Airbnb Issues New Rules In Effort To Crack Down On New Year’s Eve House Parties

Topline

Airbnb announced new rules Thursday aimed at preventing New Year’s Eve house parties, an action that comes as Airbnb struggles to contain large bashes that risk spreading the coronavirus. 

Key Facts

Key Background

Throughout the pandemic, party houses that violate local health guidelines have been a huge issue for Airbnb. More than 700 people in New Jersey were caught at an Airbnb house party over the summer, and police have been breaking up similar events at Airbnb listings in recent months. In August, the company sued a guest who threw an unauthorized party in Sacramento and that same month, Airbnb banned customers under 25 from booking entire houses if they have a negative review or three less-than-positive reviews and put a 16-person occupancy cap at all listings. 

Tangent

Though house parties are of heightened concern during the pandemic, this isn’t the first time Airbnb house parties have resulted in tragic violence. After a Halloween party in Orinda, California, last year left five dead, the company overhauled its safety measures by creating a 24/7 hotline and pledging to verify all 7 million listings on its platform. Between March and October of this year, at least 27 shootings were connected to Airbnb rentals in the United States and Canada, according to the New York Times.