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I'm in a similar position - I live in a 19th century ten-flat building, all privately owned. We had one flat rented out all summer on Airbnb and it turned me fr

by pidg 10y ago

I'm in a similar position - I live in a 19th century ten-flat building, all privately owned. We had one flat rented out all summer on Airbnb and it turned me from being 'meh' about the idea to being totally against it. None of the other owners/residents were consulted or told about the Airbnb, so the first thing I knew was a group of Germans at my door asking me questions about their stay, and whether I could give them a bottle of olive oil. Fortunately for them I was bemused enough to help them out rather than to think "well no, I've been at work all day, and nobody's paying me to be your concierge". Then there was a family who stood in the communal, enclosed hallway and smoked every night. And the group who partied until 3am all week; and people who slammed the main door rather than closing it gently (it's old and a bit fragile). I can't blame the visitors, because they were here for a cheap holiday and knew no better. And the people who rented out their flat are really nice (I'm otherwise on good terms with them). So it's hard to blame anyone but Airbnb and their business model. This isn't what I signed up for when I bought my home; I want to live among a community of neighbours, not in a cheap hotel run for the benefit of others.

swyman 10y ago
> I can't blame the visitors, because they were here for a cheap holiday and knew no better. And the people who rented out their flat are really nice (I'm otherwise on good terms with them). So it's hard to blame anyone but Airbnb and their business model. You can have an otherwise good relationship with someone while still holding them responsible for something they did.
- ewar-woowar 10y ago
  I think your missing the subtleties of British English, "can't really blame them" means that you hold them responsible but that you also see their side of things.
  - pidg 10y ago
    Ha, exactly. My annoyance over their actions isn't nearly big enough yet to overcome British politeness.
rmsaksida 10y ago
> I can't blame the visitors, because they were here for a cheap holiday and knew no better. It's fair to blame them, though. We all know Airbnbs are rented out by real people in residential buildings, with real neighbors. It's basic etiquette to treat the apartment as if it were your own and respect the people around you, no matter how much you're paying for it (and Airbnbs aren't always that much cheaper than hotels). I've stayed at a few Airbnbs and that has always been my #1 concern. Guests being assholes is an issue that's certainly hard to deal with, but it doesn't sound impossibly hard. Maybe if Airbnb had a program to approach the representatives for each building an Airbnb is rented out at, giving them a way to be informed about guests and leave feedback for them... perhaps include some form of shared compensation with the host, at a smaller %. I can see buildings being pro-Airbnb if there's a fair system behind it.
- dogma1138 10y ago
  >Guests being assholes is an issue that's certainly hard to deal with, but it doesn't sound impossibly hard. Maybe if Airbnb had a program to approach the representatives for each building an Airbnb is rented out at, giving them a way to be informed about guests and leave feedback for them... perhaps include some form of shared compensation with the host, at a smaller %. I can see buildings being pro-Airbnb if there's a fair system behind it. That would take effort, most hosts won't do it and Airbnb won't do it because they would be told to go and lick a power socket by most buildings. Having a revolving door in a small building without a porter isn't nice, noise, loss of security and theft can be a real problem. The building getting 1% (per falt) out of the stay is really honestly nothing say you have some really nice flat to rent and you rent it for 600 a week, do you think anyone would accept this nonsense for the price of a coffee and a muffin at Starbucks? Even if they manage to have 100% tenancy it will mean that each flat will see about 300GBP, sure no one will throw away 300GBP but this is likely less than 1 week of rent for most decent locations in London this isn't what is going to make the difference. Zoning laws and regulations exist for a reason, sure you can have a building with a bad tenant but this is a single point issue which can be resolved through the police, council or the building trust. And while not to sound too obnoxious when you are paying a premium for the location and accommodation you expect a certain demographic whether it's young professionals or more established families it doesn't matter, you don't expect 7 drunk dutch girls partying all day and all night that is for sure. Sure 10 or even 5 years ago I might have liked it, but not now, I don't think it's unreasonable to not want to live in what effectively can become a hostel come summer just because people can now pay for the upgrade to first class with Airbnb. I also don't think it's unreasonable to think that people should not be allowed to effectively build purposely built party flats with a huge bar in the living room and a balcony which was turned from a picnic table and a few benches into a dance floor just so they can ask for double the price while advertising it on ABNB or w/e.
orblivion 10y ago
Absolutely blame the people who are renting out their apartments. Bring it up at the association meeting. I'm in favor of AirBNB but rules within the building you own is legit.
- pidg 10y ago
  Problem is that there's no association - every flat is owned freehold and there is nobody who manages the building. However, any action that three households agree on becomes legally binding for every occupant. (This is just how it works in Scotland!)
  - orblivion 10y ago
    Now I'm just curious how this works. Isn't there shared infrastructure that somebody must take care of? That there could be a dispute over?

by pidg 10y ago

swyman 10y ago

> I can't blame the visitors, because they were here for a cheap holiday and knew no better. And the people who rented out their flat are really nice (I'm otherwise on good terms with them). So it's hard to blame anyone but Airbnb and their business model. You can have an otherwise good relationship with someone while still holding them responsible for something they did.

ewar-woowar 10y ago
I think your missing the subtleties of British English, "can't really blame them" means that you hold them responsible but that you also see their side of things.
- pidg 10y ago
  Ha, exactly. My annoyance over their actions isn't nearly big enough yet to overcome British politeness.

rmsaksida 10y ago

> I can't blame the visitors, because they were here for a cheap holiday and knew no better. It's fair to blame them, though. We all know Airbnbs are rented out by real people in residential buildings, with real neighbors. It's basic etiquette to treat the apartment as if it were your own and respect the people around you, no matter how much you're paying for it (and Airbnbs aren't always that much cheaper than hotels). I've stayed at a few Airbnbs and that has always been my #1 concern. Guests being assholes is an issue that's certainly hard to deal with, but it doesn't sound impossibly hard. Maybe if Airbnb had a program to approach the representatives for each building an Airbnb is rented out at, giving them a way to be informed about guests and leave feedback for them... perhaps include some form of shared compensation with the host, at a smaller %. I can see buildings being pro-Airbnb if there's a fair system behind it.

dogma1138 10y ago
>Guests being assholes is an issue that's certainly hard to deal with, but it doesn't sound impossibly hard. Maybe if Airbnb had a program to approach the representatives for each building an Airbnb is rented out at, giving them a way to be informed about guests and leave feedback for them... perhaps include some form of shared compensation with the host, at a smaller %. I can see buildings being pro-Airbnb if there's a fair system behind it. That would take effort, most hosts won't do it and Airbnb won't do it because they would be told to go and lick a power socket by most buildings. Having a revolving door in a small building without a porter isn't nice, noise, loss of security and theft can be a real problem. The building getting 1% (per falt) out of the stay is really honestly nothing say you have some really nice flat to rent and you rent it for 600 a week, do you think anyone would accept this nonsense for the price of a coffee and a muffin at Starbucks? Even if they manage to have 100% tenancy it will mean that each flat will see about 300GBP, sure no one will throw away 300GBP but this is likely less than 1 week of rent for most decent locations in London this isn't what is going to make the difference. Zoning laws and regulations exist for a reason, sure you can have a building with a bad tenant but this is a single point issue which can be resolved through the police, council or the building trust. And while not to sound too obnoxious when you are paying a premium for the location and accommodation you expect a certain demographic whether it's young professionals or more established families it doesn't matter, you don't expect 7 drunk dutch girls partying all day and all night that is for sure. Sure 10 or even 5 years ago I might have liked it, but not now, I don't think it's unreasonable to not want to live in what effectively can become a hostel come summer just because people can now pay for the upgrade to first class with Airbnb. I also don't think it's unreasonable to think that people should not be allowed to effectively build purposely built party flats with a huge bar in the living room and a balcony which was turned from a picnic table and a few benches into a dance floor just so they can ask for double the price while advertising it on ABNB or w/e.

orblivion 10y ago

Absolutely blame the people who are renting out their apartments. Bring it up at the association meeting. I'm in favor of AirBNB but rules within the building you own is legit.

pidg 10y ago
Problem is that there's no association - every flat is owned freehold and there is nobody who manages the building. However, any action that three households agree on becomes legally binding for every occupant. (This is just how it works in Scotland!)
- orblivion 10y ago
  Now I'm just curious how this works. Isn't there shared infrastructure that somebody must take care of? That there could be a dispute over?