AirBNB

[Taffin]

12 hours ago, luckyBatistuta said:

 

Yet they will rip you off when you need them most, at 3am, 4am,  like they were trying to do to the passengers I had in my taxi last weekend. What Uber were quoting them was nothing short of robbing them. Yes I know they don’t have to accept the price and go elsewhere, but would you be happy with that in all walks of life. Hi sir, coffee, no problem…that will be £3, oops sorry, it’s 5pm and a little busy right now, that will be £20 etc…it’s just wrong. There should be a meter in all vehicles that should be controlled by the council, to stop people being ripped off. The terror attack in London was a prime example of how disgusting this kind of business is.

 

Anyway, back on topic. I always think people should try and think how they would feel if the situation was the other way around. You like using Airbnb and that’s up to you bud, it’s your prerogative, but I think most folk would certainly not be happy if they had one or two of these next door to them. What my mother and father were put through,was disgusting. It was actually effecting their health, they are not young and the stress of it all was getting to them, hence why they moved, which they shouldn’t have had to.

 

 

100% agree. It's better to be ripped off on every single journey than to occasionally be ripped off when you need a service most...and are most willing to pay for it ?

[IronJambo]

5 hours ago, shaun.lawson said:

 

Fixed that for you. Because that's the reality. Own it. 

 

Amazon preside over what's awfully close to slavery among their workforce, and have destroyed the local high street. Airbnb have created a housing catastrophe across Europe. And many Uber drivers have to work 70 hours a week plus to make ends meet. All the while none of these cowboy operations pay proper tax.

 

What do you think happens when people are driving over 70 hours a week? More accidents, more fatalities. But what do you care about any of that, eh? Me, me, me.

How have air bnb created a housing catastrophe? Housing was knackered in this country well before the internet arrived never mind air bnb. 

[Dboy]

Never used on but it would be interesting to know the extent of business regulation they have - do they have to display public liability insurance, do their title deeds allow the running of a business in their property, do they arrange to have their waste collected by a commercial contractor, have they sought permission to put up a key box, is there any licencing conditions with the local authority.  Local authorities do make planning restrictions that limit the nature of businesses so they could look to apply these power to AirBnB type properties.

 

Once you start to add potential costs that other businesses have to incur (which also involve an investment in time ) then  it would be interesting to find out if it remained economic.  As it is I know such properties can earn much more in rent with a few holiday lets compared to a whole years rental to a tenant.                   

[SE16 3LN]

12 hours ago, Sooperstar said:

Sounds like it's a new postie you need, not new neighbours.

The Royal Mail are part of the problem yes, but good neighbours pass on mail etc. and don't steal from you. 

[Alan_R]

52 minutes ago, Dboy said:

Never used on but it would be interesting to know the extent of business regulation they have - do they have to display public liability insurance, do their title deeds allow the running of a business in their property, do they arrange to have their waste collected by a commercial contractor, have they sought permission to put up a key box, is there any licencing conditions with the local authority.  Local authorities do make planning restrictions that limit the nature of businesses so they could look to apply these power to AirBnB type properties.

 

Once you start to add potential costs that other businesses have to incur (which also involve an investment in time ) then  it would be interesting to find out if it remained economic.  As it is I know such properties can earn much more in rent with a few holiday lets compared to a whole years rental to a tenant.                   

 

 

Fair point but the main benefit was to have a platform for regular Joe's to rent out a spare room or their house for a week while they are on holiday etc. I think that's a great tool purely from that perspective.

 

Many even offer caravans in garden or tent pitch's etc. Which allows some very cheap stop offs for globetrotting types.

 

What you suggest would pretty much apply to all private caravan rentals too which has already been happening for years?

[Radio Ga Ga]

Currently staying in an AirBnB in Seville. 

 

Its an an absolutely magnificent apartment in a traditional block bang in the city centre. Three bedroom, two bathrooms, massive lounge and spotless, £399 for four nights for two couples, much much better value than a hotel.

 

Have also used AirBnB in Anaheim (average but two blocks from Disney) San Francisco (Outstanding and a third of the price of a hotel) New York (Brilliant and again a third of the price of a hotel) 

 

 

[AndyNic]

Love AirBNB. 

 

 

[southcap]

7 hours ago, Dunks said:

 

All very successful disruptors in their respective markets. The rest of the market has to adapt and/or the system needs an overhaul.

 

Can't fault them at all in a business sense.

Thing thing with uber is, they make large losses, they are outcompeting by being subsidised by investors speculating on future markets.

 

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/15/uber-2018-financial-results.html

 

Quote

Gross bookings, or the amount collected before payouts to drivers, grew to $50 billion for the year, up 45 percent from the prior year. Its adjusted losses decreased 15 percent in 2018 to $1.8 billion, down from $2.2 billion in 2017. The figure excludes the company’s sale of its Russia and Southeast Asia businesses. Including those two sales to Yandex and Grab, respectively, Uber actually saw GAAP losses of $370 million. GAAP losses in 2017 were $4.5 billion.

 

Uber has no intention of competing with local taxis, they plan to wipe them out with automated cars when that finally take off. Which is inevitable.

 

 

[shaun.lawson]

1 hour ago, IronJambo said:

How have air bnb created a housing catastrophe? Housing was knackered in this country well before the internet arrived never mind air bnb. 

 

There's this thing IronJambo. It's called: the rest of the world.

 

And the rest of the world's housing markets weren't half as ****ed before airbnb arrived: destroying the ability of horrendous numbers of young people to rent, let alone buy. As ever, no-one cares. Only the selfish consumer counts.

 

And we wonder why the world is the way it is?!

[Dboy]

52 minutes ago, Alan_R said:

 

 

Fair point but the main benefit was to have a platform for regular Joe's to rent out a spare room or their house for a week while they are on holiday etc. I think that's a great tool purely from that perspective.

 

Many even offer caravans in garden or tent pitch's etc. Which allows some very cheap stop offs for globetrotting types.

 

What you suggest would pretty much apply to all private caravan rentals too which has already been happening for years?

 I think the original intention was as you outlined but it has grown to something more than letting out a spare room or house exhange.

[tian447]

8 hours ago, shaun.lawson said:

 

Fixed that for you. Because that's the reality. Own it. 

 

Amazon preside over what's awfully close to slavery among their workforce, and have destroyed the local high street. Airbnb have created a housing catastrophe across Europe. And many Uber drivers have to work 70 hours a week plus to make ends meet. All the while none of these cowboy operations pay proper tax.

 

What do you think happens when people are driving over 70 hours a week? More accidents, more fatalities. But what do you care about any of that, eh? Me, me, me.

 

You really didn't need to fix it.  I stand by what I said, and don't need you telling me I should think otherwise in such a mindnumbingly pedantic way.

 

The local High Street is a dump, filled with absolutely rubbish shops.  Amazon are not to blame for this, it's multiple other reasons; businesses not willing to update their model to accommodate the fact that people buy things online, being far more expensive than alternatives, rent figures being way above what they should be.  I'd be happy (well, not really) to give you a tour around Dundee City Centre to show you exactly how terrible it is, and how many "characters" float around it.  I'd shop online 100 times out of 100 if I really had to.

 

Uber drivers choose to work for them.  If they end up working 70 hour weeks, it's entirely up to them to choose to do that.  That being said, the last car I was picked up in when I booked an Uber was a Tesla Model 3.  No wonder they're struggling to make ends meet, when some of them are driving a £100,000 car.

 

AirBnb is a convenient way of letting out property that would otherwise sit unoccupied for most of the year.  To blame them for the state of the housing market is completely laughable.

 

To be accused of thinking everything is about me, by someone who excels in posting ridiculous amounts of drivel for people to sit though as if their opinion is the only one in the world, is quite exceptional.

[Captain Sausage]

23 minutes ago, tian447 said:

 

You really didn't need to fix it.  I stand by what I said, and don't need you telling me I should think otherwise in such a mindnumbingly pedantic way.

 

The local High Street is a dump, filled with absolutely rubbish shops.  Amazon are not to blame for this, it's multiple other reasons; businesses not willing to update their model to accommodate the fact that people buy things online, being far more expensive than alternatives, rent figures being way above what they should be.  I'd be happy (well, not really) to give you a tour around Dundee City Centre to show you exactly how terrible it is, and how many "characters" float around it.  I'd shop online 100 times out of 100 if I really had to.

 

Uber drivers choose to work for them.  If they end up working 70 hour weeks, it's entirely up to them to choose to do that.  That being said, the last car I was picked up in when I booked an Uber was a Tesla Model 3.  No wonder they're struggling to make ends meet, when some of them are driving a £100,000 car.

 

AirBnb is a convenient way of letting out property that would otherwise sit unoccupied for most of the year.  To blame them for the state of the housing market is completely laughable.

 

To be accused of thinking everything is about me, by someone who excels in posting ridiculous amounts of drivel for people to sit though as if their opinion is the only one in the world, is quite exceptional.

 

Why bother posting. This covers it all perfectly. 

[Dunks]

1 hour ago, tian447 said:

 

You really didn't need to fix it.  I stand by what I said, and don't need you telling me I should think otherwise in such a mindnumbingly pedantic way.

 

The local High Street is a dump, filled with absolutely rubbish shops.  Amazon are not to blame for this, it's multiple other reasons; businesses not willing to update their model to accommodate the fact that people buy things online, being far more expensive than alternatives, rent figures being way above what they should be.  I'd be happy (well, not really) to give you a tour around Dundee City Centre to show you exactly how terrible it is, and how many "characters" float around it.  I'd shop online 100 times out of 100 if I really had to.

 

Uber drivers choose to work for them.  If they end up working 70 hour weeks, it's entirely up to them to choose to do that.  That being said, the last car I was picked up in when I booked an Uber was a Tesla Model 3.  No wonder they're struggling to make ends meet, when some of them are driving a £100,000 car.

 

AirBnb is a convenient way of letting out property that would otherwise sit unoccupied for most of the year.  To blame them for the state of the housing market is completely laughable.

 

To be accused of thinking everything is about me, by someone who excels in posting ridiculous amounts of drivel for people to sit though as if their opinion is the only one in the world, is quite exceptional.

 

[AlphonseCapone]

9 hours ago, shaun.lawson said:

 

Fixed that for you. Because that's the reality. Own it. 

 

Amazon preside over what's awfully close to slavery among their workforce, and have destroyed the local high street. Airbnb have created a housing catastrophe across Europe. And many Uber drivers have to work 70 hours a week plus to make ends meet. All the while none of these cowboy operations pay proper tax.

 

What do you think happens when people are driving over 70 hours a week? More accidents, more fatalities. But what do you care about any of that, eh? Me, me, me.

 

Classic middle class socialist. It's probably incomprehensible to your simplistic world view but these businesses you rail so hard against, for which there are valid concerns, probably help the less wealth off proportionally more than the wealthy. Airbnb suddenly makes travel more affordable to millions of people. 

 

If someone else goes on about the ****ing high street as well. It's not sacrosanct. It's dying, get over it ffs. It's a relic of the past. I'm 31, so I remember proper high streets as a kid while also coming to age with the Internet. The Internet absolutely wipes the floor with the high street, it can't compete and so it disappears. It's an evolution that's happened for hundreds of years. Gutenberg started it, the industrial revolution continued it and neo-Liberal economics ensures it will also be the case for the immediate future. 

 

Folk always complained when the latest technology came along and made their industries obsolete. The impact on the people involved is awful yes, but should that halt the natural evolution of society and jobs? Of course not, but those impacted need looked after by the Government, retrained if required. 

 

Blaming Amazon, Uber and Airbnb for existing in an environment that has actively been encouraged by countless Governments rather than blaming the Governments is why the left are rarely taken seriously. Too busy being angry and jealous at folk with money to look at the bigger picture. 

 

59 minutes ago, tian447 said:

 

You really didn't need to fix it.  I stand by what I said, and don't need you telling me I should think otherwise in such a mindnumbingly pedantic way.

 

The local High Street is a dump, filled with absolutely rubbish shops.  Amazon are not to blame for this, it's multiple other reasons; businesses not willing to update their model to accommodate the fact that people buy things online, being far more expensive than alternatives, rent figures being way above what they should be.  I'd be happy (well, not really) to give you a tour around Dundee City Centre to show you exactly how terrible it is, and how many "characters" float around it.  I'd shop online 100 times out of 100 if I really had to.

 

Uber drivers choose to work for them.  If they end up working 70 hour weeks, it's entirely up to them to choose to do that.  That being said, the last car I was picked up in when I booked an Uber was a Tesla Model 3.  No wonder they're struggling to make ends meet, when some of them are driving a £100,000 car.

 

AirBnb is a convenient way of letting out property that would otherwise sit unoccupied for most of the year.  To blame them for the state of the housing market is completely laughable.

 

To be accused of thinking everything is about me, by someone who excels in posting ridiculous amounts of drivel for people to sit though as if their opinion is the only one in the world, is quite exceptional.

 

 

[Craig_]

14 hours ago, luckyBatistuta said:

 

You said earlier that most taxis were charging you £35-£40, now you are saying a couple. If it’s North Queensferry it’s £30, not £30-£35. If it’s South Queensferry, it will be under £25. You were exaggerating with that first post to make black cabs look bad imo

 

 

 

 

Then the black cab drivers are ripping off my poor tired, vulnerable pissed self.

 

I've never had a taxi back from town for £25 in the seven years I've lived here.

[southcap]

2 hours ago, tian447 said:

 

You really didn't need to fix it.  I stand by what I said, and don't need you telling me I should think otherwise in such a mindnumbingly pedantic way.

 

The local High Street is a dump, filled with absolutely rubbish shops.  Amazon are not to blame for this, it's multiple other reasons; businesses not willing to update their model to accommodate the fact that people buy things online, being far more expensive than alternatives, rent figures being way above what they should be.  I'd be happy (well, not really) to give you a tour around Dundee City Centre to show you exactly how terrible it is, and how many "characters" float around it.  I'd shop online 100 times out of 100 if I really had to.

 

Uber drivers choose to work for them.  If they end up working 70 hour weeks, it's entirely up to them to choose to do that.  That being said, the last car I was picked up in when I booked an Uber was a Tesla Model 3.  No wonder they're struggling to make ends meet, when some of them are driving a £100,000 car.

 

AirBnb is a convenient way of letting out property that would otherwise sit unoccupied for most of the year.  To blame them for the state of the housing market is completely laughable.

 

To be accused of thinking everything is about me, by someone who excels in posting ridiculous amounts of drivel for people to sit though as if their opinion is the only one in the world, is quite exceptional.

Complete and utter bullshit.

 

That's how it started but it's not how it's ended up.

[southcap]

46 minutes ago, AlphonseCapone said:

 

Classic middle class socialist. It's probably incomprehensible to your simplistic world view but these businesses you rail so hard against, for which there are valid concerns, probably help the less wealth off proportionally more than the wealthy. Airbnb suddenly makes travel more affordable to millions of people. 

 

If someone else goes on about the ****ing high street as well. It's not sacrosanct. It's dying, get over it ffs. It's a relic of the past. I'm 31, so I remember proper high streets as a kid while also coming to age with the Internet. The Internet absolutely wipes the floor with the high street, it can't compete and so it disappears. It's an evolution that's happened for hundreds of years. Gutenberg started it, the industrial revolution continued it and neo-Liberal economics ensures it will also be the case for the immediate future. 

 

Folk always complained when the latest technology came along and made their industries obsolete. The impact on the people involved is awful yes, but should that halt the natural evolution of society and jobs? Of course not, but those impacted need looked after by the Government, retrained if required. 

 

Blaming Amazon, Uber and Airbnb for existing in an environment that has actively been encouraged by countless Governments rather than blaming the Governments is why the left are rarely taken seriously. Too busy being angry and jealous at folk with money to look at the bigger picture. 

 

 

 

We should be happy to pay higher rents so people from abroad can have cheaper holidays and landlords can increase their income?

 

You somehow equate that to everyone being better off since now we can knock £10 off a night when travelling?

 

You seem to be under the delusion that capitalism will solve all issues if only the lefties stopped regulating it.

 

You know what is also highly profitable? Sex trafficking, especially underage victi....sorry, commodities .

 

If only the loony left would stop encroaching on peoples rights not to be trafficked, we could all so be so much better off.

 

Profit>people.

[luckyBatistuta]

2 hours ago, tian447 said:

AirBnb is a convenient way of letting out property that would otherwise sit unoccupied for most of the year.  

 

That isn’t really the case with a lot of them these days though. Folk are just buying up properties just to use as an Airbnb. With so many doing it, there are less properties for young families to buy, as they are pushing the prices up and out of their range. Got on to the subject of this at work last night with a couple in the back. They had one flat they were using just for this and they also had two friends doing it, one of whom had 8 flats, 4 in one block. I also know a guy (not personally)who has over 20 flats, these would not be just lying empty otherwise. I’m not blaming the problems we have with housing in this country entirely on Airbnb, but they are having a massive impact on it.

 

29 minutes ago, Craig_ said:

 

Then the black cab drivers are ripping off my poor tired, vulnerable pissed self.

 

I've never had a taxi back from town for £25 in the seven years I've lived here.

 

So you live in South Queensferry then?

[southcap]

Remember, airbnb properties don't even have to undergo the most basic safety checks. They don't have have to get pat tested.

 

Wonder how many landlords insure their propery as residential or commercial.

 

Wonder what would happen if a guest in an airbnb caused a fire that burned the whole block down and the owner's insurance was invalid?

 

Balances and checks, they protect society from capitalism.

 

To quote Adam Smith himself

 

Quote

The interest of the dealers [referring to stock owners, manufacturers, and merchants], however, in any particular branch of trade or manufacture, is always in some respects different from, and even opposite to, that of the public.  To widen the market and to narrow the competition, is always the interest of the dealers.  To widen the market may frequently be agreeable enough to the interest of the public; but to narrow the competition must always be against it, and can serve only to enable the dealers, by raising their profits above what they naturally would be, to levy, for their own benefit, and absurd tax upon the rest of their fellow-citizens. (Adam Smith, Wealth of Nations)

 

The proposal of any new law or regulation of commerce which comes from this order, ought always to be listened to with great precaution, and ought never to be adopted till after having been long and carefully examined, not only with the most scrupulous, but with the most suspicious attention.  It comes from an order of men, whose interest is never exactly the same with that of the public, who have generally an interest to deceive and even to oppress the public, and who accordingly have, upon many occasions, both deceived and oppressed it. (Smith, Wealth of Nations, page 220)

 

When the author of modern capitalism agrees that the interests of capitalists and the interests on society rarely align and regulation is necessary, then games a bogey eh.

[AlphonseCapone]

26 minutes ago, southcap said:

We should be happy to pay higher rents so people from abroad can have cheaper holidays and landlords can increase their income?

 

You somehow equate that to everyone being better off since now we can knock £10 off a night when travelling?

 

You seem to be under the delusion that capitalism will solve all issues if only the lefties stopped regulating it.

 

You know what is also highly profitable? Sex trafficking, especially underage victi....sorry, commodities .

 

If only the loony left would stop encroaching on peoples rights not to be trafficked, we could all so be so much better off.

 

Profit>people.

 

Mate, first of the bat, my rent is £1,000 per month. It'll be another 4 years before I buy a modest flat in this city. So I'm not someone sitting comfortably outside the system with no stake in the game. 

 

What I'm saying is take your anger out appropriately. You're pissed off at Airbnb etc when it's Government's you should be directing your anger. Should Airbnb be better regulated and controlled? I'd say so. Is it the reason rents are so high and houses so few and far between? Of course not, it's the tip of a giant ice berg that started forming when council housing stock wasn't replaced. Only a small proportion of Airbnb stock are full properties, so the idea Airbnb is taking up all the free housing doesn't hold up to scrutiny. Granted it'll be worse in cities. It also fails to consider the benefits to the local economy that extra tourism brings, especially areas of cities tourists wouldn't normally visit. 

 

You're barking up the wrong tree with your capitalism rants. You also appear to have a very simplistic view on being "left". Socialism as an economic model is a non-starter. Capitalism works far better, like it or not, and benefits far more people than socialist economic models ever will. But don't equate an acknowledgement that capitalism works better than being the same as capitalism is perfect or will solve all problems. There are many issues with our current economic models, the sheer wealth of some people versus the sheer poverty of others for example. Does that mean you smash the entire system? Of course not. You adapt, and refine the system so it works better. The problem is those with the sheer wealth also tend to control the levers of the system. Go after those guys. But there is no point longing for a system that doesn't worked. A simple example with the biggest sample size you can find. Compare the China now, socialist in name only, versus China 20 years ago and tell me what system lifts the most people out of poverty, increases living standards. Does it take everyone with them? Of course not, there are always winners and losers, you'll never change that. It applies as much to health, life as it does to economics. It's the basis for the evolution of life. 

 

My views on the above don't for a second mean I don't believe in rights for every human on earth, the right to live in freedom and live your life how you wish as long as you don't be a dick to others, to earn a fair wage, to look after family, worship who you want, marry who you want, decide what happens with your body, equal opportunities for people regardless of age, race, religion, gender, sexuality or disability. The idea that I can't believe all of the above at the same time is ridiculous. Don't try and put people in simple little boxes like right and left, the world is too complex for that. 

 

Your sex trafficking analogy is a ridiculous strawman.

 

22 minutes ago, Lord BJ said:

 

I agree with this post. Nearly every thing changes and evolves and that brings about both negative of positive. Though as with most evolution it happens for overall betterment imo.

 

It’s been quite interesting to watch your own evolution towards politics and life over the last couple of years. You appear to have become come more pragmatic and less idealistic 

 

I imagine that’s working out better. Anyway just a observation ✌

 

Fair assessment.

 

16 minutes ago, Lord BJ said:

AlphonseCapone being thought of as a right wing capitalist ?

 

I know eh! 

[IronJambo]

6 hours ago, shaun.lawson said:

 

There's this thing IronJambo. It's called: the rest of the world.

 

And the rest of the world's housing markets weren't half as ****ed before airbnb arrived: destroying the ability of horrendous numbers of young people to rent, let alone buy. As ever, no-one cares. Only the selfish consumer counts.

 

And we wonder why the world is the way it is?!

Sounds like a hugely unsubstantiated claim to me Shaun.  I'm really struggling to imagine that the housing market in Lens has exploded because of air bnb. 

 

They were reported to have 4m listings in 2017. They're in 191 countries and 89,000 cities. That's an average of less than 21,000 listings per country and 45 per city.b

 

Clearly there will be cities that are heavy with them but it's the same landlords renting these out that would be renting flats out as HMO instead.

 

In the grand scheme of it I would think their impact on housing markets is pretty minimal.

[Joey J J Jr Shabadoo]

Is there a reason why they just give you a rough idea where you will be staying, before you book? Other sites (with the same property listed) seem to tell you the address.

[bajthejambo]

I find a lot of black cab drivers incredibly entitled. They expect jobs to just be there for them to pick and choose from when they decide to work. They had it so good for so long and can't handle that now there are many alternatives. 

 

Sorry if that offends anyone, there's a lot of good cabbies out there too. My Dad was one for over twenty years. 

[shaun.lawson]

11 hours ago, AlphonseCapone said:

You're barking up the wrong tree with your capitalism rants. You also appear to have a very simplistic view on being "left". Socialism as an economic model is a non-starter. Capitalism works far better, like it or not, and benefits far more people than socialist economic models ever will. But don't equate an acknowledgement that capitalism works better than being the same as capitalism is perfect or will solve all problems. There are many issues with our current economic models, the sheer wealth of some people versus the sheer poverty of others for example. Does that mean you smash the entire system? Of course not. You adapt, and refine the system so it works better.

 

 

Seems like it's you who's barking up the wrong tree judging by the above. Why is it that so many capitalists think that 'socialism' = Venezuela or North Korea?!

 

You know when socialism worked? Between 1945 and 1970. Keynesian social democracy is what works. That's also why Scandinavia, again and again and again, tops all the quality of life and happiness surveys. But how could that possibly be? They're 'socialist'... right?

 

Adapt and refine the system? I couldn't agree more. So who will you be voting for at the next election?

 

Quote

My views on the above don't for a second mean I don't believe in rights for every human on earth, the right to live in freedom and live your life how you wish as long as you don't be a dick to others

 

When people take the attitude, as you have, "it's the government's fault, not mine", they're:

 

1. Excusing their own selfishness

 

2. Generally oblivious about the impact of their actions on others.

 

Few people who belong to group 2 are bad people at all. They just never stop, think or reflect. Where were your clothes made? Who made them? What were they paid and how were they treated? Where was your mobile phone made? Who made it? What were they paid and how were they treated? Where was your food made? How were the animals treated? Etc etc etc.

 

Quote

 

Your sex trafficking analogy is a ridiculous strawman.

 

Why? It's the exact same logic as yours. Why does sex trafficking exist? Unregulated capitalism. What does the British government - voted for by the British electorate - do? It deports young girls into sex trafficking.

 

Then there's the vast numbers on here who've tried, used and/or abused illegal drugs. In the UK, it's practically seen as a rite of passage. Yet what happens as a result? Violence and mass murder in Central America, and human misery on the most epic scale.

 

What do most people care about that? Nothing. Because what's people being murdered and raped against their selfish pleasure?

 

That's human beings. That's what we are. We're horrible, selfish *******s - and having destroyed most other species through our 'way of life', now we've moved on to ourselves too. Response of those who have stolen the futures of our children and grandchildren? "They should be in school". It's almost beyond belief at times.

Edited April 26, 2019 by shaun.lawson

[Phage]

My buddy has a nice 3 bed in Newington. Used to rent out 2 rooms for £500 each, all in and use the nicest room himself.

Uses AirBNB now, has AirBNB cleaners, has a company that lists/prices it... doesn't do anything at all and banks a shed load more than renting.

His AirBNB brings in well more than the UK average salary in profit.

[John Gentleman]

On 25/04/2019 at 23:29, Cade said:

It's a scourge and needs to be tightly regulated.

 

There are blocks of flats in Edinburgh that only have 20% occupancy as the rest are all Air BnB party flats.

Strangers all over the place, noise, mess, drunkenness, general disruption, and absolutely no way of properly registering a complaint.

 

It's essentially an unregulated hostel system and needs to be clamped down hard.

Are AirBnB required to report hosts' payments to the tax authorities in the UK? That's the way things are moving here in Oz as the tax office have woken up to disparities between income declared and total GST (aka VAT) collected from AirBnB hosts.

A few bubbles about to burst, methinks.

[John Gentleman]

On 26/04/2019 at 06:36, Lord BJ said:

Anyway taxi drivers are ****ed we will all be in driverless car soon enough any way?

Spot on. The Ubers and Lyfts of the world may be huge but they're also precarious. The barriers to entry are low (car + an app) and there's a limit to how far they can screw down their drivers. You only have to look at the tanking share price of Lyft to see how vulnerable they are.

And neither of them have made a profit, ever, and likely never will.

[Diadora Van Basten]

It is noticeable in the Airbnb hot spots such as Old Town, New Town and Newington that house prices have been rising significantly whilst outside these areas the market has been much more subdued.

 

It is a fair bet that the reason for this is people buying up properties to rent out on Airbnb and as a result less people are living in these areas.

 

I don’t think that more regulation is needed as such but it has had an easy ride for Airbnb compared to long term lets that have been getting attacked from local government (HMO and licensing), national government (ban on letting fees and end of short assured tenancy) and uk Government (loss of tax relief on interest).

 

This preferential treatment has increased the supply of Airbnb and reduced the supply of rental properties pushing up rents to eye watering levels.

 

Rents in Edinburgh were actually rising below inflation from 2008 to 2013 and since then they have sky rocketed.

Edited April 28, 2019 by Diadora Van Basten

[Howdy Doody Jambo]

It must be a total nightmare living next door to an AirBnB people coming and going at all hours farting about trying to get there key out them silly wee boxes, everywhere them things all because people are too tight to go to a nice hotel 

[IronJambo]

2 hours ago, Old Castle Rock said:

It must be a total nightmare living next door to an AirBnB people coming and going at all hours farting about trying to get there key out them silly wee boxes, everywhere them things all because people are too tight to go to a nice hotel 

I'm going to another in July, it's far better having a whole flat/house than a crappy wee room. A nice hotel is wasted on my wee boy.

 

Oddly, the owner of the place we're going keeps a cat there and we need to feed it.

[Howdy Doody Jambo]

1 hour ago, IronJambo said:

I'm going to another in July, it's far better having a whole flat/house than a crappy wee room. A nice hotel is wasted on my wee boy.

 

Oddly, the owner of the place we're going keeps a cat there and we need to feed it.

Hope you get a discount for cat sitting sounds like they have mice, I suppose it's the risk you take going to these place's 

Our cat gets me up in the middle of the night to go out the back door and returns before breakfast, like clockwork then wants it's belly rubbed, full time job it is 

See your better in a hotel 

[Harry Potter]

35 minutes ago, Old Castle Rock said:

Hope you get a discount for cat sitting sounds like they have mice, I suppose it's the risk you take going to these place's 

Our cat gets me up in the middle of the night to go out the back door and returns before breakfast, like clockwork then wants it's belly rubbed, full time job it is 

See your better in a hotel 

cat sitting ha ha.

[Howdy Doody Jambo]

3 minutes ago, Harry Potter said:

cat sitting ha ha.

No doubt there will be an app for that as well 

[IronJambo]

2 hours ago, Old Castle Rock said:

Hope you get a discount for cat sitting sounds like they have mice, I suppose it's the risk you take going to these place's 

Our cat gets me up in the middle of the night to go out the back door and returns before breakfast, like clockwork then wants it's belly rubbed, full time job it is 

See your better in a hotel 

Cannie be that hard to put out a bowl of Cheerios for it in morning. Toast at night.

[Howdy Doody Jambo]

19 hours ago, IronJambo said:

Cannie be that hard to put out a bowl of Cheerios for it in morning. Toast at night.

A cat isn't going to eat toast unless there is a big kipper on top 

Out of curiosity how much of a saving do you make from staying in a guest house / hotel 

[Section Q]

I have a mate who is the only resident left in his stair who isnt an Air BnB. Bought his flat more than 30 years ago in the Old Town, loves the area but fed up with his door bell going at 2-3 in the morning on weekends. I'm not against it as long as it's regulated. On the other hand a younger friend lets a bedroom out during the summer months and does quite well. I don't think it's a tax dodge though as owners are registered with the website.

[Disser Pointon]

On 26/04/2019 at 18:57, Joey J J Jr Shabadoo said:

Is there a reason why they just give you a rough idea where you will be staying, before you book? Other sites (with the same property listed) seem to tell you the address.

That annoys me as well because I like to check proximity to local restaurants, I usually just PM the host and ask. 

[Diadora Van Basten]

7 hours ago, Section Q said:

I have a mate who is the only resident left in his stair who isnt an Air BnB. Bought his flat more than 30 years ago in the Old Town, loves the area but fed up with his door bell going at 2-3 in the morning on weekends. I'm not against it as long as it's regulated. On the other hand a younger friend lets a bedroom out during the summer months and does quite well. I don't think it's a tax dodge though as owners are registered with the website.

Always thought it was a bit dodgy when Osbourne raised the rent a room relief for the sharing economy. Smacked of brown envelopes to me.

[IronJambo]

8 hours ago, Old Castle Rock said:

A cat isn't going to eat toast unless there is a big kipper on top 

Out of curiosity how much of a saving do you make from staying in a guest house / hotel 

I'm jesting about the toast and Cheerios.

 

My air bnb usage isn't about cost, I don't even have a comparison as a hotel/guest house isn't really suitable for us. It's all about facilities and a two bed flat gives us different rooms and a kitchen. I can't put my boy to bed at 8pm in a hotel room and then whack the telly on.

[Cade]

https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/corrupt-edinburgh-landlords-using-sham-16209464

 

Another problem with Air BnB.

 

These kind of loopholes need clamping down on and property standards need to be regulated.

[luckyBatistuta]

10 hours ago, Cade said:

https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/corrupt-edinburgh-landlords-using-sham-16209464

 

Another problem with Air BnB.

 

These kind of loopholes need clamping down on and property standards need to be regulated.

 

Ach, but I’m getting a nice cheap place for a holiday, #### everyone else ?

[IronJambo]

30 minutes ago, luckyBatistuta said:

 

Ach, but I’m getting a nice cheap place for a holiday, #### everyone else ?

Seems to be a thought from many that most of these places are cheap. Try finding one that costs less than a premier Inn or travel lodge. Air bnb has filled a gap in the market, as simple as that. 

The regulations or lack of them aren't the fault of the consumer.

[luckyBatistuta]

23 minutes ago, IronJambo said:

Seems to be a thought from many that most of these places are cheap. Try finding one that costs less than a premier Inn or travel lodge. Air bnb has filled a gap in the market, as simple as that. 

The regulations or lack of them aren't the fault of the consumer.

 

AirBnB

 

Premier Inn

 

The consumer feeds the monster

Edited May 2, 2019 by luckyBatistuta

[IronJambo]

16 minutes ago, luckyBatistuta said:

 

AirBnB

 

Premier Inn

 

The consumer feeds the monster

That's not a complete cost there. Most air bnb's charge for cleaning on top of the quoted price.

[luckyBatistuta]

1 minute ago, IronJambo said:

That's not a complete cost there. Most air bnb's charge for cleaning on top of the quoted price.

 

Must be expensive cleaning, cheapest one there is £27…£32 cheaper than the cheapest premier inn. I also found ones within seconds that were £19.

[gjcc]

41 minutes ago, luckyBatistuta said:

I also found ones within seconds that were £19.

 

[luckyBatistuta]

15 minutes ago, gjcc said:

 

 

What a night that was gjcc, when you having another?

[gjcc]

Just now, luckyBatistuta said:

 

What a night that was gjcc, when you having another?

 

 

Right after I get the tag off and find out who sh*t in the bath. 

[luckyBatistuta]

10 minutes ago, gjcc said:

 

 

Right after I get the tag off and find out who sh*t in the bath. 

 

[MWHearts]

1 hour ago, IronJambo said:

That's not a complete cost there. Most air bnb's charge for cleaning on top of the quoted price.

 

That’s now changed I believe. Airbnb have updated their app to show total prices including cleaning and service fee per night.