Airbnb bans parties in home rentals worldwide, caps occupancy at 16

Airbnb has said it will expel or take legal action against hosts and guests who don’t comply with the new rules.

FILE PHOTO: Small toy figures are seen in front of diplayed Airbnb logo in this illustration taken March 19, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration (REUTERS)

Airbnb announced a global ban on parties and events listed on its platform in a bid to comply with Covid-19 health protocols.

The San Francisco-based home-sharing company said the ban, which applies to future bookings, will limit occupancy to 16 people and will remain in effect indefinitely. Citing changing public health mandates on gatherings, Airbnb said some customers have chosen to “take bar and club behavior to homes, sometimes rented through our platform”. 

The company said it will expel or take legal action against hosts and guests who don't comply with the new rules.

“We think such conduct is incredibly irresponsible,” Airbnb said in a blog post on Thursday. “We do not want that type of business, and anyone engaged in or allowing that behavior does not belong on our platform.”

Unauthorised parties have long been prohibited by most hosts. Airbnb cracked down on “party houses” last year after a fatal Halloween night shooting at a listed home in California.

The coronavirus-induced lockdowns have hurt Airbnb's core business, which makes money from people renting residences to travelers. Sales growth slowed and profit was squeezed as travel came to a halt around the world amid widespread shelter-in-place orders to curb the spread of Covid-19.

In a sign that it expects to bounce back, the company filed confidentially for an initial public offering on Wednesday.