Published on The Guardian
In a result that was closer than expected, 55% of voters rejected Proposition F, which would have reduced the number of days owners can rent out their properties from 90 to 75, given neighbours more power to sue owners who violate the law and restrict the renting of “in-law” units, often basements or annexes. Critics said the proposals were badly drafted, would have encouraged unnecessary lawsuits between neighbours and would not have significantly improved San Francisco’s housing crisis, which has seen massive demand for housing particularly as the tech industry has boomed.
“This election was a victory for the middle class,” said Airbnb’s spokesman, Christopher Nulty, in a statement. “The Airbnb San Francisco home sharing community became a movement, showing up at the polls in large numbers and voting overwhelmingly against an effort designed by the hotel industry that targeted the right of the middle class to use home sharing as an economic lifeline.”
Affordable housing campaigners raised $269,000 from campaign groups including the California Federation of Teachers and the California Nurses Association; the No camp raised $8.3m, with $8m of that contributed by Airbnb itself. Most of that was spent on an TV adverts, billboards and community campaigning.
