[janicesyd]

Again, this is Janicesyd’s hubby.  FYI, Airbnb sent me a word-for-word auto response (from “Lucas”) as per Millie’s post above from “Joey”.

After receiving this, I went back to “Lucas” with:

Hi Lucas

Yes, I have read the same “stock” email response sent to others suffering from Airbnb hosts that have lied in their applications. 

 Frankly, why would you even suggest these rogue hosts would consider removing their listings as a result of a formal complaint passed on by Airbnb. Lucas, these parasites are liars in the first place. Airbnb simply enables their dishonesty. 

 All care an no responsibility as far as Airbnb is concerned. 

 Airbnb should be ashamed. 

Surprisingly I then received an actual response to my message from “Lucas” as follows:

Hi , I do understand this is a contentious issue and I’m sorry you feel this way.

Direct communication can be an effective resolution tool, as part of this we are offering to pass along your communication with the account holders whose listing URL links can be provided in the letter I mention in my prior message.

I know this does not immediately address your concerns but we would like to help out in this way, and perhaps help open a dialogue if it is an option you are open to pursuing.

Warm Regards,

Lucas
 

My last communication with “Lucas” was as follows:

Hi Lucas

Believe me; communication like this will have ZERO effect on this particular host. He has been asked to cease and dissist by both our Owners Corporation as well as our local council. He simply ignores everyone and continues to pocket his profits at the expense of all other residents. 

 Our only option is to fork out about $100K on legal fees to fight him in the Land & Environment Court. He is a very wealthy man who is only getting wealthier thanks to Airbnb. I had hoped that by stopping the illegal listing on the Internet it would be a start in stopping this parasite. 

 Regards

 

Since then, total silence from Airbnb.  Their “screening” of hosts is a joke.  Frankly, there should be an authority who can shut-down companies like Airbnb.  
 

[janicesyd]

Hi Jimmy,

Thanks for the SMH article today.  Absolutely spot-on. 

We met with the General Manager and Compliance Manager at the Council this week.  Finally, the respective units were inspected by the Council Officers (they had to issue a “Notice to Enter” since the owner refused to respond to requests to inspect) and a report of their findings has been sent to the Council’s lawyers for consideration.  Assuming the lawyers confirm a breach of the LEP, the Council then has to put it to a vote as to whether ratepayers funds should be used to fight it at the Land and Environment Court.  They told me that based on similar situations at other councils in the area it is unlikely that funds will be allocated.  As the cartoon stated “Que Sera (Whatever will BnB will be)”.

I’d like the Council Managers to consider the rebuke Gosford Council received in this ruling (sorry for the opposition publication!):

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/central-coast/court-rules-terrigal-holiday-house-letting-was-illegal/story-fngr8h0p-1226636891467

Still no reply from Airbnb.  I will try the Twitter approach.

[janicesyd]

I really appreciate your prompt and detailed response.  This is Janicesyd’s husband and I am Secretary of our Executive Committee.  This evening I tried to contact Airbnb as you suggested using the email address you listed above.  Half as we expected, the email “bounced” – but it bounced with a long winded message from Airbnb (so technically they received it – they just wanted to deny receiving it!). 

 

I had heard about this – that there seems to be no direct contact email or phone No. where you can report a breach to Airbnb.  Jimmy, do you know of any other email or phone contact for them?  Airbnb is as cunning as a fox.

 

Thanks again for your help.

[janicesyd]

Thank you for your response. It is against our bylaws. The minimum rental period is 3 months. This was voted on and approved and is clearly stated in our by-laws. We have tried to enforce this but have been unsuccessful because the owner just ignores the by-laws.

 We actually believe that council is intimidated by this man and his family as we all are. He has keyed all of our cars, sends hundreds of emails a week complaining or commenting on anything and everything just to be difficult, and has physically abused the president of our Owners Corp. Owners have moved from the building because they can’t put up with him anymore.

This family have produced bogus leases in the past that say that someone is renting for 3 months. We clearly see the holiday renters checking in and out and it corresponds with the calendars on AirBnB. 

It is so difficult to prove any of this. We started to ask all of the tenants arriving to his apartments a few questions when they checked in such as how long are you here? Where did you find the listing? Have you been given a list of the building bylaws like how to use the barbecue, laundry etc? When we tried this, the owner sent a threatening letter saying that it was harassment and that they would take action if this continued. We need this information to try to get council to take any action as they need ‘proof’.

Ironically, the rental schedules are clearly there for all to see on the booking calendars on AirBnB, however council says that the rental availability calendar is not enough proof as it might not be accurate. We suspect that someone in council is on-side with the tenant and is burying everything. (One council member uses AirBnB to rent a floor in his home for holiday let and is friendly with the family.) We don’t have an issue with short term leasing in people’s homes if that is what they choose to do and it is legal. In this case, renting short term in our very expensive building is against both council and strata laws and it just keeps going on without any consequences. It isn’t right that we bought into this building as our home and we are living in a holiday hotel!

Regardless of the strata laws against it, it is clearly against the council laws and that should be enough for council to take action. How do we enforce this and force council to do something??? Sorry for the very lengthy rant but we are all very over it and don’t know what to do.

[Author]

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