Halloween is just over a week away. If you’re thinking of renting a house for your Halloween party through Airbnb, think again.
The short-term rental company is cracking down on disruptive parties during rentals and goes so far as to offer noise sensors to guests.
A few weeks ago, Airbnb announced policies that would essentially prevent bad apples from renting out properties. It’s their way of having more control over guests who haven’t always followed the rules when throwing parties. Some neighbors, like Brian O’Neill, say it’s time
“Boom boom boom.”
“The room is shaking, the windows,” O’Neill said. “I mean it’s literally crazy.”
It is a disadvantage to have constant tourist traffic via vacation rentals. It’s not always a bad thing, but O’Neill wants more regulation.
Kimberly Wise is the owner of Magical Mission Beach Rentals. She does everything she can to ensure that her guests not only respect the properties she manages, but also the community.
“We have a very in-depth conversation with our guests about exactly why they’re here and what they’re going to do just to make sure it’s going to be a good fit,” Wise said.
If you don’t follow the rules, “you’ll be kicked out,” she said.
Airbnb says it’s also taking action by helping hosts combat disruptive parties at rental homes during high-profile weekends like Halloween.
“If you try to book entire real estate listings for one night without a history of positive reviews on the platform, you won’t be able to do that,” Airbnb’s Mattie Zazueta told NBC 7.
Not only that, she added that anyone looking to book two-night reservations on the platform who does not have a history of positive reviews or is trying to do so in a certain location or as a reservation of last minute will be redirected to book an incomplete house listing, such as a private room, or they will also be blocked.
The company even goes so far as to offer free sensors to hosts so they can monitor noise levels in their homes when guests are present.
“And it’s again an easier way for hosts to make sure they have the tools they need to enforce their house rules,” Zazueta said.
It’s a tactic Wise is already implementing with his decibel readers. Only one tool in his toolbox to ensure guests and neighbors are accommodated.
“We have neighbours, we have kids who need to go to school, we also respect our properties,” Wise said.
The short-term rental company also added that all customers attempting to make local reservations over Halloween weekend must certify that they understand the platform prohibits parties in rentals. They said that if this rule is not followed, these guests could be subject to legal action by the company.
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