For the first time, Airbnb is taking legal action against a guest for violating its ban on unauthorized parties.
The San Francisco-based company said Wednesday it is initiating legal proceedings against a guest who held an unauthorized party at a home in Sacramento County, California last weekend. Three people were shot and injured at the party.
Airbnb would not release the guest’s name, but said it had removed the guest from its platform.
The company has tried to clean up its image – and promises to check all its ads, for example, and take a harder line on parties – as it prepares for an initial public offering of its supplies. The IPO, which was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, could take place later this year.
Airbnb banned “open invitation” parties at its rental late last year after five people were shot and killed at an unauthorized party in Orinda, California. The company set up a quick response team to deal with neighbors’ complaints and began checking “high-risk” bookings, such as reservations at a large house for one night.
Airbnb went further last month banning guests under the age of 25 from booking entire homes near where they live.
In the most recent case, Airbnb said it would seek monetary damages and donate to nonprofits fighting gun violence in the Sacramento area. Under Airbnb’s Terms of Service, the dispute will go into arbitration if Airbnb and the guest are unable to resolve the terms.
A spokeswoman for the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department said Wednesday that the shooting remains under investigation.
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