Airbnb Cracks Down on Rentals in London, Amsterdam

In an effort to appease regulators across Europe, Airbnb has implemented stringent rules for English and Dutch hosts on its home-sharing platform. These include limits on the number of days per year that one can rent out a property. With two of its top three most in-demand locations in Europe, Airbnb is trying to preempt regulations that may damage its bottom line. Germany and Spain are already regulating Airbnb users, sometimes levying significant fines, more than US$600,000, for violations. Many citizens and lawmakers oppose the company because it brings in tourists who disrupt the local culture. Others resent the markup of home prices in already saturated markets. Airbnb’s response marks a shift from when the company “sometimes fought back against cities that have tried to regulate use of the platform,” Jasmine Enberg writes for eMarketer. Indeed, the “sharing economy” must evolve as it grows to coexist with the traditional economy, or governments could stop the business in its tracks. – YaleGlobal