A larger number of Airbnb properties are being associated with robberies, burglaries, theft and violence in London.
Research led by Cambridge University indicated that a 10 per cent increase in active Airbnb rentals in London would correspond to an additional 1,000 robberies per year across the city – above 2018 levels when the study data ends.
The study used crime statistics from the Home Office and Greater London Authority, alongside data from AirDNA, to analyse trends for the short-term letting market.
It suggested a “positive association” between the number of properties listed as Airbnb rentals and police-reported robberies and violent crimes in London neighbourhoods between 2015 and 2018.
Urban sociologists say the rapid pace at which crime rises in conjunction with new rentals suggests that the link is related more to opportunities for crime, rather than loss of cohesion within communities – although both are likely contributing factors.
Dr Charles Lanfear from Cambridge’s Institute of Criminology, co-author of the study, said: “We tested for the most plausible alternative explanations, from changes in police patrols to tourist hotspots and even football matches.
“Nothing changed the core finding that Airbnb rentals are related to higher crime rates in London neighbourhoods.
“While Airbnb offers benefits to tourists and hosts in terms of ease and financial reward, there may be social consequences to turning large swathes of city neighbourhoods into hotels with little regulation.”
Founded in 2008, Airbnb is a giant of the digital economy, with more than five million property hosts on the platform in some 100,000 cities worldwide, the study observed.
London is one of the most popular Airbnb markets in the world, with an estimated 4.5 million guests staying in a London Airbnb during the period covered by the study.
Dr Lanfear and his University of Pennsylvania co-author Professor David Kirk mapped data from 13 calendar quarters – January 2015 to March 2018 – onto “Lower Layer Super Output Areas”, or LSOAs.
These are designated areas of a few streets containing around 2,000 residents, used primarily for UK census purposes.
There are 4,835 LSOAs in London, and all were included in the study.
Crime statistics for six categories – robbery, burglary, theft, antisocial behaviour,…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at The Independent Travel…