Why short-term rentals are needed - but can't go unchecked

Abstract

Short-term rentals play a vital role in supporting tourism and major events, but unchecked growth puts pressure on housing, communities, and councils, writes Lincoln University Associate Professor Anthony Brien. New Zealand’s debate over short-term rental accommodation (STRA) has become increasingly polarised. On one side are those who see platforms like Airbnb as vital to tourism and regional economies; on the other are communities experiencing housing pressure, rising rents, and neighbourhoods that no longer feel like places to live. The reality, as with most complex policy issues, sits somewhere in between. The question New Zealand needs to answer is not whether shortterm rental accommodation should exist, but how it should be regulated so that it supports tourism without undermining housing supply, communities, or local government finances.