Airbnb re-establishes rules in attempt to reduce summer parties after Pittsburgh mass shooting

PITTSBURGH — Airbnb is temporarily bringing back restrictions on rentals in hopes of cutting down on summer parties.

It comes as there are still no arrests in the East Allegheny Airbnb mass shooting on Easter Sunday morning, where two teenagers were killed and several more were injured.

Late Thursday afternoon, Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey spoke about the case for the first time since the aftermath of the

shooting.

“For the families that lost loved ones, my prayers are with them. We’ll be meeting with law enforcement, but I can’t speak about an open investigation,” said Gainey.

“I’m glad they’re recognizing that these rentals can cause public safety issues, and also issues that just affect quality of life for the neighborhood,” said Councilperson Bobby Wilson of Pittsburgh District 1.

The short-term rental giant says the special restrictions will be directed at upcoming holidays like the Fourth of July and Memorial Day, when renters sometimes can get out of control.

“It’s a good opportunity for them to do that and they’re showing good faith. I think it needs to be a little more strict,” said Wilson.

Wilson recently introduced his own legislation that would require owners of short-term rentals to register the properties in Pittsburgh, provide contact information and have some sort of identifier or marking on the home so people know it’s an Airbnb.

The legislation has been in the works for some time, but he says it became even more vital after the mass shooting that sent teens running for their lives and left local residents in a state of fear.

“I like to see this first step, but our bill that we’re working on in council is trying to get the sticker in the window so that we can have accountability and a name on record,” said Wilson.

Under Airbnb’s new temporary summertime rules:

- Many customers won’t be able to make one-night reservations.

- There will be a limit on who can make two-night bookings.

- The rules won’t apply to those who have a history of positive reviews.

Wilson says it’s a first step in the right direction, and he’s been talking with the company after the Easter Sunday tragedy.

In the meantime, he’s hopeful there is a break in the mass shooting case soon.

“I hope that the detectives on the case will bring individuals forward that were involved in this issue.”

Wilson says public hearings will be scheduled in the next couple of weeks regarding the Pittsburgh Airbnb legislation.

Mayor Gainey says the case is a top priority and they’re pushing forward with the investigation.

“We’re going to do everything we can,”said Gainey. “We will meet with law enforcement to see where we’re at, and I’m hopeful that we’ll make progress.”

Channel 11 reached out to Airbnb for comment.

They said, in part: “We will also be introducing anti-party attestations to guests attempting to make local reservations, in which they must affirmatively attest that they understand that Airbnb bans parties and if they break that rule, they may be subject to legal action from the company.

“We do not take these measures lightly. Both Memorial Day and the 4th of July are meaningful weekends that allow our Hosts to facilitate all kinds of responsible travelers including families. This is why our anti-party system and policy allows exceptions on these bookings for those who have a history of positive reviews and have earned that trust through Airbnb. We also understand that the simple fact of not yet having reviews does not mean that a guest is trying to throw a party — this is a trade-off we are willing to make in the interest of trust and safety.

“We are also working to raise awareness of our Neighborhood Support Line, which provides a forum for neighbors to flag for Airbnb in real-time if they spot a party in progress at a home that they believe is listed on Airbnb. In these cases, Airbnb’s highly trained Safety team will work to support the neighbor, work with law enforcement where appropriate and take action against the people responsible for the party. The Neighborhood Support Line is accessible at airbnb.com/neighbors and includes a 24/7 hotline in the US.

“We will continue working with local law enforcement, neighbors and our community to try to stop unauthorized parties, and we look forward to sharing announcements along these lines in the coming months.”

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