Travel guru Rick Steves acknowledges short term rental platforms like AirBnB adversely impacts housing markets and communities.
“Airbnb is very efficient, but can have a devastating impact on the fabric of communities.”
From Islands.com: Demand for rooms from tourists has driven up rents, forcing original residents to move out — and changing the character of the community.
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Websites like Airbnb have revolutionized the travel industry. Many love this service, but others believe it’s unethical.
How do short-term rentals (STR) harm local towns?
- Inflated home prices.
- Legal liability: running commercial business in residential zone.
- Little or no enforcement of party houses
- Short-term rentals not properly insured.
- Potential mortgage & insurance fraud.
- Lack of proper vetting of tenants.
- Schools and senior centers close.
- Local businesses shutter in off-season.
- Local business can’t find local help / employees.
- Town lose gas stations, doctors, banks, etc.
“Rent goes way up. It drives most locals out and changes the personality of the neighborhood.”
If you’re a landlord, you can make a lot more money by getting rid of your traditional tenants and renting out one, two night stays via Airbnb.
Rick Steves says Airbnb is disrupting local communities.
Read More:
https://www.islands.com/1537771/rick-steves-why-rethink-booking-airbnb/
100% agreed. STRs near me are horrible especially during summer months. They are commercial businesses. Treat them as such. That means following zoning laws and to start lawsuits until they are reduced dramatically.
Not to mention, create laws banning corporate holders mostly hidden under LLCs that own multiple STRs.
Brigantine now being sued for allowing commercial STR’s to operate in residential neighborhoods. Ventnor should be next. Mayor doesn’t know how many STR’s are operating. No idea if they are properly insured. Many STR’s would fail inspections. Landgraf supports spot-zoning.