Suit in opposition to Airbnb Alleges Racial Discrimination in Housing leases

Airbnb Inc. changed into accused in a civil rights lawsuit of ignoring a Virginia man who said a bunch with the net room condominium enterprise had rejected his reservation request because he’s black.

Gregory Selden, 25, sued in Washington Tuesday. He seeks to represent each person who claims to have had similar reviews in a category-movement in shape against the San Francisco-based totally Airbnb.

The healthy adds to a developing listing of prison challenges confronted by means of Airbnb and other on-demand era startups. The business enterprise has sparred with governments over the taxes its hosts pay, and it’s been sued over other alleged misdeeds of its hosts, including one incident involving a hidden camera in a condo.

“We strongly consider that racial discrimination is unacceptable and it flies inside the face of our task to bring humans collectively,” Nick Papas, a spokesman for Airbnb, stated in an e-mailed declaration. “we are taking competitive action to combat discrimination and cast off unconscious bias in our community.”

Selden claims an Airbnb host in Philadelphia diagnosed best as Paul turned down his request in March 2015. however Paul, whom Selden refers to as an Airbnb agent, consultant or employee, continued to promote it the property as being available at the requested date, in step with the suit.

“soon after and at the equal day he turned into rejected via the Airbnb agent or employee, Mr. Selden stumbled across the same listing,” consistent with the complaint. “this is despite the fact that the Airbnb agent or employee told Mr. Selden that the accommodation turned into now not to be had.”