The City of Boston and Airbnb have reached an agreement on a city arrangement which forces short-term rental companies to share data and crack down on illegal listings.
Airbnb for follow-up Boston in federal court last fall for what he called “draconian” regulations. The company objected to the requirement to share data with the city and argued that hosts are responsible for their own listings. Airbnb also said city bylaws would require it to monitor and remove listings, which would place a burden on the company.
Under the agreement, Airbnb will add a feature to its website that will require guests to enter their city-issued registration number starting September 1. Hosts who do not register with the city by December 1 will have their listings removed. Registration is required by the ordinance.
The city will now have the power to notify Aibnb of illegal listings and have them removed from the company’s website.
Airbnb will also now share listing data with the city, including zip code, registration number, URL, rental unit type, and Airbnb host ID.
By city rules, hosts must actually live in any residence they rent out on a short-term basis. So-called “investor shares” are prohibited.
In a statement, Mayor Marty Walsh said his goal is to strike a balance between preserving the city’s housing stock while allowing residents to benefit from the growth short-term rental sector.
“I am thrilled that we were able to reach a settlement with Airbnb and that we are continuing our important work in ensuring that Boston remains a home for all residents,” Walsh said.
In a statement, an Airbnb spokesperson said the company’s goal is to create a pathway for Boston’s short-term rental industry.
“With this settlement agreement, that is what we have collectively achieved, establishing an effective regulatory framework for compliance,” the spokesperson said.
The settlement comes more than a year after the first city past short-term rental regulations. The new rules took effect on January 1, but the provisions on data sharing and illegal listings had been blocked in court due to the lawsuit.
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