4 ms·

I'm glad there's beginning to be some discussion on AirBnB's impact on the housing stock in SF. I really like AirBnB when I'm traveling or when I want a nice g

by philipn 12y ago

I'm glad there's beginning to be some discussion on AirBnB's impact on the housing stock in SF. I really like AirBnB when I'm traveling or when I want a nice getaway, but it's been incredible to see how how many units around me here in SF are full-time AirBnB rentals. Walking down my block alone, I'd estimate that 30% of the units here are full-time on AirBnB. Each afternoon, I begin to see the tourists and travelers roll in with suitcases, and I've noticed an increasing number of coded lock-boxes outside of many of the houses near me Whether or not you support rent control is an entirely different issue, but I feel like AirBnB, as it presently operates, is incompatible with the system. In the days of yore, friends of mine would have rooms open up in their apartments and would rent them out to fellow tenants (or subtenants). Now, many folks I know are converting their open rooms (against SF law) to AirBnBs, as the tenants can make a killing off of them. There's always been bad actors in the SF rental market -- many people would sublease rooms directly to tenants for far above the rate they were paying to the landlord. I think AirBnB just makes it a bit more appealing.

_delirium 12y ago
Do apartment/condo buildings in SF not have some kind of tenants' or owners' association or management, with whom you agreed in a contract to some rules on how you can use your unit? I don't think you could get away with doing it that openly in Copenhagen even if there were no laws involved. If you're running your unit as basically a hotel, odds are that it's going to annoy at least one neighbor, who'll point out that your lease (if rented) or condo-purchase agreement (if owned) doesn't allow you to do that.
- philipn 12y ago
  SF is a bit different than other communities in that most apartment buildings are really just these large, zany old victorians. Few have tenant associations or real management. My apartment, for instance, is a 4-address building, with each address subdivided into 4-5 sub-units. The building is owned and managed by someone who grew up in the building. I've lived in SF for 7 years, and never lived anywhere that's like a conventional apartment complex.

by philipn 12y ago

_delirium 12y ago

Do apartment/condo buildings in SF not have some kind of tenants' or owners' association or management, with whom you agreed in a contract to some rules on how you can use your unit? I don't think you could get away with doing it that openly in Copenhagen even if there were no laws involved. If you're running your unit as basically a hotel, odds are that it's going to annoy at least one neighbor, who'll point out that your lease (if rented) or condo-purchase agreement (if owned) doesn't allow you to do that.

philipn 12y ago
SF is a bit different than other communities in that most apartment buildings are really just these large, zany old victorians. Few have tenant associations or real management. My apartment, for instance, is a 4-address building, with each address subdivided into 4-5 sub-units. The building is owned and managed by someone who grew up in the building. I've lived in SF for 7 years, and never lived anywhere that's like a conventional apartment complex.