Airbnb will be launching the new tool next month. As of now, the company isn’t saying if the comments will be made public or of the rentals’ status will be affected if numerous complaints are lodged.
However, the company does appear to be willing to listen to those who are affected by Airbnb rentals in dense urban areas.
The head of Airbnb in Japan, Yasuyuki Tanabe, was the first to reveal the new complaint system. He spoke about it this past weekend.
Tanabe said one of the most important issues facing the sharing economy is the people who choose to take part in it co-existing with the people who are not taking part in it. He said the first step to take is giving neighbors the chance to comment or complain.
Neighbors of Airbnb rentals can use social media to vent out frustrations, and the company already encourages responsible hosting and offers neighbors the chance to call a toll-free hotline to offer feedback.
An Airbnb spokesperson spoke with The Verge, and they said that most hosts on Airbnb are sharing the home they live in and they need to only welcome respectful visitors. The spokesperson also said they work with the community in the event an issue does arise, and the new feature they will offer more details about the new feature when they officially launch it.
