A top house-rental app announced it will add new restrictions to its listings, an effort aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus.
On Thursday, Silicon valley-based Airbnb released a press statement to its website outlining the new rules, which include a “global party ban” and a reduction in housing capacity to enforce social distancing measures.
“This party ban applies to all future bookings on Airbnb and it will remain in effect indefinitely until further notice,” Airbnb said. The company added that renters will be allowed a maximum occupancy of 16 people and that officials will seek out legal recourse if they find terms of services abuses.
Airbnb said bans on using the spaces for parties were already in place for more than 70% of rentals. The statement admonished renters who have treated rentals as a place to participate in “club behavior.”
“Some have chosen to take bar and club behavior to homes, sometimes rented through our platform,” the statement continued. “We think such conduct is incredibly irresponsible — we do not want that type of business, and anyone engaged in or allowing that behavior does not belong on our platform.”
Airbnb added that users will be prompted to accept the conditions before a booking is confirmed.
