Texas Lady So Mad Airbnb Gave Her Bed, Breakfast And Bigotry The Boot

[Retrograde]

9. There are circumstances in which discrimination is legal

When renting a room in an owner-occupied private house, said owner is generally exempt from the rules forbidding discrimination against certain classes that apply to apartment or hotel room rentals. If the house is also used as a place of business, such as a small bed and breakfast inn that advertises itself to the general public - that's a different case (I believe, but IANAL). Airbnb seems to want to have it both ways: it acts like its a hotel broker when it's convenient, but swears it's just helps people help people other times.

I've only used Airbnb once,when it first started, and my experience was positive. However, I remember some correspondence back and forth with the leaser beforehand. It looks like in this case the owner tried to state her prejudices up front, although not in the clearest possible language. I'd actually place the onus on Airbnb in this case: it's not the first time not being up on housing laws has bitten them or their users.