6 ms·

The Secret Life of an Obsessive Airbnb Host

148 points by Calcite 12y ago

cpplinuxdude 12y ago
Airbnb and a crazed host landed me in a police car once. My crime: having my girlfriend over, and being male. Airbnb offered me a 500 USD voucher, which barely covered the cost of my last minute Holiday Inn stay that I had to make to, well, not spend the night on the street after getting kicked out, and it's all water under the bridge now, but nightmare stories happen both ways.
- watwut 12y ago
  What were you accused of?
  - lodewijkadlp 12y ago
    Rape, I think.
    - jacquesm 12y ago
      You made an account just to post this?
      - zalzane 12y ago
        gotta protect those internet points
      - dominotw 12y ago
        You can get fired for what you say on the internet these days. https://twitter.com/zivcjs https://twitter.com/zivcjs
        gedrap 12y ago
        Can you give more context/information? I understand that he was fired for dropping the C bomb but couldn't find more from his twitter profile.
        deleted 12y ago
        [deleted]
        ceejayoz 12y ago
        People have been putting their feet in their mouths publicly long before the Internet.
      - lodewijkadlp 12y ago
        I tried once earlier, but the Captcha was too crazy. Seriously. It was insane. I couldn't do it. It does look a bit funny. I agree. I'm quite serious though. He said "Having my girlfriend over, and being male". It's a deep-rooted sexism issue. Having his girlfriend over without prior approval of there being two people could be the issue. But he states "and being male". Obviously that wouldn't be an issue, unless either his host went full retard (in which case no policecar would take him, I'm guessing) or he's using it as an excuse. Either way, it probably is the host forcing him+her out of the property because he didn't want his bedroom soiled or God offended under his/her roof or something. But for a BNB that previously consented it's pretty weird, to say the least. Would prefer if he just explained what happened instead of this interesting sounding story. I just thought it was funny that "being male" could be construed as "thus unable to control myself". And then it's really unfunny that it could be constructed that way. And that's sexism in a nutshell!
  - plorkyeran 12y ago
    Hiring a prostitute I assume.
personlurking 12y ago
Slightly similar to the guy who squatted at AOL around the same time (2012). http://techcrunch.com/2012/09/26/after-2-months-of-squatting-at-aol-eric-simons-launches-claco-the-github-for-teachers/ http://techcrunch.com/2012/09/26/after-2-months-of-squatting...
davedx 12y ago
We've used AirBNB quite a lot now, with our most recent booking being a cottage in the Lake District, UK for our whole family, kids, baby and all. Never had a problem as a guest, but I would be more hesitant to use AirBNB as a host, given the legal climate.
Theodores 12y ago
I am looking forward to the Airbnb movie which is obviously a rom-com of sorts with the pilot paid for by Airbnb rentals and the script written from true life experiences such as this story (with some rom-com elements being pure fantasy rather than grounded in reality).
- klenwell 12y ago
  Then you'll probably enjoy this. The Trixie episode of High Maintenance: http://vimeo.com/56895025 http://vimeo.com/56895025
  - Theodores 12y ago
    Having seen that I can now see that we can expect a lot more! Thanks for the link.
bassclef 12y ago
great writing, I was in the same position as a government employee who HATED his boring pointless job. Didn't follow this same path, but for the past 2 months have finally gotten back to doing what I love.. it's a breath of fresh air.
coldcode 12y ago
Why do I have to give my email address in order to read this?
- eddieroger 12y ago
  You don't. I was able to click "No Thanks," and read the whole article.
  - yardshop 12y ago
    Or just click outside of the newsletter subscription box.
- dfc 12y ago
  I did not have to give my email address, nor was I asked to supply my address. . Maybe turn off JS? I have NoScript+RequestPolicy running with nothing allowed for that domain.
archagon 12y ago
As a guest, I feel way more safe using Airbnb when I'm renting an extra room in the host's home. Even better if there are strict-sounding house rules. It makes me feel like I'm sharing a living space with a real person rather than helping somebody play landlord with their rental-only flat. And judging by the article, it's better for the hosts as well. I've been living like this with different people for the past month or so. It's been about the same price as a hostel and so much more comfortable and interesting! It would be a shame if lack of trust brought prices up and made this way of life no longer viable.
- gedrap 12y ago
  Great tip. I felt tempted to try AirBNB many times but I just didn't feel comfortable with that. I guess geeky social awkwardness was taking over :)
DanBC 12y ago
> If used wisely and responsibly, Being an illegal sublet and uninsured doesn't feel wise or responsible.
- xtracto 12y ago
  In addition to that, this man was illegally staying in his office overnight. The fact that he used his office's resources doesn't make him clever, but something else.
  - wpietri 12y ago
    Would you mind finding me the relevant law that makes napping under the desk a crime? I didn't realize that I was a serial offender until you mentioned it. It's a wonder that Google hasn't been busted for their nap rooms yet. Personally, I'd say it makes him clever as long as he didn't bother anybody. Admittedly, I live in the savage lands of California, where practically anything goes. But if somebody who worked for me had both the chutzpah to attempt this and enough consideration for others to pull it off without us catching on, I'd give 'em a standing ovation.
    - bane 12y ago
      If you do it when you aren't supposed to be there, the property owner can have you arrested and charged for trespassing.
      - wpietri 12y ago
        Oh, please. Everybody knew he was there. He was never told not to be there at night. They may not have realized how much time he was spending there, but what he was doing was in no way illegal.
        pessimizer 12y ago
        Is that your legal advice? Because it's not good.
lifeisstillgood 12y ago
> It’s no secret that Airbnb’s housing stock is partially composed of listings that are technically forbidden by a landlord, co-op board, or city ordinance This sounds like you tubes early days - ignore the copies of DVDs and music videos until have enough scale not tomworry anymore. But ... That's not a proper strategy is it? And is there a class action means of preventing it? If a landlord sues Airbnb can they be forced to stop renting beds they have not legal right to? Just catching up on the Airbnb story
omilu 12y ago
I'm creeped out about the idea of some perv bugging his house with hidden cameras then renting it on airBNB, this alone is why I havn't used airbnb for me or my family.
Paul_Morgan 12y ago
Any website that throws up a subscribe dialog box like this I'm going to avoid. (DR)

148 points by Calcite 12y ago

Airbnb and a crazed host landed me in a police car once. My crime: having my girlfriend over, and being male. Airbnb offered me a 500 USD voucher, which barely covered the cost of my last minute Holiday Inn stay that I had to make to, well, not spend the night on the street after getting kicked out, and it's all water under the bridge now, but nightmare stories happen both ways.

watwut 12y ago
What were you accused of?
- lodewijkadlp 12y ago
  Rape, I think.
  - jacquesm 12y ago
    You made an account just to post this?
    - zalzane 12y ago
      gotta protect those internet points
    - dominotw 12y ago
      You can get fired for what you say on the internet these days. https://twitter.com/zivcjs https://twitter.com/zivcjs
      - gedrap 12y ago
        Can you give more context/information? I understand that he was fired for dropping the C bomb but couldn't find more from his twitter profile.
        deleted 12y ago
        [deleted]
      - ceejayoz 12y ago
        People have been putting their feet in their mouths publicly long before the Internet.
    - lodewijkadlp 12y ago
      I tried once earlier, but the Captcha was too crazy. Seriously. It was insane. I couldn't do it. It does look a bit funny. I agree. I'm quite serious though. He said "Having my girlfriend over, and being male". It's a deep-rooted sexism issue. Having his girlfriend over without prior approval of there being two people could be the issue. But he states "and being male". Obviously that wouldn't be an issue, unless either his host went full retard (in which case no policecar would take him, I'm guessing) or he's using it as an excuse. Either way, it probably is the host forcing him+her out of the property because he didn't want his bedroom soiled or God offended under his/her roof or something. But for a BNB that previously consented it's pretty weird, to say the least. Would prefer if he just explained what happened instead of this interesting sounding story. I just thought it was funny that "being male" could be construed as "thus unable to control myself". And then it's really unfunny that it could be constructed that way. And that's sexism in a nutshell!
- plorkyeran 12y ago
  Hiring a prostitute I assume.

personlurking 12y ago

Slightly similar to the guy who squatted at AOL around the same time (2012). http://techcrunch.com/2012/09/26/after-2-months-of-squatting-at-aol-eric-simons-launches-claco-the-github-for-teachers/ http://techcrunch.com/2012/09/26/after-2-months-of-squatting...

davedx 12y ago

We've used AirBNB quite a lot now, with our most recent booking being a cottage in the Lake District, UK for our whole family, kids, baby and all. Never had a problem as a guest, but I would be more hesitant to use AirBNB as a host, given the legal climate.

Theodores 12y ago

I am looking forward to the Airbnb movie which is obviously a rom-com of sorts with the pilot paid for by Airbnb rentals and the script written from true life experiences such as this story (with some rom-com elements being pure fantasy rather than grounded in reality).

klenwell 12y ago
Then you'll probably enjoy this. The Trixie episode of High Maintenance: http://vimeo.com/56895025 http://vimeo.com/56895025
- Theodores 12y ago
  Having seen that I can now see that we can expect a lot more! Thanks for the link.

bassclef 12y ago

great writing, I was in the same position as a government employee who HATED his boring pointless job. Didn't follow this same path, but for the past 2 months have finally gotten back to doing what I love.. it's a breath of fresh air.

coldcode 12y ago

Why do I have to give my email address in order to read this?

eddieroger 12y ago
You don't. I was able to click "No Thanks," and read the whole article.
- yardshop 12y ago
  Or just click outside of the newsletter subscription box.
dfc 12y ago
I did not have to give my email address, nor was I asked to supply my address. . Maybe turn off JS? I have NoScript+RequestPolicy running with nothing allowed for that domain.

archagon 12y ago

As a guest, I feel way more safe using Airbnb when I'm renting an extra room in the host's home. Even better if there are strict-sounding house rules. It makes me feel like I'm sharing a living space with a real person rather than helping somebody play landlord with their rental-only flat. And judging by the article, it's better for the hosts as well. I've been living like this with different people for the past month or so. It's been about the same price as a hostel and so much more comfortable and interesting! It would be a shame if lack of trust brought prices up and made this way of life no longer viable.

gedrap 12y ago
Great tip. I felt tempted to try AirBNB many times but I just didn't feel comfortable with that. I guess geeky social awkwardness was taking over :)

DanBC 12y ago

> If used wisely and responsibly, Being an illegal sublet and uninsured doesn't feel wise or responsible.

xtracto 12y ago
In addition to that, this man was illegally staying in his office overnight. The fact that he used his office's resources doesn't make him clever, but something else.
- wpietri 12y ago
  Would you mind finding me the relevant law that makes napping under the desk a crime? I didn't realize that I was a serial offender until you mentioned it. It's a wonder that Google hasn't been busted for their nap rooms yet. Personally, I'd say it makes him clever as long as he didn't bother anybody. Admittedly, I live in the savage lands of California, where practically anything goes. But if somebody who worked for me had both the chutzpah to attempt this and enough consideration for others to pull it off without us catching on, I'd give 'em a standing ovation.
  - bane 12y ago
    If you do it when you aren't supposed to be there, the property owner can have you arrested and charged for trespassing.
    - wpietri 12y ago
      Oh, please. Everybody knew he was there. He was never told not to be there at night. They may not have realized how much time he was spending there, but what he was doing was in no way illegal.
      - pessimizer 12y ago
        Is that your legal advice? Because it's not good.

lifeisstillgood 12y ago

> It’s no secret that Airbnb’s housing stock is partially composed of listings that are technically forbidden by a landlord, co-op board, or city ordinance This sounds like you tubes early days - ignore the copies of DVDs and music videos until have enough scale not tomworry anymore. But ... That's not a proper strategy is it? And is there a class action means of preventing it? If a landlord sues Airbnb can they be forced to stop renting beds they have not legal right to? Just catching up on the Airbnb story

omilu 12y ago

I'm creeped out about the idea of some perv bugging his house with hidden cameras then renting it on airBNB, this alone is why I havn't used airbnb for me or my family.

Paul_Morgan 12y ago

Any website that throws up a subscribe dialog box like this I'm going to avoid. (DR)