Airbnb Growth Outpaces City Policy

The escalating wars over short-term rentals: Airbnb, VRBO, and others versus homeowners. And cities are caught in the middle with varying policies and regulations. One issue is taxes. Just yesterday, Airbnb said it will start collecting taxes from properties listed in Malibu. West Hollywood is considering a blanket ban on short-term rentals. And in the rest of the LA metro area, it’s technically illegal to rent through Airbnb. Although you wouldn’t know it on the site. Despite inconsistent regulations and enforcement, Airbnb is thriving in Los Angeles. But that has housing advocates worried for a city with a long history of rising rents and limited housing.