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How Airbnb Earned Me $20,000 And A Restraining Order From My Landlord

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Re: How Airbnb Earned Me $20,000 And A Restraining Order From My Landlord

#5

It isn't exactly clear but it seems this person has violated terms of his lease. So I'm not sure what is the issue here. Is he looking for sympathy? Or just warning others to look at their lease agreement before starting down this path?

Nope, it's just a story. And a taste of things to come vis a vis the future of airbnb and similar services.

I have no sympathy for this guy, and I have the greatest sympathy for his landlord. I'd be annoyed if anyone started using my rental property as a hotel due to the greater wear and tear; in fact, this is semi-common in the area where I own rental property so I keep an eye out for the possibility when selecting tenants.

Re: How Airbnb Earned Me $20,000 And A Restraining Order From My Landlord

#6
post #3

Title should read "How using AirBnB without first consulting my lease earned me $20,000 and a restraining order from my landlord."

But people violate leases in little ways all the time. As long as the renters didn't cause any additional problems, I don't see what the big deal is.

Re: How Airbnb Earned Me $20,000 And A Restraining Order From My Landlord

#7
Again and again, people who use Airbnb to 'hack' the rental market get little sympathy from me when the chickens come to roost. If your landlord was interested in running a tenement home/boarding house/hotel, they wouldn't sign you into a year-long lease. Also, and I know this has been hashed out before on these comment threads but he's grossing $30k a year on the back of his landlord. The landlord has every right to be upset and take action.

The author of the post seems shocked that he's in violation of anything. Perhaps he'd like to share excerpts of his lease before he feigns such shock.

Come on, the guy lives alone in a 3+ bedroom apartment in Brooklyn. We all know he signed that lease specifically to run a pseudo-hotel business under the guise of an Airbnb profile. He whines that he can't afford to live in the New York rental market without roommates; so get roommates or move somewhere cheaper.

BTW, the author is a professional writer who (gasp!) has a brand new startup to plug.

edit: It sounds like this guy has a sincere love for the experiences and newfound social life he's found when acting as an ambassador for his city. His heart is in the right place. He would make a great Couchsurfing host and probably make even greater, long-lasting relationships.

Re: How Airbnb Earned Me $20,000 And A Restraining Order From My Landlord

#8
post #6
post #3

Title should read "How using AirBnB without first consulting my lease earned me $20,000 and a restraining order from my landlord."

But people violate leases in little ways all the time. As long as the renters didn't cause any additional problems, I don't see what the big deal is.

$20,000 isn't "little ways".

Re: How Airbnb Earned Me $20,000 And A Restraining Order From My Landlord

#9
post #6
post #3

Title should read "How using AirBnB without first consulting my lease earned me $20,000 and a restraining order from my landlord."

But people violate leases in little ways all the time. As long as the renters didn't cause any additional problems, I don't see what the big deal is.

Breach of contract is generally considered a "big deal" by most lawyers and judges.

Re: How Airbnb Earned Me $20,000 And A Restraining Order From My Landlord

#10
So he's:

1. Violated his lease.

2. Documented exactly how much income he received during that violation.

3. Probably thew up some red flags to ensure the IRS double-checks that he declares that income on his tax returns.

And all of this before he finds out what the courts have to say about his actions.

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