With the advent of services like AirBnB, places all over the world have seen a change in how people take to looking to book lodgings. It offers an easy, affordable, and convenient option for people looking to vacation in a distant location without having to worry too much about cost or availability.
This has caused some considerable concern for local residences and businesses that consider it more of a problem to the way things normally, otherwise, are.
The nature of a short-term rental arrangement sees a person or group, book to stay at a residence or a temporary living space set aside specifically for this, for a relatively short amount of time.
This inevitably gains the attention of local groups no matter where they are situated as it does pose a considerable change to the local environment in terms of the potential disturbance having new arrivals constantly moving in and out, and the potential for noise they could bring.
Often arguing that the instability could represent a detriment to the safety and security of the local areas prompting zoning concerns, citing residential areas effectively becoming large hotels. But more than this is the economic aspect that businesses focus on that also draws some concern.
The result in some cases has been to establish a commission or a means by which local residents can vote and discuss the benefits or shortcomings and risks that short-term rentals bring to the community. And of course these discussions are important to ensuring that all aspects of an issue that impact a community in the way that this has, are addressed fairly and properly. In the end, these typically take the form of a regulation to keep short-term rentals accountable and ensure that all involved maintain the same standard for everyone in the business and in the community.
However, regulations placed to ensure that these issues are addressed and mitigated as best as possible would still aim to make the service a viable option for both vacationers and renters looking to make a little extra money.
Some of the more prolific renters have been able to afford improvements to their own living situations as a result of taking advantage of that service and putting up rooms or their homes to people for a short period. So there is some support behind the service, and this would give it some merit.
The impact on local economies to be able to provide this service cannot be entirely negative given that if renters are made to pay the same taxes, and remain a viable option for booking, then the local economies in which these short-term rentals might thrive could benefit greatly from the added revenue.
Ultimately, provided all things are fair, the allure of short-term rentals could be argued as a good thing for everyone. Although it could also be argued that this may not mitigate the potential social issues, with the right regulations in place, it could see the economic and zoning issues addressed properly.