[jval]

It's sad to read stuff like this because Airbnb has enabled people like me to travel in a way I never could have previously.

I travelled pre-Airbnb in Europe and was totally screwed over by estate agents and rental professionals who take your thousands of hard-earned dollars while providing tiny photos of places that end up bearing no resemblance to the actual apartment. On Airbnb I always feel like what I see is what I get. The reviews are always honest and descriptive.

I've never damaged common property, come home at ridiculous hours or drunk, or made noise. I'm a pretty tame renter but my friends often aren't so I sympathise with people who say this is a problem.

What I don't understand is why Airbnb doesn't even make efforts to educate renters about this. They could easily add in an optional course for renters to take that educates people on rental etiquette, and awards you a 'Trusted Renter' designation in the same way they have Verified Phone and ID. A lot of people have never lived in an apartment building and simply have no idea what it is like to do so. Even a text message on check in that says try to be respectful of others in the building would go some way to stopping bad actors.

Once Airbnb is regulated it would also be super easy for them to let other people in the building complain. If legitimate complaints from other people in the building went onto profiles that would be the end of bad actors on the system, IMHO.

[wdewind]

> What I don't understand is why Airbnb doesn't even make efforts to educate renters about this. They could easily add in an optional course for renters to take that educates people on rental etiquette, and awards you a 'Trusted Renter' designation in the same way they have Verified Phone and ID. A lot of people have never lived in an apartment building and simply have no idea what it is like to do so. Even a text message on check in that says try to be respectful of others in the building would go some way to stopping bad actors.

It's far simpler than that: AirBnB just needs to create a place where, as a landlord or a neighbor, I can:

a) check if any apartments in my building are on airbnb

b) file complaints with airbnb on specific apartments

They will not do this because it would dramatically shrink their market size by making it trivial to enforce the law on illegal subletting in NYC.

[joelrunyon]

I think you're talking about the typical definition of "renter" while the parent comment is talking about the "AirBnB renter."

[wdewind]

I'm not totally sure what you're saying...if by "AirBnB renter" you mean people who rent their space out on AirBnB (not people who rent space on AirBnB), then I disagree with the parent's comment that educating the renters makes sense. Instead I think we need to make a place for the renters' neighbors to file complaints. Does that make sense?

[joelrunyon]

Yes - I think you misinterpreted the target "renter" group the parent comment was insinuating.

[tptacek]

I have had nothing but good Airbnb experiences too, but trying to build an argument out of that is a little like trying to argue that online auctions are safe because you're an honest person. Some problems only shake out when the market runs at scale and attracts bad actors.

Of course, we tolerate chicanery in online auctions because the damage from chicanery is limited to the dealer and the buyer. But that's not the case with Airbnb.

I hope Airbnb works through these issues and, if I had to bet, would bet they will.

[wdewind]

> I hope Airbnb works through these issues and, if I had to bet, would bet they will.

I want to believe, because I've used AirBnB successfully as a consumer before. But I don't see a way they continue to succeed at such a massive level if they actually start enforcing these policies.

[toomuchtodo]

> What I don't understand is why Airbnb doesn't even make efforts to educate renters about this. They could easily add in an optional course for renters to take that educates people on rental etiquette, and awards you a 'Trusted Renter' designation in the same way they have Verified Phone and ID. A lot of people have never lived in an apartment building and simply have no idea what it is like to do so. Even a text message on check in that says try to be respectful of others in the building would go some way to stopping bad actors.

Redfin, the online RE brokerage, does classes in major metro areas for new home buyers. There isn't any reason Airbnb couldn't sponsor the same in New York. The cost would be minimal compared to the potential revenue. I hope someone from AirBNB reads your post!