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[NSW, VIC, BF] Free Accommodation for Bushfire Victims, 1-16/1 Listed via Airbnb (Booking Required)

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If you’ve been displaced or are helping with relief efforts, you can book free Airbnb accommodation between 1 January 2020 and 16 January 2020.

In the aftermath of a disaster, people use Airbnb’s Open Homes programme to offer free, temporary housing to those who need it. This includes relief workers, neighbours who’ve had to evacuate and others impacted by the event.

NSW booking:
https://www.airbnb.com/openhomes/disaster-relief/bushfire-ne…

VIC booking:
https://www.airbnb.com.au/openhomes/disaster-relief/victoria…


Mod: Deal title is tagged [BF] which is a tag for all deals related to Bushfire Victims/Volunteers etc. You may choose to deprioritise this tag by using the new front page. Please click 'new' on the OzBargain home page, then 'personalise', then add bf in 'add a title tag', drag the slider to less, then save preference. You may also choose to add other tags to see more/less of those deals (eg your state, other states) or see more/less from particular stores.

For those affected or involved, see the Bushfire Relief event page. You can also use the new front page to prioritise the [BF] tag.

Referral Links

Airbnb Host: random (151)

Referrers get ~$1068 . Referees get ~$59.

Related Stores

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closed Comments

  • +19

    I guess SA and WA fires didn’t radar to Airbnb

  • -3

    Well done Airbnb, 14 days free accomodation is huge.

    • +62

      The hosts offer their properties for free to those who need help, NOT Airbnb. Airbnb pays nothing to the hosts!

      • -1

        Yeah, I saw that. Still pretty good way to distribute accomodation to people who need it.

        • +65

          Airbnb should reimburse these hosts or give them account credits. But instead, they advertised it as Airbnb offered these homes for free.

      • -3

        At least they're trying.

      • +3

        Exactly! Airbnb shouldn't be getting the recognition here.. It's the hosts taking the risk and opening their house up to compete strangers

    • +3

      It doesn't appear airbnb are doing anything but offering their website for people to kindly offer space to bush fire victims for free. I.E. Its not really costing airBnB any money.

      Good on them, but frankly so they should.

      • +6

        They give the hosts insurance up to 1m

        • +5

          I'm a host and it's widely known in the Airbnb community that their 1m insurance is a joke. They almost never pay out despite having as much as evidence as required.

          • @lockmc: They paid out to my friend who had their carpet burnt by a guest hair straightener. (Admittedly a small claim of $600, but they paid)

            • @danyool: Yea, Pay out all the small claims, but when it REALLY matters they will stall and stall then decline the payout.
              Would be interesting to know if there has been any claims of significant sums (>100k) being paid out…. (Unlikely)

  • This is excellent

  • -1

    Wow that’s really huge, good to see Airbnb doing this, just hope scammers don’t take advantage of this !

    • +11

      Don't thank them yet, thank the host..prerry sure AIRBNB pay for nothing

  • +1

    Also free for firefighters

    • Good on you…

    • +6

      I think 8 people missed the "/s" bit..

      • Not funny!

      • +1

        I think 8 people just didn't find it funny

  • +31

    Great initiative but would love to see hosts get at least some compensation.

    • Exactly!

    • +4

      Or just insurance, really. Not every tenant is a good one regardless their need

      I would hate to see insurance claims voided because technically they weren't paying rent

      • They are giving insurance I looked up the sign up process

        • Great!

        • Their "insurance" is a joke vms is almost never paid out

    • +7

      Well I'd like to see the post (& the media coverage) actually reflect on what is being offered, not se marketing guff from AirBNB marketing dept.

      Good one them for offering their extensive resources to help, but no need to overblow their contribution, it's not costing them much (they're probably making it a tax write off).

      IMHO it should be "have space to offer bushfire victims? Register free on Airbnb!" Simple, honest and effective.

      • +4

        it's not costing them much (they're probably making it a tax write off).

        It costs Airbnb nearly nothing. But the hosts pay for the cleaning, utility bills and potential business lost (as if they can rent out the property at the normal price during the time they offer it for free).

        • Airbnb actually have a 24/7 support team I think specifically for these free homes (they also have the option to supply a free home for refugees and families in need) and insure home owners for up to $1m USD for any damages the clients may do to their property, this is what I discovered when I signed up my own property.

          Granted it's probably not costing them much, but people have the option to list their house for free in order to help, and you can't dismiss what Airbnb are doing to mediate this. Although yes, advertising is definitely misleading because Airbnb are not providing the free housing, but it's still a fantastic thing they're doing.

      • +3

        They're probably not even using it as a tax write off, as there's a very good chance that they don't even pay any tax in Australia

        https://www.michaelwest.com.au/interview-gold-as-abc-journo-…

  • +10

    Airbnb is still double dipping garbage. From superhost.

  • +10

    How would the host know the guests are genuine victim of fires? AIRBNB kinda piggyback on host for good will reputation for free.. Not very cool

  • +1

    I heard Crown casino is offering 200 motel rooms

  • It isnt airbnb responsibility to house people. They have done a kind thing to pay developers to develop part of their website to make this offer possible and they have encouraged hosts to host for free and forfeit airbnbs income from those properties.
    If anyone should be paying for the peoples hosts it should be insurance companies

    • Read the links above. Part of the issue I guess.

  • +1

    I've added this to the Disaster Relief wiki page.

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