4 ms·
The problem of actual unlicensed hotels - a set of rooms lived in by no one but short-term renters - is entirely different, and is the problem which should be r
by parfe 16y ago
The problem of actual unlicensed hotels - a set of rooms lived in by no one but short-term renters - is entirely different, and is the problem which should be removed by legislation. It's also the problem which many of the people who are against AirBnB and similar sites are thinking of; there is a world of difference between a group of tourists given free reign in an apartment and one or two tourists renting a bedroom from someone who is living in and present in the apartment. This difference is perhaps why so many of the people who have tried such services are in favor of it; they have been in the latter situation, which seemed quite pleasant to them and which was completely preferable to hotels (all of the stories I've heard of users of such services describe this situation). The people who are angry about it (outside of the hotel industry) without actually coming into contact with it (short-term renting of the adjacent apartment, with whatever results) are thinking of the first situation.
Dear god I read your entire post only to realize you entirely agree with the legislation that was just passed only you have no idea what the new law means.
- sorbus 16y agoReally? My understanding was that it includes an exception for situations where the owner of the apartment is present, but forbids the exchange of money in that situation (which allows couchsurfing, but outlaws actually renting a room). At least, I think that that's the bit you're thinking of when you say that I have no idea what the new law means. Admittedly, I haven't actually read the legislation; what I know is mostly from the comments here and the various articles on it (which have tended to have a quite obvious agenda, from one side of the other), so it's entirely possible that I am entirely misunderstanding what its purpose is.
- parfe 16y agoYou can rent rooms, as long as you are present. You can let someone crash at your house if you're away, but you cannot charge.
- sorbus 16y agoAh. My understanding was that the "not charging" bit also applied to renting rooms while present. Which, if you're right about it not applying, means that I entirely agree with the law and don't see why there's so much fuss about it. Thank you for clarifying.