- The pandemic has sparked an Airbnb boom as buyers view vacation rentals as a sound investment.
- But locals and officials in popular cities say Airbnb is driving up prices and disrupting neighbors.
- Ten North American cities, including Steamboat Springs, are trying to curb the Airbnb invasion.
During the pandemic, people have flocked to Airbnb and other short-term rental platforms in an attempt to maximize their returns by renting out their homes to a growing number of vacationers, travel nurses and remote workers.
For many, this has paid off. Airbnb reports average income for U.S. hosts Grow to over $13,800 by 2021 — Up 85% since 2019.
But in the U.S. and Canada, a flood of homeowners and property managers cashed in, to the dismay of some of their neighbors.
Locals say the growing number of short-term rentals in their communities can lead to a range of problems, from mundane annoyances (they host noisy parties) to huge challenges (they make it harder for the average person to buy a home).
Airbnb said in an emailed statement earlier this year that it “has worked with hundreds of jurisdictions around the world — including Atlanta, Oahu, Montreal, and other locations in the U.S. and Canada — to support a balanced Rules and regulations, including providing 160 partners with access to our city portal, which provides tools and insights for family sharing in the community. ”
Here are 10 cities in the US and Canada where residents and local politicians are fighting back against short-term rentals.
