Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: AirBnB in Cohos?

[Holly Wilder (hollywilder42]

As a property manager, I see all sorts of issues with AirB&B in general, 
although I know someone who rents space in his home this way and it's worked 
out great.  For cohousing, this looks especially problematic to me.  While both 
hosts and travelers are supposedly vetted in some way, it just does not look 
like a good idea in a cohousing community.  Here at Nyland, some people aren't 
too keen on having long-term renters let alone people passing through for short 
stays who aren't connected to the community in some way.  I don't think someone 
looking for short term housing will, in general, have any idea what cohousing 
is all about.  While a visit may open their eyes to a new way of living in the 
future, I do not think the kind of people traveling by AirB&b will "get it."  I 
would anticipate a generally lower level of respect for our common areas and 
our way of being.  It might work better at some communities than others, but I 
would be cautious.

The success of something like this would, I think, depend greatly on the 
attitude of the home-owner who is hosting these AirB&B travelers.  If someone 
were to really take the time to educate their visitors, I think there would be 
a higher chance of success.  But overall, I think this practice would be rather 
out of keeping with the principles and values that usually bring a cohousing 
community together.

My biggest concerns are liability and safety (for property, children, etc).  
Without going into a lot of detail, I think this practice poses risk to a 
community where it is practiced.  If insurance companies are not yet addressing 
this practice, I bet they will be in the future.  I can see companies refusing 
to insure communities where people are hosting strangers in this way.  In my 
work life, I have to think about stuff like that, even though I don't like to.

That being said, I think people should have a lot of flexibility with the 
property that they own.  There is a term in real estate about a property's 
"highest and best use."   If someone is desperate for cash and it seems like 
the highest and best use to rent it via AirB&B, then I suppose that should be 
allowed on a trial basis and if it turns into a problem for the community, then 
that homeowner would need to hear that and stop.  

Lots more thoughts on this, but that's enough.

Blessings,
Holly

Holly Wilder
Visionary Properties, LLC
hollywilder23 [at] gmail.com
(303) 517-4180


On Apr 21, 2015, at 10:51 AM, Eris Weaver wrote:

> 
> R Philip Dowds asked:
> 
>> If any of you out there have had, or are approaching, experience with
>> AirBnB, could you help with some questions:
>> In general, does it feel like a plus or minus?  Does it add life and
> interest to your
>> community, or do you feel mostly puzzled, like, Who the hell was that?
>> What are your rules for transients using the commons?  Can they use the
> exercise
>> room, or let their child join your children?s playgroup?
>> How do you control access to the commons?  
> 
> We had a very unhappy experience with AirBnB here at FrogSong. 
> 
> First, some background on our guest policies. Anyone here can host a guest
> in our guest rooms, which are located in the common house. The host is
> expected to inform them of community rules, clean up after they leave, etc.
> Guests, whether staying in your home or in the guest room, can use common
> spaces like the playground and hot tub, but again host is responsible for
> making sure rules are understood and followed. General custom is to inform
> the community about your guests by email, both so they aren't subjected to
> too many "Hi, who are you?" comments from other residents and we all feel
> safe by knowing who's onsite legitimately. (We are smack downtown surrounded
> by several bars so have occasional trespassing, vandalism, etc. issues.)
> 
> Members who have been away for a month or more - vacation, sabbatical, etc.
> -- have sublet their units. Someone on-site served as the host, and everyone
> is informed in advance. In general, everyone's been great about carefully
> vetting their guests/housesitters/catsitters/subletters to make sure they
> are not a negative impact on the rest of the community. Many of these folks
> have become friends, have become fulltime residents, or subsequently sublet
> other units.
> 
> Our front door keys all also unlock the common house, the hot tub, and other
> shared spaces.
> 
> So, on to the AirBnB experience. 
> 
> One of our members listed her entire home on AirBnB without informing
> anyone. Her family vacated while a group of 3-4 AirBnB guests came and
> stayed in her home. It was a total surprise to the rest of us to have a
> group of strangers arrive, ask where the AirBnB was, smoke on our pathways
> (which while not expressly forbidden, is never done), create some noise
> issues in the parking lot, etc. Her listing did mention that community
> facilities were off-limits to AirBnB guests.
> 
> It was hard to separate the actual action - listing on AirBnB - from the way
> it was done - just doing it without any discussion. Many residents felt
> extremely violated. We discussed a proposal to formally ban such rentals;
> some of our members did not want to formally regulate how others use their
> homes.  (Such rentals actually violate our city codes.) Some felt there is a
> qualititative difference between using something like AirBnB  to rent a room
> while you are home versus renting your whole home while you are gone. The
> homeowner in question removed her listing. 
> 
> At this point, even without a formally consensed policy, I doubt anyone here
> would list their units on AirBnB again!
> 
> ------------------------------
> Eris Weaver, Founding member, FrogSong cohousing in Cotati, CA
> Graphic Facilitator & Group Process Consultant
> eris [at] erisweaver.info • 707-338-8589 • http://www.erisweaver.info
> 
> 
> 
> fa cil i tāt: to make easier
> 
> 
> 
> 
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