This lawsuit is right. I never understood how Airbnb got around the real estate brokerage laws because what they do fits squarely within the regulations. I assumed they had lawyers who found an exception. Perhaps not.
“I assumed they had lawyers who found an exception. Perhaps not.”
They’re following the model set by Uber: flout the laws and try to make enough money quickly enough by doing it to weather any lawsuits and bribe governments to carve out exceptions for them. Being popular enough to get the voters to pester the politicians on your behalf helps too.
Vrbo and Homeaway charge these service fees as well.