Airbnb Is Banning Parties At Their Listings & Rulebreakers Could Face Legal Action
Parties are likely one of the last things on anyone's mind these days. Still, they do happen, and now one of Airbnb's new rules will try to curb them. The company is instituting a full-on party ban, and rulebreakers could face legal consequences.
In an email sent to Narcity, Airbnb said that they would be banning all parties and large gatherings at their listings across the globe.
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They note that 73% of their global listings already ban parties in their rules.
The new restrictions will also include an occupancy cap at all listings of 16 people.
"To be clear, we are not sanctioning smaller gatherings with this policy and all community members are expected to comply with local health restrictions on gatherings," the email reads.
The company said that anyone who is found to be in violation of the party ban could face "steep consequences."
Those include being entirely banned from Airbnb, as well as the potential for the company pursuing legal action.
In one example of this, Airbnb pursued legal claims and damages against the host of a Sacramento rental where a party resulted in a deadly shooting.
"The company notified the guest on Monday of its intent to bring legal action, alleging negligence and violation of local health orders, violation of Airbnb’s Community Standards, and that the Guest booked the listing under false pretenses," the company said in a statement to KCRA News.
This event also led to a full ban on what the company considered to be "party houses."
Similar incidents have occurred in Canada, including shootings at Toronto Airbnb rentals, as well as one at a prom after-party in Whitchurch-Stouffville.
The company instituted a new rule earlier this year that no one under the age of 25 would be able to book entire houses anymore.
They also set up a 24/7 neighbourhood support line so that people could report any violations directly to Airbnb.