Airbnb suspends, removes listings in 6 Valley cities for party violations

PHOENIX — Airbnb is handing out punishments to homeowners in the Valley and across the state who have violated the service’s party house rules amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Airbnb announced Wednesday it has suspended or removed 50 listings in Arizona, including in six Valley cities.

Some Valley homes located in Chandler, Mesa, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Surprise and Tempe were tagged for violations.

Listings in Bisbee, Flagstaff, Lake Havaus City, Sedona, Tuscon and Vail were also found to have disobeyed the service’s policies on parties and events.

The listings all had prior complaints or otherwise violated the company’s policies. The homeowners were notified Friday and through the weekend, the company said.

The online vacation rentals marketer recently prohibited large gatherings in accordance with the state’s coronavirus virus safety measures. One of those measures in Gov. Doug Ducey’s proclamation is a mandate against large gatherings

“It’s critical for hosts to prioritize safety and ensure their guests are behaving in a way that respects the public’s health,” Arizona public policy director for Airbnb John Choi said in a press release.

“We know that there is more work to be done and we ask that neighbors of properties allowing irresponsible behavior contact us as soon as possible through our neighborhood support hotline and help us effectively enforce our party house ban.”

The company said calls made to the hotline resulted in many of the penalties.

Another way Airbnb has tried to limit large gatherings and parties is by restraining individuals from reserving a listing in their local area.

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