The ‘Airbnbisation’ of European cities: legislation for collaborative accommodations

Abstract

This study examines ‘Airbnbisation’ in tourist destinations, where professionally-managed properties have surged, affecting housing availability, prices, and community well-being, along with concerns about tax evasion. Despite platforms like Airbnb intending to support the sharing economy, short-term rental regulations struggle to differentiate between collaborative and professional lodgings, complicating oversight. To address this issue, the study examines regulations in 37 cities and evaluates their effectiveness in differentiating between collaborative and professional accommodations. The research proposes new short-term rental legislation using the results of three quantitative techniques. Data on short-term rental regulations, property locations, features, and host profiles were analyzed. Results show that regulations limiting annual rental days and properties per host encourage collaborative accommodations. However, rules controlling guest numbers, requiring licenses (among others) are not adequate to reduce professionalized lodgings. Collaborative accommodations are often found over 5 km from the cathedral, suggesting they aren’t primary contributors to city ‘Airbnbisation’. This research aids policymakers in balancing residents’ needs and short-term rental interests.