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An #Airbnb Christmas tale in 11 chapters ...
As I have said a few times, our COVID shortened travel year meant we needed to unexpectedly rent a place from May 1st, so we did a one year lease of a place in south Vancouver.
/1
As I have said a few times, our COVID shortened travel year meant we needed to unexpectedly rent a place from May 1st, so we did a one year lease of a place in south Vancouver.
/1
It's a market rental from an owner in a strata. The strata has a bylaw prohibiting short-term rentals. A few months ago, suddenly a fridge appeared in the hallway outside the unit. I just happened to see someone standing in its doorway as I was returning for a dog walk.
/2
/2
We got to talking and I found out he had put it there because there were two fridges in the unit and he couldn't use the kitchen. He had contacted the host, gotten nowhere and figured putting it in the hall would get sojme attention 
.
/3
./3
Anyway, after some discussion in the resident WhatsApp chat, several people contacted property management and, while it took a couple weeks to remove the fridge, the owner was apparently fined for both it and listing the unit on Airbnb in contravention of bylaws.
/4
/4
Fast forward to today, and as I was heading out for the evening dog walk around 10:30, three people I've never seen before got off the elevator, maskless, dressed to the nines, and fresh off a day of obvious Christmas visiting, complete with gifts.
/5
/5
The host must be telling guests to wear a mask because as one of them saw me with a mask on, she covered her mouth and went "whoops" while giggling like a teen. There are signs in the lobby and in the elevator telling people they must wear a mask if they're inside.
/6
/6
Of course, after they passed me, they went right into the aforementioned Airbnb unit. After the dog walk, a quick search on Airbnb found said unit, which seemed to be freshly listed, with nothing but vacancy from tomorrow onward.
/7
/7
As with the last time, no COV license is displayed on their listing page and, whether it's the owner or someone managing it, the host has 15 units listed in their portfolio. I have posted new messages to the WhatsApp group, so hopefully we'll get them fined again.
/8
/8
However, as I am renting and cannot wait to leave when the lease is up, repeatedly running an Airbnb illegally is not even my main beef this time. Rather, doing so during COVID and putting people living in the building at risk in pursuit of a buck definitely is.
/9
/9
I don't want to contact the host through the platform because if I tip them off they'll take the listing down and avoid a fine. However, if the fine is low enough that it's worth the risk, then not much is going to change behaviour driven by greed.
/10
/10
Sorry for this little rant, but this behaviour just makes me sick. There isn't much of a point beyond ranting about bad behaviour but I'd imagine it goes on everywhere.
Not just the host, mind you, but guests who think vacationing maskless is a little giggle's worth.
/end
Not just the host, mind you, but guests who think vacationing maskless is a little giggle's worth.
/end
And /end +1 ...
Further chatting with someone who is on this strata’s council, and as far as he knows the illegal Airbnb owner has been issued fines monthly for the previous infraction and was already in arrears in fees prior to that.
So, yeah, assholes gonna asshole.
Further chatting with someone who is on this strata’s council, and as far as he knows the illegal Airbnb owner has been issued fines monthly for the previous infraction and was already in arrears in fees prior to that.
So, yeah, assholes gonna asshole.
