The Elephant in the Room
The property podcast for the thinking person.

Episodes

Episode 344: The Hidden Impact of Airbnb on Housing Affordability and Solutions Ahead

Are short-term rental platforms like Airbnb contributing to the worsening of the housing affordability crisis by reducing the availability of long-term rental properties?

This shift towards short-term rentals makes it increasingly difficult for people to find affordable homes, driving up rental prices and increasing housing instability for vulnerable populations.

Join us as Karl Fitzgerald, founder and director of Grounded, brings his extensive research to the table. Karl talks about how Airbnb and similar platforms impact housing markets, particularly in regional areas, and offer insightful solutions based on his findings.

Tune in to explore the intersection of short-term rentals and housing policy, and discover innovative community-driven solutions that could help address the housing crisis while balancing the needs of both tourists and residents.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 - Introduction

01:12 - Who is our guest for today?

06:04 - How Karl responded to the shift in rental proportions

07:50 - Is it possible to measure long-term rentals converted to short-term?

11:08 - Do short-term rental limits create property scarcity unintentionally?

17:37 - How does car-based and/or public transport influence short-term rental markets?

22:19 - How are communities still functioning when core workers can’t find housing?

23:31 - Is the housing shortage phenomenon unique to Australia?

26:44 - Has the report's media attention resulted in any significant change?

28:39 - How does a community land trust work?

35:28 - Are community land trusts already operational in Australia?

44:18 - Karl Fitzgerald’s property dumbo

About Our Guest:

Karl Fitzgerald, founder and Director of Grounded, is an economist with a distinguished background as the former Director of Research at Prosper Australia. Over 18 years, he led research on speculative investment and housing affordability, including directing the Speculative Vacancy reports that contributed to the Victorian Vacancy Tax. Karl also championed Victoria’s Rezoning Windfall Gains Tax to reinvest rezoning profits into community infrastructure. His 2022 report challenged the belief that increasing housing supply alone improves affordability. Karl advocates for Community Land Trusts as a community-led alternative to current housing models, emphasizing equity and justice.

Connect with Karl Fitzgerald:

Resources:

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Chris Bates