That I Was Part of Im Going to Try to Fined That Again
"As Invisible Tourists, nosotros want to back up locals of the places we visit, not make their lives more difficult." ~ Alyse.
In recent years, the utilise of Airbnb and other home-stay accommodation has exploded internationally. Sitting on the sidelines with one watchful eye monitoring this trend, equally usual I decided to exist a scrap of a skeptic before jumping on the bandwagon and investigate the fiddling-known facts nigh using a service like Airbnb for myself.
Despite its growing popularity in that location are some pretty troubling problems with Airbnb and similar counterparts, leading many to ask if in that location are any upstanding alternatives to Airbnb? Here I'll reveal what it's like to lift the lid on the hidden Pandora's box of this craze – the results may surprise you, equally they did me!
Aye, loads of people use Airbnb all the time without issues and that's fine. Dissimilar people prioritise dissimilar things considering in that location are different types of travellers. Many of my boyfriend travel bloggers could get you lot discounts on your start Airbnb booking and that'south fine, too.
In saying that, in that location is a time and a place for these services then I'd rather speak about the unpopular truths that seem to become buried under the disbelieve codes that are worth considering before you lot book a stay with a homestyle accommodation service like Airbnb.
NOTE: I get-go published this article in March 2018 and accept updated it since to reflect more than recent events. Be sure to read my final comments for my overall thoughts on short-term homestay services.
This guide to Airbnb problems will cover:
- 8 important reasons to reconsider using services like Airbnb
- What a lack of tourism does to neighbourhoods overrun with Airbnb listings
- Are there whatsoever sustainable & upstanding alternatives to Airbnb?
- Terminal whether you should use services similar Airbnb
This article forms function of my top strategies for to how to exist a responsible a tourist, detailing effective tips towards ethical tourism to do good visitors and locals alike. It also features in my #1 Amazon New Release book, which outlines my pattern for what we tin practice as tourists to enrich our travel experiences and avoid contributing to issues caused by overtourism.
Important reasons to reconsider using services similar Airbnb
I can totally hear you lot questioning my logic… You're thinking, "But, aren't yous all about travelling like a local and helping people larn how to non wait like a tourist? Then what'south wrong with renting a local's place on Airbnb? It's harmless and it's cheaper than hotels, correct?"
Ermm, wrong.
There's a saying, "Don't knock it 'til you've tried it" so truth exist told, I take stayed in an Airbnb earlier. I was with a group for a girls' getaway and my friend had booked the accommodation on our grouping's behalf.
The place was fine (although I prefer to have my own bed rather than share with a friend!) Despite this and combining it with the facts I hash out below, it simply wasn't for me and may non be for you equally well.
To clarify, in this stance piece I'm not referring to traditional Bed and Breakfast (B&B) accommodations. These are completely fine as they are regulated and in areas zoned for tourists. I've stayed in many throughout the UK, Europe, New Zealand & Japan and fully support these businesses.
Permit's start with me asking you lot a few questions:
- Exercise you value your precious travel time, hate inconveniences and prefer to play it safe with accommodation rather than put yourself in a position that could have been avoided when you travel?
- Exercise you lot as well adopt to enjoying everything a city has to offer without feeling like you're getting in the way of locals going almost their daily lives?
If you lot answered yeah to these questions, you're probable to prefer hotels anyway so this post volition probably confirm why y'all don't like Airbnb either. If you answered no, the below facts may convince you why you should reconsider using a service similar Airbnb for your side by side trip.
While Airbnb'southward slogan is "travel similar a local", there are some dark truths that actually make life more hard for the locals they merits to support.
Let'south get into it!
i. Airbnb could be illegal in the metropolis you're visiting
This is a pretty surprising and very important point. Just considering there are listings for your destination doesn't mean the host and Airbnb are abiding by the local laws. For instance, here are some facts that might make yous recall twice about using Airbnb and similar services in the beneath major cities.
These are just a few examples and definitely non the only places where Airbnb is problematic. I highly advise doing some inquiry into your destination if y'all are considering using Airbnb for your accommodation:
Airbnb problems in New York City, United States
Did you know in 2014 that 72% of reservations made in New York Urban center were illegal?
The New York state attorney full general's function released a written report on Airbnb listings that revealed this unfortunate fact. Local laws in New York go far illegal to rent an unabridged apartment on Airbnb for less than 30 days, as this helps to keep the long-term supply of property available to locals. Despite this, New York City is one of Airbnb's biggest markets where listings under 30 days are available to tourists.
"Airbnb consistently undermines the Urban center's efforts to preserve affordable housing, and regularly attempts to thwart regulations put in place to protect New York City residents." ~ argument from NYC Council members Helen Rosenthal and Jumaane Williams.
Airbnb problems in Barcelona, Spain
Most half of holiday rentals in Spain's 2nd-largest metropolis are unlicensed co-ordinate to the council, which makes them illegal.
In 2016 Barcelona fined Airbnb €600,000 for refusing to attach to local laws by continuing to advertise unlicensed backdrop. Equally a result, Catalonia'due south capital has a team of inspectors who wander the streets sniffing out illegal rentals using designated apps that cross-reference licences with advertised properties. This helps to identify illegal properties and gives authorities the power close downward the premises, kick out occupants and fine the owner €threescore,000.
"Barcelona exists for its people. The priority is it's a place to alive." ~ Janet Sanz, Barcelona Housing Councillor.
Airbnb problems in Paris, France
In 2015, 44% of advertised properties on Airbnb were permanently bachelor for rental, despite laws in France'south capital stating that vacation rentals are capped at but being bachelor for 120 days of the year.
The survey that revealed this agonizing fact triggered raids beyond Paris and fines of upwards to €25,000 for hosts. However, the regime are at present looking to increase this fine to €100,000 similar Berlin (encounter below). Information technology is now necessary for hosts to obtain a registration number from the Town Hall so regime can monitor the 120 day cap is not exceeded and so hosts cannot avoid paying taxes.
Airbnb problems in Japan
The contempo explosion of visitors to Nippon looking to travel on the inexpensive meant Airbnb'due south started popping upward in unzoned areas to capitalise on the new demand.
Existence an ultra-conservative land, locals filed an overwhelming number of "tourist pollution" complaints: unruly tourists coming and going at all hours, hosting noisy parties in otherwise tranquility neighbourhoods and disrespecting local customs.
In June 2018 the Japanese government resorted to tackling illegal Airbnb and similar homestay accommodations beyond the state (known every bit "minpaku") by requiring hosts in legally zoned areas to obtain a minpaku license, placing 180-day quotas on when properties can exist bachelor to rent and shutting downwardly those who did not comply. This crackdown is said to accept cost Airbnb $10 meg.
Issues with Airbnb in Berlin, Federal republic of germany
Germany's capital got so tired of Airbnb creating a rental property shortage for locals they created a law entitled "Zweckentfremdungsverbot"…
What a mouthful, right! Roughly translating to "Anti-Airbnb" this law bans short-term leasing of properties to tourists without a city allow. Hosts in Berlin tin be fined up to €100,000 for disobeying this law and you could be left without accommodation if your host is busted.
Airbnb problems throughout Europe
In 2019, ten European cities banded together and sent a articulation letter of the alphabet to the European Committee highlighting the flaws of services like Airbnb. Cities who suffered from "explosive growth" of brusque-term Airbnb listings – Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Bordeaux, Brussels, Krakow, Munich, Paris, Valencia and Vienna – demanded the Commission accost this issue during their adjacent agenda.
Many Other Destinations: Illegal Subletting
Another disturbing tendency with Airbnb is illegal subletting. Did yous know recent statistics in Australia revealed that 35% of Airbnb listings are past people who don't fifty-fifty own the holding, and do so without the cognition of their landlord?
"Remember of what you'd say to a neighbour if they were to ask who y'all are and why you're staying in that location… Awkward." ~ Alyse.
While tenants may non see an issue with secretly renting out their spare room on Airbnb for extra cash, there are risks involved for both the tenant and property owner. What the tenant fails realise is they could actually be in breach of their leasing agreement by having additional people reside in the holding.
This leads to exceeding the number of people residing on the premises, handing out security keys without authorisation, no applicative insurance for issues related to subleasing, more than issues regarding illegal subletting here. A tenant subletting without the permission of the property possessor tin result in eviction.
ii. Airbnb tin take negative impacts on locals' quality of life
Tourists hiring a place on Airbnb to bask a "cheaper" holiday actually pushes hire prices up for locals who need to live in the urban center. Tourists are visitors competing with locals for accommodation. The but difference is locals need it long-term, but hosts can charge tourists more for short-term stays so this is manner more appealing to some.
For case in 2018 on the Spanish island of Palma de Mallorca, tourist lets sharply increased by fifty% due to demand, which in plow lead to residential rents rising past 40%. This made housing unaffordable for well-nigh local residents and pushed them out. As a result t he island voted to ban Airbnb listings to make housing affordable for residents who needed to live and piece of work.
Making the conscious decision to relieve a few bucks for a trip of your option should non come at the expense of an bodily local's way of life. As invisible tourists we want to back up locals of the places we visit, not make their lives more difficult!
Residents are also concerned and complain to Airbnb about the abiding stream of different tourists bumping their baggage up and downward stairs in flat blocks besides as coming and going at all hours. For long-term residents it'south like shooting fish in a barrel to understand that all the thumping and dissonance is bound to go abrasive.
As someone who lives in a metropolis where over 200,000 properties sit vacant due to landlords not renting them to locals (or anyone at all), I've seen first-hand how this has negatively impacted the rental market by causing prices to skyrocket equally long-term rentals for locals go scarce. It isn't really fair (or ethical) on the local population trying to become by.
It's also becoming known that some Airbnb hosts are treating their rentals as businesses. Padlocks or combination touchpads on doors rather than keys, instructions stuck around the property and "No Smoking" signs are dead giveaways that the Airbnb is being treated as a permanent vacation rental, which I mentioned previously under betoken #one is probably an illegal listing. What happened to just renting out a spare room?
3. There's no reception, housekeeping or room service
Before you dismiss me as a total snob, hear me out! Hotels employ dozens of locals to take care of things like housekeeping, reception, concierge services, kitchenhands and the similar to continue the place running smoothly. To me, providing locals with jobs is quite of import and staying in a hotel supports this cause.
Additionally, the lack of a reception surface area with an Airbnb ways checking in and out with your host may not be flexible plenty to suit your travel plans, every bit I'll expand on in indicate #iv beneath.
Another downside is at that place's no place to leave your luggage later checking out, either! The small-scale conveniences that come with hotels are quite convenient, aren't they?
iv. Y'all're at the complete mercy of your host
Fifty-fifty if a room is showing available, the host has the right to change their mind and abolish your booking at a moment'southward notice. If you're similar me and adopt to be prepared and organised, existence left in limbo a few days before a trip – and all other accommodation in the area being sold out – literally sounds like my idea of a nightmare.
In some other example, imagine arriving at your Airbnb simply to find two people already at that place hanging curtains, a Boob tube left face-downwards on the lounge and a strong canis familiaris odour throughout. Animal fur, hair and dust were all over the house, it clearly hadn't been cleaned in very long time, mouse droppings were in the kitchen and other accommodation options nearby were all sold out. Here'southward how Airbnb treated these guests in this bodily state of affairs.
Airbnb take thousands of complaints well-nigh how they can't really do annihilation to assist guests who are left stranded. In contrast, hotels have a lot to lose from this and will find you a room or compensate you somehow if they've taken your money.
Let'south non forget the potential upshot of your host running late to see you to commutation keys. This unaccounted-for delay could seriously bear upon your travel plans and may lead to you missing a crucial flight or railroad train to your next destination. With a hotel, checking in and out times are fabricated clear and during that menses there is always someone there when you lot need to exit so information technology's uncomplicated to program your journeys.
At that place isn't always time to expect around for someone to race from one side of the city to the other to collect keys!
Personally, I like to slumber in for every bit long as possible before having to get upwards and prepare whilst I'k on holiday. With many Airbnbs hosts crave you to do the washing up, take out the rubbish and may get out you with other obligations yous demand to fulfil before you leave. I do all that at dwelling and would rather forget about that during a vacation – thankfully a hotel volition take your back hither so y'all can spend more time out exploring.
5. Do tourists really need an unabridged kitchen (and house)?
A lot of the time tourists don't actually need an entire house or apartment with a kitchen when they're travelling curt-term. To me, visiting a new place is all almost getting out there and role of this is experiencing local, authentic food.
In turn this helps to back up local jobs and businesses. Cooking some noodles in an Airbnb in an try to save money does non. Pitiful, but it'due south true! Hotels exercise a good enough chore of providing the basic amenities needed for a stay.
Additionally, booking an unabridged apartment or house on Airbnb means tourists could be inadvertently taking away long-term accommodation from a local. If the rental is being run every bit a business concern by a company who has multiple belongings listings, it's usually wise to steer away from it as information technology goes against the original idea that Airbnb was founded on – a property owner renting out a spare room.
6. Privacy is never guaranteed
So, your Airbnb host has also allowed friends to crash at their place during your stay and failed to mention it at whatever bespeak. This may put a damper on the romantic weekend away y'all had planned with your partner as the intimate moments you were hoping for may not be so intimate after all!
Recently, some stories have emerged almost Airbnb hosts using sneaky hidden cameras in the bedrooms of their rentals. If that oddly-placed object or random smoke alarm appears to take a little webcam lens on closer inspection, you can be sure that affair is hooked up to the internet and the host is watching your every move.
Alternatively, in a hotel you're never going to be left surprised with an unexpected stranger when you lot come dorsum to your room after a long mean solar day of sight-seeing and the likelihood of being spied on in your room is almost non-existent. A hotel doesn't need to spy on you because they accept insurance embrace. It'southward never ok to flick someone without their consent.
7. Lack of safe and security regulations
Consistent standards and regulations are lacking beyond Airbnb rentals every bit they are basically private properties. Due to this hosts don't take to follow the same strict regulations that hotels practise like burn, security and rubber. What fire and other types of hazards are at that place in your rental? Can yous tell from the photos?
Every bit mentioned earlier, illegal subletting sees a tenant distribute unauthorised copied keys to brusk-term visitors, resulting in unknown people in a residential block having access to building amenities. This can be a major security business organization for other residents in the building who are there legally.
People who list on Airbnb also don't have to pay for the same insurances that hotels do, therefore if anything were to happen Airbnb may non encompass you at all. This besides includes theft of your greenbacks/valuables from the property, whether it was from the host, other guests or as a result of a burglary. Is there fifty-fifty a rubber or secure identify to shop your valuables during your stay?
Additionally, some of the properties may not be very kid friendly which is sometimes simply possible to be discovered on inflow.
8. Allurement and switch
If yous're not familiar with this sneaky tactic, allurement and switch refers to the more often than not illegal human action of "baiting" a guest into paying for a rental that is substituted for an inferior one later down the track. The intent is never to provide you the rental in the keen location with astonishing photos you lot paid for.
If your host is being a bit shady, they may contact yous close to your arrival appointment to inform you of the change and then yous're made to think you're left with no other selection merely to accept the sub-standard accommodation they offer instead, sometimes fifty-fifty for more money! Know your rights if this happens to you.
You're not obligated to have their new offer. If your host is asking you to switch without officially changing the reservation on Airbnb, yous'll need to enquire the host to cancel your reservation so you tin get a full refund. If you accept farther problems, you'll demand to immediately telephone call Airbnb so they can resolve the problem for you or find another place to stay, which may evidence difficult if all other accommodation in the expanse is sold out at the time.
This fraudulent trend is becoming more and more common with Airbnb. Sure it's likewise possible this can happen with smaller hotels likewise, just is less probable every bit hotels have much more than to lose by participating in this dirty exercise.
You tin can read some Airbnb bait and switch stories hither and here to requite you an idea of what could happen.
What a lack of tourism does to neighbourhoods overrun with Airbnb listings
As we all know, in 2020 tourism completely ground to a halt due to a global issue that shall not be named. This helped to starkly dilate the issues caused by short-term rentals for fifty-fifty the most stubborn of deniers.
Let's examine the knock-on effects caused past the absenteeism of tourism in destinations that had high percentages of Airbnb listings.
Airbnb issues in Lisbon, Portugal
In the early on months of 2020, at that place were 22,000 Airbnb listings in Lisbon. A sudden lack of tourists meant the majority of these saturday empty for months.
Urban geographer Luís Mendes from Living in Lisbon stated, "[2020] has helped expose the negative aspects of Portugal's recovery from the financial crisis, which was driven by real manor and tourism rather than a focus on the bones needs of local people."
This excellent commodity nearly overtourism in Lisbon, Portugal highlights the need and urgency for sustainable cultural tourism if you're interested in learning more than about the topic. Unfortunately, this issue is not unique to Lisbon and is farther proof of why being an invisible tourist whilst travelling is win-win for everyone.
Airbnb issues in Barcelona, Spain
Local authorities are seeking to repossess empty brusque-terms rentals. If vacant backdrop don't re-enter the long-term rental market for local residents, new legislation allows regime to purchase them outright at 50% of the market value.
The plan for seized properties is to exist rented past the city as public and subsidised housing, while potentially fining the owners from € 90,000- € 900,000 for properties left vacant for 2 years.
Airbnb issues in Athens, Hellenic republic
According to local residents in Kaisariani, Athens, their neighbourhood actually became a "tourist hotbed" full of Airbnbs rather than a residential area.
Airbnb issues in Paris, France
As one of Airbnb'south top destinations globally, tourism to Paris took a huge hit. According to the Deputy Mayor of Paris, the urban center "needs to use the pandemic to address affordable housing and supply.
In the four central arrondissements of Paris, a quarter of all properties are now no longer homes just purely curt-term rentals for tourists." As a upshot the city is planning to concord a referendum on the time to come of Airbnb listings.
Airbnb bug in Dublin, Ireland
Due to increased need in short-term listings from tourists and limited supply, Dublin saw rents for local residents skyrocket and more than double from 2011 – 2019. The sudden lack of tourists in 2020 meant 64% of short-term Airbnb listings in Dublin rushed to enter the long-term rental market instead. Great news for locals, at least!
Are at that place any sustainable & upstanding alternatives to Airbnb?
At present we've examined all the issues with unregulated homestay accommodation services, it begs the question – are there whatever ethical alternatives to Airbnb? The answer is yeah! At that place are sustainable services that can be used to help avert contributing to overtourism bug. All information technology takes is a look back to the time before the sharing economy took off!
Read my detailed guide to upstanding alternatives to Airbnb for responsible tourists that actually benefit locals, rather than leaving their neighbourhoods empty shells of their sometime selves.
Concluding why you should reconsider services similar Airbnb
Sure, there certainly are benefits of using Airbnb if information technology's washed in an ethical and legal manner.
Thousands of travellers utilise the platform without ever having an consequence. I'm not going to dispute that and I'm certainly not proverb ALL hosts are bad – it'southward neither fair nor accurate to paint everyone with the same castor. Also, this stance piece is not nearly that. It's well-nigh questioning whether a service like this should exist allowed to continue unregulated.
In that location is a time and a place for homestay accommodation. For instance, in rural areas where accommodation choices are slim services like Airbnb tin can actually assistance locals. In major cities where in that location already is plenty of regulated accommodation, whole property rentals by hosts list multiple properties should exist avoided in order to help preserve local life and their civilisation.
If short-term rentals have taught us anything, it's now very clear that they create the likes of a horizontal hotel that spans the latitude of a urban center, pushing out local residents.
I practise think that initially the thought of Airbnb was fantastic a few years ago, where hosts would share a room of their dwelling with a company who wished to experience the city like a local. Unfortunately, at that place are always people looking to brand a quick buck, exploit the system and ruin the experience for everyone.
Equally someone who values time more than annihilation else when travelling, the explosion of illegal listings, risks and ethical issues associated with Airbnb and the like exercise not outweigh the benefits of staying in a hotel for me. Considering that a pair of YouTubers also pranked Airbnb by list a dollhouse and made $3,000 worth of bookings, it really begs the question of how much listings are really checked.
By ignoring local laws, causing negative impacts on locals' quality of life and lack of consistent standards, I believe unregulated homestay adaptation is unethical and I'm pitiful to say for these reasons cannot support it.
What are your thoughts? Do you experience the same? Allow me know in the comments below! If you lot plant this commodity helpful or you learnt something new, please share information technology or take a look at my popular travel guides and itineraries and my volume for more means to aid you NOT look similar a tourist on your side by side trip.
Alternatively, I'd love if you lot could bring together me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram and TikTok for more than travel tips and inspiration!
Until next fourth dimension,
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Featured image & New York pivot image credit: Unsplash
Paris pivot image credit: Chris Karidis
Airbnb logo used under Wikimedia Commons
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Source: https://www.theinvisibletourist.com/why-you-shouldnt-use-airbnb-issues-you-didnt-know/
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