Skip to content

Airbnb a winner in San Francisco vote

San Francisco bridge

San Francisco bridgeSan Francisco voters on Tuesday rejected a measure that would have limited short-term housing rentals in their city in what was seen as a referendum on surging start-up Airbnb.
Voters rejected ?Proposition F? 55 percent against 45 percent, according to results posted by the San Francisco Department of Elections, Agence France-Presse reported.
The measure would have placed a 75-day limit per year for rentals under 30 days, regardless of whether the property is ?hosted? or not ? a significant change in the current law which allows 90 days if the resident is absent, and places no limits on renting a ?hosted? spare room.
Airbnb, a San Francisco-based online service allowing property dwellers and owners to rent out a room or entire home for short periods, would have been heavily affected if the law passed.
Airbnb critics claim that the service unfairly competes with hotels, which face stricter regulations and taxes.