<story><title>SF fines two landords $2.25M for illegal Airbnb rentals</title><url>https://techcrunch.com/2018/11/05/sf-fines-two-landords-2-25-million-for-illegal-airbnb-rentals/</url></story><parent_chain><item><author>nostromo</author><text>&amp;gt; “This is a win for San Francisco residents,” Herrera said. “Whether you’re a tenant or a landlord who has been following the law, this is a victory. This outcome frees up more homes for long-term tenants and stops unfair competition in the marketplace. The serious financial penalty is an important deterrent. It sends a clear message to those looking to illegally profit off of San Francisco’s housing crisis: Don’t try it. We will catch you. Most importantly, we preserved more than 45 housing units to be used as homes, not hotel rooms. We are fighting back against San Francisco’s housing crisis in every way possible.”&lt;p&gt;This city attorney seems... extra.&lt;p&gt;You know what else frees up more housing units?  Letting people build housing does.  You know who is responsible for the housing crisis?  The city is.</text></item></parent_chain><comment><author>ilikehurdles</author><text>Property owners are responsible for the housing crisis. The city is at their whim.&lt;p&gt;But that’s beside the point, because this is a case about an unlicensed Airbnb. I don’t know what the laws are where you come from, but someone illegally turning their multi-tenant property in a residential neighborhood into a 24-hour motel isn’t someone I have any sympathy for.&lt;p&gt;Besides, Airbnb is no answer to the dearth of housing in any city. The lawyer is spouting facts. Those are 45 units that would be going to people who would live or work in SF and instead are used to price gouge visitors (relative to the going rent&amp;#x2F;mortgage rates) who want to save $50 on a hotel room.</text></comment>
<story><title>SF fines two landords $2.25M for illegal Airbnb rentals</title><url>https://techcrunch.com/2018/11/05/sf-fines-two-landords-2-25-million-for-illegal-airbnb-rentals/</url></story><parent_chain><item><author>nostromo</author><text>&amp;gt; “This is a win for San Francisco residents,” Herrera said. “Whether you’re a tenant or a landlord who has been following the law, this is a victory. This outcome frees up more homes for long-term tenants and stops unfair competition in the marketplace. The serious financial penalty is an important deterrent. It sends a clear message to those looking to illegally profit off of San Francisco’s housing crisis: Don’t try it. We will catch you. Most importantly, we preserved more than 45 housing units to be used as homes, not hotel rooms. We are fighting back against San Francisco’s housing crisis in every way possible.”&lt;p&gt;This city attorney seems... extra.&lt;p&gt;You know what else frees up more housing units?  Letting people build housing does.  You know who is responsible for the housing crisis?  The city is.</text></item></parent_chain><comment><author>taurath</author><text>Why don’t they don’t let people build housing? Voters in the city.</text></comment>