Gouging? Really?
In the 122-year history of the Boston Marathon runners and spectators have somehow managed to find a place to rest their weary heads — yes, even before AirBnb. The fact that some homeowners list their properties for sky-high prices during Marathon week doesn’t mean the homeowners or the site are guilty of “price-gouging” that must be regulated out of existence.
There is no constitutional right to cheap lodging in this country — particularly at a busy time of year. Ever try to rent a hotel room in New York City during the Christmas holidays?
There are alternatives to AirBnb — an internet search yesterday found plenty of (very expensive) hotel rooms available from April 14 through April 17. But 5 or 10 miles outside the city there are bargains to be had.
But a self-styled watchdog group is crying foul, insisting that a handful of Airbnb listings with shockingly high prices that week prove that the rental website allows its hosts to engage in price-gouging. “AirbnbWatch” — which Airbnb says is backed by the hotel industry — says the prices are proof that the site’s “bad actors” are in fact commercial hosts running de facto hotels.
We’re not sure how they can draw that conclusion from a handful of listings, but if competitors want to beat each other up in the public square far be it from us to interfere.
No, it’s when policy-makers step in that we get nervous. In response to AirbnbWatch’s “report” Boston City Councilor Lydia Edwards said, “This kind of price-gouging is exactly why we want to regulate Airbnb and at the same time balance the interests of people who are just trying to pay their mortgage.”
We understand that policymakers fret about Airbnb’s impact on neighborhoods. But if they are equally concerned about exactly what hosts charge, well, what remedy do they propose? Government price caps? Internet rent control? Please!
If the market can’t support $2,000 a night for a Back Bay flat then it will go unrented. But if a well-heeled marathoner decides it’s just dandy, why should politicians say otherwise?