A study by two housing advocacy groups alleges that Airbnb is worsening New York City’s tight housing supply, and is likely causing thousands of units to be pulled from the market.
Housing Conservation Coordinators and MFY Legal Service, which conducted the study, identified 8,000 Airbnb listings that advertised so frequently that they were likely illegally converted into hotel rooms. This situation has caused rents to rise in the city, the study contends.
More than half of the units on Airbnb were being offered for rent by owners who had multiple units up for rent. This is a sign that they were being run by de-facto illegal hotel operators, the report says. Airbnb disputed the study’s findings, saying that its methodology was flawed and accused it of being funded by the hotel industry.
Cities across the country have been challenged to apply existing codes and regulations to the growth of the site that matches property owners with travelers looking for short-term rental accommodations.
Related Stories
Hotel Facilities | Jan 13, 2016
Hotel construction should remain strong through 2017
More than 100,000 rooms could be delivered this year alone.
Market Data | Jan 6, 2016
Census Bureau revises 10 years’ worth of construction spending figures
The largest revisions came in the last two years and were largely upward.
Market Data | Jan 5, 2016
Majority of AEC firms saw growth in 2015, remain optimistic for 2016: BD+C survey
By all indications, 2015 was another solid year for U.S. architecture, engineering, and construction firms.
Market Data | Jan 5, 2016
Nonresidential construction spending falters in November
Only 4 of 16 subsectors showed gains
Market Data | Dec 15, 2015
AIA: Architecture Billings Index hits another bump
Business conditions show continued strength in South and West regions.
Market Data | Dec 7, 2015
2016 forecast: Continued growth expected for the construction industry
ABC forecasts growth in nonresidential construction spending of 7.4% in 2016 along with growth in employment and backlog.
