As a direct result of the flood of complaints it received over profiling, a new clause by Airbnb prevents hosts from discriminating against guests based on colour, creed or gender. But, are Mumbaikars ready to take such a pledge?
Illustration/Ravi jadhav
A letter sent last week by Airbnb to all its members has driven a wedge through the online homestay network’s Mumbai community. The letter stated that all its members would henceforth have to comply with its new Community Commitment policy. As per the revised policy, which went live on November 1, members have to take a vow to treat everyone with “respect and without judgement or bias, irrespective of race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or age”. Refuse to accept the “commitment” and your request to host or make a booking will be turned down.
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While many Mumbaikars have welcomed the anti-discrimination policy as a progressive step, there are others who justify the profiling of guests.
A good start
In its revised commitment form, Airbnb pointed out that the new clause was a direct result of the flood of complaints it received over discrimination based on caste, gender, colour and sex. Reports of racial discrimination were so high that it also led to the creation of alternative multiple short-term rental platforms specifically aimed at and created by people of colour.
“I think the new Community Commitment is a good idea to stop racism. If people want to screen and choose, then they should not be on Airbnb,” says Rahul Varma (38), whose 1BHK flat in Shivaji Park has seen over 100 bookings in over two years. “Discrimination in India has reached dizzying heights. Even in a city like Mumbai, which claims to be forward thinking, we still find people who are judgemental, conservative or racist. Some of them don’t allow non-vegetarians in their buildings; others rent their property out to only a specific caste. Single women also find it extremely difficult to find someone who would lease/rent them their house in the city.”
'Messy' Indians
A hard look at the Airbnb community reveals that the city follows its own brand of profiling. “We avoid Indians because they create a lot of mess,” says Ashish Bansal*, who co-owns the apartment with Varma.
“For some reason, Indians fail to grasp the concept of Airbnb. They don’t understand that you’re living in someone else’s home and not a hotel, and tend to treat us like domestic help, ordering us around. Most Indians ask way too many questions beforehand, and even expect room service,” he points out. “Sometimes, they also leave used condoms around our apartment.” Bansal says he has now opted for a filter on Airbnb, welcoming only those guests who want to book the space for two days or more, “so that young people don’t treat the apartment as a place, where they can come for quickies”.
Varma, though, has no problem with such guests. “If the price of being a member on Airbnb is that I have to deal with used condoms strewn all over the place, then so be it,” he shrugs.
Bitter experiences
Divesh Gupta, a Parel-based host, feels differently. In the last three years of his property being registered on Airbnb, Gupta has had two unpleasant encounters. The first involved a black man who was picked up by the police. The police officials later accused Gupta of sheltering a drug dealer. The other involved a single woman of foreign nationality. At the time, his neighbours raised objections, claiming that it “didn’t look good” to have a single woman in his flat.
Since then, Gupta has made it a point to not accommodate either of the profiles. “I will continue to follow the same kind of screening,” he insists. “I don’t want to be in a position where the police come over and grill me. I’m okay with my account being suspended because I’m not on Airbnb to make money.”
Paying the price
But, what’s the penalty for failing to toe the line? A host who posts a listing with discriminatory language will be forced to edit the listing, or face temporary suspension of account. Simply refusing a rental to someone is also grounds for potential suspension.
According to a New York Magazine article, there are ways for people to use legal methods to reject guests (those travelling with pets or smokers). It also referred to the new policy as “not a perfect system… which won’t fix all of Airbnb’s issues”.
When mid-day reached out to Airbnb, it said its country representative wasn’t available for comments.
(All names have been changed on request)
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