Airbnb plans home-sharing clubs
After fighting SAN FRANCIS CO off efforts to further regulate short-term housing rentals in its home town, Airbnb made clear it plans to flex the company’s newfound political muscle using what it learned during the battle.
“What took place here in San Francisco has informed us enormously. It’s a great lesson,” said Chris Lehane, Airbnb’s global policy chief.
Proposition F would have limited users of Airbnb and other short-term rental websites to renting out rooms, houses or apartments for no more than 75 days a year per unit, down from the current 90 now permitted.
On Tuesday, 55% of San Francisco voters rejected the initiative, which was brought to the ballot by a petition drive.
The win was not decisive. Initiatives require majority voter approval to pass and Airbnb outspent proponents of the measure 8 to 1. The San Francisco-based short-term rental platform put more than $8.5 million into the fight.
Supporters, which included hotel unions, some hotel owners and housing advocates, spent closer to $800,000, the
Los Angeles Times reported. At a news conference Wednesday at Airbnb headquarters in San Francisco, Lehane announced the company plans to launch a national campaign to create 100 home-sharing political clubs in 100 U.S. cities in 2016.
The idea was inspired in part as Airbnb saw local hosts self-organize and create the Home Sharers Democratic Club as a chartered club of the San Francisco Democratic Party.
“We’re going to build on this momentum coming from San Francisco,” Lehane said.
Airbnb will provide staff and a hotline at its headquarters for these guilds or clubs, as well as access to “the finest grass-roots training,” Lehane said. The clubs will be independent, however. “These clubs are going to be of the people, for the people and by the people,” he said.
Lehane framed the broader issue as being one of the members of the middle class worldwide looking to monetize their largest single asset, their housing, in a time of rising income inequality.