The Impact of AirBnB in Paris
May 25th, 2016, 04:09 AM
#61
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Me too. Wouldn't this be called a 'bubble' ?
As for limited vocabulary, I have been told the difference between French and french several times, but we all should say belgian fries, with a capital letter or not. Fullstop.
Non mais ! Je veux un cornet avec une bonne sploutch de mayo, fieu !
As for limited vocabulary, I have been told the difference between French and french several times, but we all should say belgian fries, with a capital letter or not. Fullstop.
Non mais ! Je veux un cornet avec une bonne sploutch de mayo, fieu !
May 25th, 2016, 04:30 AM
#63
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Aside from the fact that AirBnB and the few other companies which have capitulated to the City's demands to pay the back taxes that were owed - rather than face a much more expensive lawsuit that they knew they would not win - there is nothing illegal in the act of merely listing short-term apartments for rent.
I keep using the analogy of short-term rental agencies being equivalent to the Yellow Pages. If a plumber you called from the Yellow Pages ruins your kitchen, you have no right to sue the Yellow Pages, only the plumber. The YP is under no obligation to obey city ordinances, provide insurance or collect any taxes - it just lists plumbers, etc. The same goes for companies which list short-term rentals - they are not responsible for anything other than listing the property, collecting advertising fees from the owner and usually passing on rental fees from the clients to the owners.
AirBnB's stance is that it is "not in the enforcement business", but since there now exists a paper trail which identifies their clients - and whether or not they declare and pay taxes on rental revenue - I don't see how they will manage to change their business model in a way which will make the owners happy.
Hotel lobbies in major cities have been insisting that "outlaw" agencies should pay room tax, since a room rented by the night must pay the same tax a hotel does. This has been achieved in many cities, and it's likely that there will be more fees demanded as time goes on.
I keep using the analogy of short-term rental agencies being equivalent to the Yellow Pages. If a plumber you called from the Yellow Pages ruins your kitchen, you have no right to sue the Yellow Pages, only the plumber. The YP is under no obligation to obey city ordinances, provide insurance or collect any taxes - it just lists plumbers, etc. The same goes for companies which list short-term rentals - they are not responsible for anything other than listing the property, collecting advertising fees from the owner and usually passing on rental fees from the clients to the owners.
AirBnB's stance is that it is "not in the enforcement business", but since there now exists a paper trail which identifies their clients - and whether or not they declare and pay taxes on rental revenue - I don't see how they will manage to change their business model in a way which will make the owners happy.
Hotel lobbies in major cities have been insisting that "outlaw" agencies should pay room tax, since a room rented by the night must pay the same tax a hotel does. This has been achieved in many cities, and it's likely that there will be more fees demanded as time goes on.
May 25th, 2016, 05:32 AM
#65
A plumber may be incompetent, but that is not illegal. AirBnB is knowingly aiding and abetting illegal activity, the Yellow pages are not.
BTW, in English English those things are chips, not fries of any nationality (and chips are crisps).
BTW, in English English those things are chips, not fries of any nationality (and chips are crisps).
May 25th, 2016, 07:10 AM
#66
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You don't pay your plumber through the Yellow Pages, and neither do the YP take a percentage of the plumbers bill.
They just advertise the service - and I'm pretty sure they would not advertise products that are illegal.
A licensing system for lettings makes sense. If the flat is legal to let, they would get a license nr that Airbnb can post. Authorities would then be able to check the homes for safety as well; I know in the UK you have to have a gas safety certificate; all gas appliances are checked annually. I wonder if all Airbnb properties have this.
They just advertise the service - and I'm pretty sure they would not advertise products that are illegal.
A licensing system for lettings makes sense. If the flat is legal to let, they would get a license nr that Airbnb can post. Authorities would then be able to check the homes for safety as well; I know in the UK you have to have a gas safety certificate; all gas appliances are checked annually. I wonder if all Airbnb properties have this.
May 25th, 2016, 09:06 AM
#67
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AirBnB is knowingly aiding and abetting illegal activity,
I am not a huge airbnb fan but as long as they are collecting and paying the taxe de séjour, airbnb is really not engaged in any illegal activity; nor are the customers who rent illegal apartments. The apartment owner is the guilty party and he is the one with all of the exposure.
However, if the laws change to require an agent´s only listing legal apartments, airbnb and others like them are very exposed to enforcement action. Their business models will require significant modifications allowing them to track and to verify the legality of the thousands the apartments they list.
I am not a huge airbnb fan but as long as they are collecting and paying the taxe de séjour, airbnb is really not engaged in any illegal activity; nor are the customers who rent illegal apartments. The apartment owner is the guilty party and he is the one with all of the exposure.
However, if the laws change to require an agent´s only listing legal apartments, airbnb and others like them are very exposed to enforcement action. Their business models will require significant modifications allowing them to track and to verify the legality of the thousands the apartments they list.
May 25th, 2016, 09:29 AM
#68
I did not say that AirBnB was engaged in illegal activity, although they have been and may still be in some jurisdictions. I said that they were "aiding and abetting" illegal activity. There is a difference, but it is equally reprehensible.
May 25th, 2016, 11:14 AM
#69
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Amsterdam is now actively cracking down on AirBnB hosters. One of the victims last week was the quite well known Andrew Moskos who went on to lament the disappearance of Amsterdam's specialness. Or in other words, the situation which allowed him to keep apartments off the social rental market. His apartments were a fire hazard in addition to being illegal. Loooooong article in the local newspaper last saturday, naming and shaming.
May 25th, 2016, 01:05 PM
#70
Actually, now I think about it, aiding and abetting is also a crime. See: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aiding_and_abetting
May 26th, 2016, 12:43 AM
#74
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A "niche market" implies a small operation, sought after by a very small group of clients for a specific product or purpose.
VRBO served a niche market until it was bought by HomeAway, which proceeded to buy up many of the smaller competitors, thus becoming something akin to a monopoly.
Anybody can buy advertising space in the Yellow Pages. The Yellow Pages is not responsible for verifying the legality of their clients.
For example, there are many massage parlors listed in the YP which end up on the nightly news, due to the fact that underage sex workers are employed there. There are restaurants that do not meet the city's health code, unlicensed guest houses...
The Yellow Pages just collects advertising revenue.
That's what the agencies which list vacation rentals do, too.
VRBO served a niche market until it was bought by HomeAway, which proceeded to buy up many of the smaller competitors, thus becoming something akin to a monopoly.
Anybody can buy advertising space in the Yellow Pages. The Yellow Pages is not responsible for verifying the legality of their clients.
For example, there are many massage parlors listed in the YP which end up on the nightly news, due to the fact that underage sex workers are employed there. There are restaurants that do not meet the city's health code, unlicensed guest houses...
The Yellow Pages just collects advertising revenue.
That's what the agencies which list vacation rentals do, too.
