to $150 per night. Cheap hotels are more like $80 a night.

  • source
  • parent
  • load more comments (-1 replies)