Airbnb Dumps Calabasas Party House

LOS ANGELES, CA — Airbnb purged at least one Calabasas rental along with more than 50 Los Angeles County listings from its platforms following the company's worldwide ban on parties during the pandemic. The purge may be either temporary or permanent.

The sanctioned properties were the subject of complaints "or otherwise violated our policies on parties and events," according to a statement. They "have either been suspended or removed from the Airbnb platform."

Airbnb shook up the short-term rental world this month when it banned all parties and restricted rentals to no more than 16 guests a time regardless of the size of the property. The decision came at a time that short-term rentals are making headlines as the headquarters for irresponsible parties during the coronavirus pandemic. Broadcast footage from LA party houses packed with unmasked revelers triggered widespread condemnation this month from health experts and city leaders.

Airbnb, one of the world's largest short-term rental companies, said it could not release the addresses of the 50+ properties because it would violate the privacy of homeowners. But it said they are located in Burbank, Calabasas, Compton, Glendora, Hacienda Heights, La Canada Flintridge, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Malibu, Marina del Rey, Pasadena, West Hollywood, Whittier and unincorporated communities.

City News Service contributed to this report.