Airbnb And The Unstoppable Rise Of The Share Economy

Re:Airbnb And The Unstoppable Rise Of The Share Economy by geebee on Wednesday January 23, 2013 @04:00PM (#5105236)

I'm not sure what this has to do with long vs short term rentals, other than that you don't trust the government to do anything. I also see absolutely no reason why supporting regulation of short term rentals somehow commits you to supporting a failed section 8 program, other than that the government is involved in both.

You left out option e) urge your representative in government to limit short term rentals, and once this laws are in place, bring a civil lawsuit or take some other legally coercive measure if your neighbor refuses to comply.

That said, I would prefer to see these laws kept as local as possible, and many communities will be perfectly happy to allow short term rentals, as it will provide them with a new way to profit from their property. I'd agree that if a local district decides to allow AirBnBs to proliferate, and you aren't happy, then you must move - preferably to a place that doesn't allow them. You will accept that restriction in exchange for the benefits you believe it brings you.

Keep in mind, there's a strong undercurrent of libertarianism that supports heavy decentralization rather than zero regulation across the board - you just have to promise not to try to impose your will on the next township over.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Airbnb And The Unstoppable Rise Of The Share Economy by temphn on Wednesday January 23, 2013 @04:26PM (#5105387)

  e) urge your representative in government

Well, there are 700,000 people in the average Congressional district. Go ahead and urge, it will do nothing. You need some kind of political megaphone (like a newspaper) to get them to listen.

  I also see absolutely no reason why supporting regulation 
  of short term rentals somehow commits you to supporting a 
  failed section 8 program, other than that the government is 
  involved in both.

The point is: should we trust the same government which is moving in murderers next door to intercede? As for whether the program is failed, no argument there from me, but has "urging your representative" done anything about it?

The idea that new laws will solve a problem is the fundamental fallacy. Who is enforcing the laws? What is their track record on other problems? And so why do you trust them?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Airbnb And The Unstoppable Rise Of The Share Economy by 205guy on Thursday January 24, 2013 @03:32AM (#5108384)

Exactly what pommefrites said: this is a city or town zoning issue (or I suppose county for unincorporated areas). And yes, I totally support the rights of local goverment to regulate property usage.

Geebee is correct, the vacation rental issue is real in vacation destinations. Unregulated B&Bs were always an issue, but AirBnB just makes it easier for others to do the same.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Airbnb And The Unstoppable Rise Of The Share Economy by pommefrites on Wednesday January 23, 2013 @09:24PM (#5106745)

Why do you keep ramming Section 8, DoJ, and Congress down our throats? This sort of regulation, if it were to happen, would be done at the state or local level.

[ Parent | on HN ]