The big Airbnb debate

[lio45]

I always knew this day would come.

Has it sparked something in Anglo-Canada too? Or just here?

[whatnext]

AirBnB is a cancer that hopes out vibrant city cores. Look at Venice.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by lio45

I always knew this day would come.

Has it sparked something in Anglo-Canada too? Or just here?

You mean the fire in Old Montreal that killed six people?

[SignalHillHiker]

It's chewing up the nicest, formerly long-term rental units in the nicer areas of town - which is bad enough - but also making those areas more transient and a bit rowdier. Tourism here is still more fanny pack than meth pipe, but there is enough of the latter to notice.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

It's chewing up the nicest, formerly long-term rental units in the nicer areas of town - which is bad enough - but also making those areas more transient and a bit rowdier. Tourism here is still more fanny pack than meth pipe, but there is enough of the latter to notice.

Meth pipe tourism?

[Wigs]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

It's chewing up the nicest, formerly long-term rental units in the nicer areas of town - which is bad enough - but also making those areas more transient and a bit rowdier. Tourism here is still more fanny pack than meth pipe, but there is enough of the latter to notice.

Air BnB is definitely responsible for tightening the rental market and like SHH points out some of the best rentals in any given city are no longer available. Great for tourists, awful for residents that can't afford for sale homes/condos.

As others have stated, the Air BnB owners having strict rules where they expect the guest to do the cleaning is absurd

[manny_santos]

Originally Posted by Wigs

Air BnB is definitely responsible for tightening the rental market and like SHH points out some of the best rentals in any given city are no longer available. Great for tourists, awful for residents that can't afford for sale homes/condos.

As others have stated, the Air BnB owners having strict rules where they expect the guest to do the cleaning is absurd

Although I stated I'm pro-AirBNB, I do have some complaints about some of the ones I've stayed in:

- No check-in process. The second time I used AirBNB - ironically in Old Montreal just a few blocks from last week's fire - I got to the property and there was no way to get in. The doorbell didn't work and nobody answered the phone at the number in the listing. It took 3-4 hours to reach someone to get let in - and this was at the tail end of a snowstorm.

- Falsely advertising that the listing had two rooms when it was in fact one. I had specifically booked that place as I was bringing a friend and we wanted separate rooms for each of us. The host seemed unaware that her own listing stated this when I brought it up to her.

- Falsely advertising that the listing was a room in a family's home. The family did not live in the home, it was in fact a house with 6 AirBNB rooms. That one was also extremely hot all the time, with the temperature often in the high 80s and the window in the bedroom being non-openable (a fire hazard, in retrospect)

- Security cameras in the kitchen which the host could watch at any time. I don't like the idea of being watched while I'm in the unit. I have no problem with a security camera at the entrance, but in the unit is too much. As that was not disclosed in the listing, I made sure to point out the existence of the cameras in my review.

Aside from those four experiences, I've had excellent experiences with AirBNBs - there have been many more positive experiences than negative ones. The best one I stayed in had a cat, and the cat was very fond of me for some reason.

[lio45]

Originally Posted by manny_santos

The best one I stayed in had a cat, and the cat was very fond of me for some reason.

So cute That would be a big plus for my gf and I while traveling (we love cats, but don't bring them with us obviously).

Those cleaning charges are total bullshit. I had no idea some people did this. My Airbnbs are actually fully runs like real hotels, my buddy who runs them has his employees who change the bed sheets, make the beds, clean the dishes and mugs, clean the bathrooms, refill toilet paper and soap/shampoo, etc. It's built in the price of the stay and there's no other charge for anything (AFAIK).

Contrary to most here, I've actually never been a user of Airbnb, only a supplier of them. So I realize I don't actually know how most of them are run -- just mine.

[Wigs]

Originally Posted by lio45

So cute That would be a big plus for my gf and I while traveling (we love cats, but don't bring them with us obviously).

Those cleaning charges are total bullshit. I had no idea some people did this. My Airbnbs are actually fully runs like real hotels, my buddy who runs them has his employees who change the bed sheets, make the beds, clean the dishes and mugs, clean the bathrooms, refill toilet paper and soap/shampoo, etc. It's built in the price of the stay and there's no other charge for anything (AFAIK).

Contrary to most here, I've actually never been a user of Airbnb, only a supplier of them. So I realize I don't actually know how most of them are run -- just mine.

that's the way it should be!

By your traumatic stories that you and your gf have went through, why don't you go on a nice vacation? Everyone needs a break from the mundanity of life. What's the point of earning large sums of money if you never enjoy yourself?

[Wigs]

Originally Posted by manny_santos

Although I stated I'm pro-AirBNB, I do have some complaints about some of the ones I've stayed in:

- No check-in process. The second time I used AirBNB - ironically in Old Montreal just a few blocks from last week's fire - I got to the property and there was no way to get in. The doorbell didn't work and nobody answered the phone at the number in the listing. It took 3-4 hours to reach someone to get let in - and this was at the tail end of a snowstorm.

- Falsely advertising that the listing had two rooms when it was in fact one. I had specifically booked that place as I was bringing a friend and we wanted separate rooms for each of us. The host seemed unaware that her own listing stated this when I brought it up to her.

- Falsely advertising that the listing was a room in a family's home. The family did not live in the home, it was in fact a house with 6 AirBNB rooms. That one was also extremely hot all the time, with the temperature often in the high 80s and the window in the bedroom being non-openable (a fire hazard, in retrospect)

- Security cameras in the kitchen which the host could watch at any time. I don't like the idea of being watched while I'm in the unit. I have no problem with a security camera at the entrance, but in the unit is too much. As that was not disclosed in the listing, I made sure to point out the existence of the cameras in my review.

Aside from those four experiences, I've had excellent experiences with AirBNBs - there have been many more positive experiences than negative ones. The best one I stayed in had a cat, and the cat was very fond of me for some reason.

The no check in or improper check in process is annoying AF.
Encountered this issue with my best friend in Toronto pre-pandemic. We were staying right on Bloor near Christie Pits park, in a small older rental building and had to contact the owner to get the key. It took 3-4 hours to finally get into the place as well!
And the apartment was hot as hell with 2 box fans and not enough windows.
In our case we paid for the location and not much else.

False advertising and cameras sound even worse!

[MonkeyRonin]

Originally Posted by manny_santos

- Security cameras in the kitchen which the host could watch at any time. I don't like the idea of being watched while I'm in the unit. I have no problem with a security camera at the entrance, but in the unit is too much. As that was not disclosed in the listing, I made sure to point out the existence of the cameras in my review.

That's definitely illegal and should have been reported directly to AirBnB.

[lio45]

7, not 6, but especially the huge spotlight that it turned onto the dangers of allowing the operation of hotels allowed to dodge nearly all the safety features required of actual hotels.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by lio45

7, not 6, but especially the huge spotlight that it turned onto the dangers of allowing the operation of hotels allowed to dodge nearly all the safety features required of actual hotels.

Yikes.

[SignalHillHiker]

Originally Posted by lio45

7, not 6, but especially the huge spotlight that it turned onto the dangers of allowing the operation of hotels allowed to dodge nearly all the safety features required of actual hotels.

The safety aspect hasn't really come up here as we've had no tragedies yet, knock on wood.

The main issues on the host side have been squatters who refuse to leave, and people who put everything inside the place in a UHaul and try to make it back to Ontario before the host notices and they're stopped by police at the ferry

The main issue on the guest side is by now AirBnBs are more expensive than hotels, and you have more responsibilities (cleaning fees, putting the linens in the laundry bin before you leave, doing the dishes, etc.). It's really lost its business case, at least here. Just waiting for everyone to recognize that fact lol

[lio45]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

The safety aspect hasn't really come up here as we've had no tragedies yet, knock on wood.

The main issues on the host side have been squatters who refuse to leave, and people who put everything inside the place in a UHaul and try to make it back to Ontario before the host notices and they're stopped by police at the ferry

The main issue on the guest side is by now AirBnBs are more expensive than hotels, and you have more responsibilities (cleaning fees, putting the linens in the laundry bin before you leave, doing the dishes, etc.). It's really lost its business case, at least here. Just waiting for everyone to recognize that fact lol

Lol. Here THE main reason Airbnb is interesting is that it’s legal to kick out the people at the end of their stay.

In Florida, I never ever considered Airbnb, even though now that I think of it, it’d work well (some of my properties are a 10 min drive to the ocean, and it’s a super touristy area).

The only reason to do Airbnb IMO is to avoid crazy pro-tenant laws (such as Quebec’s). If Quebec were less unreasonable, I’d operate like in FL, with only actual long-term tenants and I’d never even have given Airbnb a look.

[OldDartmouthMark]

I'd be fine if all Airbnbs were to cease functioning as such, and all that housing returned to people who just need a place to live in their city. The negatives of Airbnbs far outweigh the positives, IMHO.

[lio45]

The owner might be in trouble.

Part of my portfolio is operated as Airbnbs by a buddy of mine, all in zones where it’s legal at least; he wanted to expand recently, in light of this I’m really going to draw a solid line at doing it in buildings not adapted to borderline-hotel use.

[drew]

I can't speak for other cities in Canada, but based on the building where I work in Winnipeg, the main purpose of Airbnb seems to be for dealing drugs and escorts.

[lio45]

Not sure if the story made the news for you guys but one of the Airbnb users who burned to death has her 911 call recorded, she was trapped in her window-less bedroom (totally illegal) …

[MonctonRad]

I hate Air BnBs

My main issue is that as Air Bnbs proliferate, they result in the removal of traditional rental units from the market place, and this at a time when there is a housing crisis in the country.

This is just as, if not more, important than the use of Air BnBs for illicit activities.

They absolutely need to be tightly regulated and controlled - at least as much as hotel properties are (and taxed accordingly).