Crackdown on AirBnB in New York, from NY Times

[joe]

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/18/nyregion/new-york-city-airbnb-crackdown.html

 

[ellen]

It's about time. Air B&B sounds great in concept but like most other good ideas, there are consequences that may not have been foreseen, or turn out to be worse than predicted.

Actually, Venice even pre-Air B&B could have provided a good lesson in what is likely when it becomes more profitable to rent your place out than to live in it.

 

[veronicafrance]

And another article about Airbnb as a parasitic monster!
https://www.theguardian.com/comment...nregulated-damage-cities-barcelona-law-locals

I still feel vindicated in sticking to the original concept wherever possible, i.e. a room in someone's home.

 

[joe]

Another item, this time from New Zealand, that again depicts the controversy between the locals.

Against :
"A couple in their mid-30s, who wanted to remain anonymous, said they were being "forced" out of their Mount Maunganui rental so their landlords could turn it into an Airbnb for the summer. They were also asked to leave another rental only a few months earlier, because of Airbnb."

For :
"Florence and her husband own two apartments in Mount Maunganui, one of which they rent out on Airbnb.
She decided to let out her property on Airbnb three years ago after long-term tenants repeatedly broke rules such as bringing animals into the apartment.
"I think there's a lack of holiday accommodation here and we are providing that. Airbnb is great for the economy," she said.
"If we had long-term tenants it would be $800 a week in the summer, and two couples would be living here in the tiny apartment to pay for it, there would be a lot of wear and tear.
"With Airbnb, they're here for a short time, they're on holiday, they're clean, tidy ... They come here to basically just sleep."

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12157331

 

[veronicafrance]

I'm not sure that "For" argument is as "For" as they think it is. They're saying local long-term rents are so expensive that four people have to cram into a 2-person apartment to afford the rent? I wonder what could possibly be pushing rents up in this area :: wanders off scratching head ::

 

[joe]

I wonder what could possibly be pushing rents up in this area :: wanders off scratching head ::

Good question, but it seems that it's simply supply and demand - the city in question has become the country's fifth largest, and the better locations in it are naturally demanding higher prices for rent. As appears in the article :

"Airbnb's Sydney-based public affairs manager for New Zealand and Australia, Julian Crowley, said he disagreed Airbnb was affecting the rental market in the region.
"Airbnb represents roughly three per cent of the housing market in Tauranga and there are close to three times as many empty homes as there are Airbnb listings," he said.
"The big factors influencing housing remain the planning system and population growth."