San Francisco voters reject ballot measure to curb Airbnb

San Francisco

AIRBNB Inc has fought off a San Francisco ballot measure that sought to limit the short-stay rental service in its hometown, an effort to contain housing costs that some say has made the city a playground for well-heeled techies.

The measure, meant to preserve scarce housing for residents in a searing market, would have imposed a 75-day-per-year limit on Airbnb rentals and forced hosts to register with the city. It was losing 55 per cent to 45 per cent with all the precincts reporting, according to city election results.

Airbnb, founded in 2008 and operating in more than 34,000 cities as an alternative to pricier hotels, is waging similar battles …