Airbnb, a short-term rental app, just gave its users an ultimatum: Sign the new Community Commitment, or else…
Starting today, in its fight against discrimination, the company sent out a note to its users saying that they needed to sign a Community Commitment, or they will not be able to use the app.
The commitment specifies that the user is committed to treating everyone equally, regardless of race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or age.
The commitment will appear when users open the app starting today. If they do not accept the commitment, they will be unable to book or host homes using Airbnb, and all future bookings will be canceled.
This new commitment comes shortly after the company's decision in July to add former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to help develop its anti-discrimination policy. The company was facing allegations that it isn’t doing enough to address potentially racially driven rental decisions.
After that, the company announced that it would be making today’s discrimination policy changes.
For much more on Airbnb’s impact on housing, click here to read a feature piece on the short-term rental company in the September issue of HousingWire Magazine.
(Image above courtesy of easy camera / Shutterstock.com)