Amsterdam Using Airbnb Listings To Identify Illegal Hotels 141
An anonymous reader writes "In a move that might dampen the popularity of Airbnb's site for Amsterdam, the city government is now using the accommodation listing service as a source of tips about illegal rental property. 'Airbnb is never a smoking gun,' said Jan-Jaap Eikelboom, spokesman for the city of Amsterdam, regarding use of the service. But the government does use Airbnb and its competitors to compare its own nuisance data with street listings on sites like Airbnb, and has been doing so for a while, he said. This combined information can come in handy when investigating suspicious buildings and can help with spotting illegal activity, he said."
Are we all supposed to know what Airbnb is? (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Are we all supposed to know what Airbnb is? (Score:5, Informative)
Amsterdam is motivated due to safety concerns (Score:3, Informative)
Amsterdam needs to regulate hotels due to serious safety concerns. You know, checking for fire code regulations, that kind of thing. If the city doesn't do it, then people just 'trust' the people running the place to ensure its safety. Last year at least two people died, and Amsterdam is serious.
http://www.at5.nl/artikelen/82520/uitslaande-brand-nieuwezijds-voorburgwal [at5.nl]
Few were surprised to later learn that building was being used as an illegal, unregulated hotel.
If anyone can rent their 'whatever' via airbnb, then such an unregulated and dangerous market would flourish.
Re:Are we all supposed to know what Airbnb is? (Score:4, Informative)
It's really not rocket science. An "illegal hotel" is (of course) an unlicensed hotel.
The reasons these are of concern is primarily safety. These kind of illegal hotels often violate basic fire safety rules, and are death-traps in case of a fire. Remember that most buildings in the inner city of Amsterdam are old (2-3 centuries old is not exceptional). If you cram dozens of people in such buildings without basic fire safety precautions and safety exits, that's a recipe for disaster. Indeed, people have died in fires in illegal hotels over the past years.
In addition, these locations are crime magnets.
So, is it so odd that the Amsterdam municipality wants to get rid of them? Me thinks not.
Re:Are we all supposed to know what Airbnb is? (Score:5, Informative)
That is exactly what the officail stance is...
Volkskrant (dutch) [volkskrant.nl]
Taxes, fire safety, and illegal rent.
Illegal rent: social rented space that is sub-rented.
Re:Are we all supposed to know what Airbnb is? (Score:4, Informative)
Re:The Horror! (Score:2, Informative)
"The majority of Dutch people live in government regulated housing"?! This is yet another sweeping statement devoid of factual information. Is there a lot of government regulated housing? Yes. Is it abused by subletting for WAY over the rent being paid? Yes. But the majority of people are living in government regulated housing? Wake up, man.
There is a general feeling that the government "owes" you something, but that appears to be with the "have-nots". Housing, holiday allowances, etc. The sense of entitlement here is amazing. It is time for a change - work for it or don't get it. This goes for housing, etc.
I bought my house in the centre (of Amsterdam). I chose the neighborhood for lots of reasons, and I pay for it, sometimes at the detriment of lots of other things I want (NOTE: not things I am "entitled too"). People the world over live where they can afford. That is how it works.