Renting someone's house for a few days, even over a holiday, carries some responsibilities. Airbnb is working to screen renters better as a way to protect the hosts. | Pixabay/InstagramFOTOGRAFIN
Renting someone's house for a few days, even over a holiday, carries some responsibilities. Airbnb is working to screen renters better as a way to protect the hosts. | Pixabay/InstagramFOTOGRAFIN
Airbnb hosts recognize that renting housing to strangers can carry a risk, but some are looking for the company to step up to help minimize the likelihood of partying and related damages to their property.
As the summer travel season approaches, Airbnb has responded to those calls, saying the company will be screening renters more closely, especially over holiday weekends.
"That’s the name of the game,” Ben Breit, director of trust and safety communications for Airbnb, said in a release. “We’re nothing without our hosts."
Guests without a history of positive reviews will be prohibited from making one-night reservations, and more restrictions will be in place for guests looking to make a two-night reservation, the release said, as reported by WBTV.
“They’re putting in the work. They’re welcoming guests and hosts don’t want parties happening,” Breit said in explaining the decision.
Airbnb will also consider taking legal action against guests whose parties get out of hand, the release said.
The change offers some added confidence to those who open their homes to renters.
“I definitely appreciate it because I don’t want bad apples, you know?” Branden Whitehurst, a short-term rental host in Charlotte, told the news station. “I like good apple pie. I don’t want bad apples in my apple pie. I don’t want bad guests in my Airbnb!”
The company said that blocking potential renters is nothing new. Last summer, Airbnb tried enhanced screening and prevented about 850 people from booking a room or house over the July 4th holiday.
Problems with rentals is something the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is aware of. In 2019, it pleaded for hosts to register their rental properties with the agency, as dozens of calls about disturbances had come in. One such case in June 2019 resulted in a deadly shooting, WBTV reported.
Whitehurst realizes people need to unwind sometimes, but he said renters need to have respect for other people’s property.
“Yeah, we can have a good time, but let’s not go overboard,” he said. “If you invite me to your home to have a good time, I’m gonna treat your home like my own home."
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