Abstract
This Commentary is an attempt to understand the recent, rapid rise of short‐term property rentals in some of the world's most popular neighbourhoods, and what it means for communities, whether urban or rural. The literature to date has tackled the issue from a number of different perspectives, but there is no clear consensus on what the key issues are within this sector of the so‐called “sharing economy.” Despite claims to the contrary, I argue that there is something new about this phenomenon, in relation to its growth, intensity and spatial concentration. I also argue that it represents a kind of double disruption, and that home sharing can usefully be conceptualised as neighbourhood sharing if we want to arrive at a better understanding of local reactions to it, and how we might best respond to it from a regulatory point of view.
Highlights
1 | EDINBURGH BELONGS TO THE WORLD “The Scots think of it as their capital city: they're too possessive, Edinburgh belongs to the world.” These are the words of Edinburgh artist Richard Demarco, and in one sense he is right
Edinburgh hosted over 1.5 million international visitors in 2015 (Edinburgh City Council, 2017), many of whom came during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August, as they have done for decades
The proliferation of online short‐term rentals has led to an intensified struggle over the essence of community in parts of Edinburgh, and residents have begun to ask who their neighbourhoods really belong to
Summary
1 | EDINBURGH BELONGS TO THE WORLD “The Scots think of it as their capital city: they're too possessive, Edinburgh belongs to the world.” These are the words of Edinburgh artist Richard Demarco, and in one sense he is right. KEYWORDS community, home sharing, housing, neighbourhood, sharing economy, short-term rentals
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