NewsAirbnb Takes Legal Action Against a Guest for the 1st Time by Sylvia Shalhout August 13, 2020August 13, 2020 by Sylvia Shalhout August 13, 2020August 13, 2020At the end of 2019, Airbnb announced that it would ban “unauthorized” parties in short-term rental properties. Any house parties that were held without preapproval from the Airbnb host, such as “open invite” parties, would be prohibited starting in 2020. This came after a deadly shooting occurred at a party house near San Francisco, California during Halloween of last year. But the party house ban was also meant to address common issues neighbors tend to have about Airbnb rental properties such as excessive noise and parking issues. It would also help hosts who are faced with unauthorized guests visiting or staying at their rental properties.Since the initial ban on party houses, Airbnb has been taking steps to crack down on listings that violate the new regulations in many major cities across the US. Listings that have complaints against them regarding parties or that have violated Airbnb’s policies in one way or another have been removed from the platform. The short-term rental platform also advised hosts to use “party sensors” in February. These devices can measure humidity and noise levels and essentially tell a host if a party is being held on the premises. To try to further crack down on large house parties to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, Airbnb even went as far as banning guests under the age of 25 from booking rental properties on the platform. A hotline was also opened for neighbors who wish to lodge complaints.However, for the first time in the company’s history, Airbnb is suing a guest who held a party in an Airbnb in Sacramento, California last weekend that ended in a shooting. Three party goers were injured. Ben Breit, an Airbnb spokesperson, said in a statement that the Airbnb Sacramento guest (whose name has not been released to the public) “booked the rental under false pretenses, acted with negligence, and violated public health orders.” Breit commented on Airbnb’s decision to take legal action against the guest:Airbnb has no tolerance for unauthorized parties, which are expressly banned in its Community Standards.Not only was the party in violation of Airbnb’s policies but it was also violating the state’s regulations against large gatherings due to COVID-19. Around 50 people attended the party at the rental property. This step to take action against an Airbnb guest for violating policies comes in a time when the company has been suffering great financial losses due to the coronavirus. Airbnb’s reputation also took a blow as the company set a new COVID-19 cancellation policy earlier this year. This lawsuit may be another way the company works to fix its image and repair its relationship with hosts before going public later this year.Sign up now to Mashvisor to stay updated on real estate news around the US. Start Your Investment Property Search! START FREE TRIAL AirbnbAirbnb Guests 1FacebookTwitterGoogle +PinterestLinkedin Sylvia ShalhoutSylvia is the Content Marketing Manager at Mashvisor. As a real estate writer, she has been covering topics for the beginner and advanced real estate investor, helping them make smarter decisions as well as real estate agents looking to take their business to the next level. Previous Post Rental Property Investment Basics Every Beginner Should Know Next Post How to Grow Your Real Estate Business Related Posts Activity in the US Foreclosure Market Drastically Dropped in 2018 Airbnb Sues Boston Over Short-Term Rental Regulations US Home Prices Expected to Fall 6.6% by 2021 New Regulations on D.C. Short Term Rentals Set for 2019 Los Angeles Housing Market Named the Least Affordable in the US Home Prices Fell During COVID-19 in These Cities Report: Housing Market 2019 vs 2009- How Has Your City Fared? Existing Home Sales Drop to a 3-Year Low in the US Housing Market US Government Shutdown Is Holding Back Opportunity-Zone Investors Report: It’s More Affordable to Rent than Buy a House in 2019 Fed Interest Rates Will Remain Steady Airbnb Jersey City Faces New Strict Laws in 2020