UNSW Business School research shows Airbnb hosts who appear to be more attractive and trustworthy charge up to 5 per cent more than their peers for similar listings.
In 2016, a Victorian court decided an Airbnb arrangement was a lease. 'Guests' could be protected by tenancy law, including against eviction. And in this case the host was evicted for subletting.
Short-term letting via digital platforms benefits some in the market at the expense of others. Closer regulation might be needed in Melbourne and Sydney, where a permissive approach prevails.
As the NSW State Government moves to impose limits on apartment owners who continuously let on a short-term basis, one issue is that Airbnb isn't transparent about how many properties are truly 'shared' and how many are just part of a business.
