The number of formal complaints related to illegal short-term rental activity in San Francisco has continued to drop, with around 130 complaints lodged in the first half of 2019, which is down nearly 30 percent versus the same time last year and 60 percent fewer than the roughly 320 lodged in the first half of 2016.
The number of complaints peaked at over 200 in the second quarter of 2016 alone, the quarter in which San Francisco drafted a new short-term rental law which was finally implemented in 2017.
And while no longer listed as short-term rentals on Airbnb, the City’s investigation into the unpermitted conversion of 3 Meacham Place into a coven of pods, which we first brought to light last month, continues on.
The cities own employees are looking at Airbnb listing for “possible” building code violations without any proof and filing complaints to the building department. Then the building inspectors flag the house based on not having proof of a permit to build on housed constructed in the early 1900s. Their response is that their records only go back to the 80s and unless proven there was a permit then you are not permitted to host short term rentals. Way to go San Francisco, great city initiative you are focusing on.
Go buy a hotel if you want to run a hotel business.
UPDATE: Reports of Illegal Airbnb-ing Back on the Rise in San Francisco