That pushes up rents of remaining apartments and squeezes out young or low-income people, says Neal Gorenflo, co-founder of Shareable.net.
“We’re in favor of people occasionally renting out their homes and bringing in extra income and financial security, but not doing it to the extent where you start to hurt the local housing stock,” Gorenflo says.
Airbnb hosts say they’re just trying to stay afloat.
Andrea Hutchman turned to Airbnb last year after she and her husband, both actors, had trouble paying their mortgage. Acting work was sporadic, and part-time jobs were low-paying and tough to get, she said.
Rental demand has been strong for the one-bedroom guesthouse in their backyard.
“We’re absolutely doing it to pay the bills,” she says.
That rings true for Arnold as she stands in the bedroom of her hillside home changing sheets.
