Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

SF fines two landords $2.25M for illegal Airbnb rentals

techcrunch.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

11–20 of 157 posts

Re: SF fines two landords $2.25M for illegal Airbnb rentals

#11

Post by wavefunction »

ArchTypical wrote: post #4
jmcgough wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's hyperbolic about that? The article says: "As part of city law, San Francisco requires property owners renting out units for less than 30 days to register with the city’s office of short-term rentals, as well as be a permanent resident of that unit." They were breaking the law, Herrara enforced said law.

You literally need to look up the definition of what literally means.

This seems to be a literal case of "laying down the law" when the phrase usually just refers to some authority figure disciplining a subject.

Re: SF fines two landords $2.25M for illegal Airbnb rentals

#12

Post by DoreenMichele »

SOLAR_FIELDS wrote: post #2

Amusing bit of hyperbole in the very first line of the article: “San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera is laying down the law — literally. “ Nowhere in the article is it explained how they “literally” are laying down the law.

I'm guessing it is intended as somewhat humorous. AirBnB is about "renting out beds for the night." The law here is addressing who can lay down to sleep, where and when and so forth.

Re: SF fines two landords $2.25M for illegal Airbnb rentals

#13

Post by crooked-v »

Swizec wrote: post #7
ArchTypical wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You literally need to look up the definition of what literally means.

Funny you should say that! The definition of literally changed in August 2013 to also include figuratively due to popular usage. https://www.salon.com/2013/08/22/according_to_the_dictionary... I was quite surprised when I randomly found out yesterday.

This trend in language literally makes me irrationally angry.

I wonder if this is how people felt when some guy invented the word "flammable" in 1813.

Re: SF fines two landords $2.25M for illegal Airbnb rentals

#14

Post by arcticbull »

komali2 wrote: post #6

Holy crap, they made 700k in profit on Airbnb? How much would they have made as just landlords?

14 units times 11 months times the median rent in 2017 ($3000) = $462,000 in revenue.

I suppose the article implies approximately $200,000 in expenses but it’s not clear whether those are Airbnb specific or whether those would have been required even if rented to tenants. It’s unlikely that each unit requires $14,000 in maintenance per year. It’s fairer IMO to use $1/sqft per year for condo maintenance when an HOA looks after the exterior, though I’m assuming these were condos? Assuming 750sqft, that’s just $11,000 in costs. Then there’s opportunity cost of capital, etc. The top line number should be good enough for napkin math.

Re: SF fines two landords $2.25M for illegal Airbnb rentals

#15

Post by ArchTypical »

wavefunction wrote: post #11
ArchTypical wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You literally need to look up the definition of what literally means.

This seems to be a literal case of "laying down the law" when the phrase usually just refers to some authority figure disciplining a subject.

Idioms are not literal. The implication of my original comment, is now spelled out.

Re: SF fines two landords $2.25M for illegal Airbnb rentals

#18

Post by bcheung »

jmcgough wrote: post #9
ArchTypical wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You literally need to look up the definition of what literally means.

Literally (adv): 1) in a literal sense or manner. 2) (informal) used in an exaggerated way to emphasize a statement or description that is not literally true or possible I literally just did.

This is a fairly recent and controversial change to the word. It was updated officially in the dictionary after people kept misusing the word. So now it means both literally and the complete opposite of literally.

Re: SF fines two landords $2.25M for illegal Airbnb rentals

#19

Post by nostromo »

> “This is a win for San Francisco residents,” Herrera said. “Whether you’re a tenant or a landlord who has been following the law, this is a victory. This outcome frees up more homes for long-term tenants and stops unfair competition in the marketplace. The serious financial penalty is an important deterrent. It sends a clear message to those looking to illegally profit off of San Francisco’s housing crisis: Don’t try it. We will catch you. Most importantly, we preserved more than 45 housing units to be used as homes, not hotel rooms. We are fighting back against San Francisco’s housing crisis in every way possible.”

This city attorney seems... extra.

You know what else frees up more housing units? Letting people build housing does. You know who is responsible for the housing crisis? The city is.

Re: SF fines two landords $2.25M for illegal Airbnb rentals

#20

Post by elliekelly »

crooked-v wrote: post #13
Swizec wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Funny you should say that! The definition of literally changed in August 2013 to also include figuratively due to popular usage. https://www.salon.com/2013/08/22/according_to_the_dictionary... I was quite surprised when I randomly found out yesterday.

This trend in language literally makes me irrationally angry. I wonder if this is how people felt when some guy invented the word "flammable" in 1813.

Next thing you know "irregardless" will be in the dictionary. If that happens I will "literally" have to forsake the English language.
Post reply on HN