Another stumbling block has come on the porch of Airbnb. And this time around, this may jeopardize the already fragile future of the lodging service giant.
Fortune has reported that a well-known nationwide owner of apartment buildings has filed suit against Airbnb for allowing its tenants to violate their lease conditions. The Apartment Investment & Management Company is reportedly asking for civil restitution for property damage along with the firm's lost revenue.
The firm has added that it is seeking a ruling that would prevent the lodging company from listing its properties further. Cited by The Wall Street Journal, real estate experts have shared that the suit that was filed against Airbnb is the very first in the company's history as it was lodged by a major landlord.
They opined that this complaint has opened yet another challenge for the booking company that is currently struggling from other legal and regulatory infractions. Meanwhile, AIMCO has noted that Airbnb is encouraging its tenants to breach the conditions of their lease, an act that disallows other renters from offering short-term subleases.
The group has stressed that the company's guests have been causing property damage to buildings while creating a discourteous and unsafe conditions to their neighboring residents and establishments. AIMCO has gone on to say that Airbnb guests are "trespassers" and have been involved in incidents of public intoxication along with reported scuffling with the authorities.
On the other hand, an Airbnb spokesman has responded, sharing that the suit was a noted attack on the middle class that is perpetuated by powerful interests. This statement echoes the company's frequent argument that the firm is indeed offering financial opportunities for the working families. To date, most Airbnb listings are managed by full-timers and investors who purchase multiple apartments that are more advertised for short-term rentals.
