Poll Results: Will DC Crack Down on Airbnb?

• May 24, 2013
• 4 Comments

by UrbanTurf Staff

A few days ago, we noted that a recent NYC court case deemed that an Airbnb host had acted illegally, and wondered if DC would be cracking down in a similar fashion.

We posed the question to readers, who were completely split down the middle. Just slightly more than half of respondents — 51 percent — feel that yes, a crackdown is coming. 49 percent think DC will continue to allow Airbnb hosts to operate without consequences.

Several commenters brought up the fact that some DC homeowners rent out english basements and other spaces without all the necessary permits. “In 6 years of renting all over the city via craigslist, before buying my own house, I don’t think I ever once lived in a legally rentable apartment,” said Justin S.

What does the future hold for Airbnb hosts? Only time will tell.

This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/poll_results_will_dc_crack_down_on_airbnb/7113

4 Comments

1. Wilson said at 4:43 pm on Friday May 24, 2013:
   You are turning a blind eye to other comments the City is enforcing Zoning laws both indirectly and when people complain I have complained to dcra's against a neighbor on our block who is running a bed and breakfast out of her zoned for residential use only house and DCRA is investigating and requiring her to obtain the housing business licenses which she is required to have Airbnb is not illegally renting rooms in houses the people who use Airbnb are performing illegal rental activity

1. DC resident said at 5:16 pm on Friday May 24, 2013:
   the City is enforcing Zoning laws both indirectly and when people complain. I have complained to DCRA against a person on our block who is running a bed and breakfast out of a zoned for residential use only house. DCRA is investigating and requiring the owner to obtain the housing business licenses which the person is required to have. Airbnb is not illegally renting rooms in houses . the people who use Airbnb are performing illegal rental activity .

1. Airbnb = Awesome said at 6:29 am on Sunday May 26, 2013:
   The ruling doesn’t necessarily mean all Airbnb hosts will be cracked down on, as the city only enforces the rule when a complaint is filed. http://www.fastcompany.com/3009953/where-are-they-now/airbnb-stay-illegal-in-new-york-rules-judge Ai

1. ready to call DCRA on my neighbors said at 6:27 pm on Saturday June 1, 2013:
   I really dislike my neighbors because they have been so nasty about completely ridiculous things over the course of my time next to them. I am DELIGHTED they are stupid enough to be on AirBnB with an illegal basement because the next time they piss me off, I will be making a call to DCRA. It is kind of odd to have groups of people coming in and out of their basement a few times a week, but I live 2 blocks from the Petworth metro so I am used to a lot of street traffic. In theory, I don't have a problem with it. But a word of advise to those using AirBnb, it is probably not wise to to piss off your neighbors over petty bs.