[DanBC]

It's not "spare" housing. People who buy apartments for use with AirBnB are reducing the housing stock available to people who want long term rents or to buy to live.

[kofejnik]

and this is wrong exactly why? My buying groceries reduces groceries available to other people.

[wool_gather]

Bad analogy. If the grocery store runs out of celery it doesn't have anywhere near the impact on your life as not being able to find a home reasonably close to other important things.

[kofejnik]

Perfectly good analogy. Not living in the exact place you want does not cause unreasonable suffering ("nearest starbucks is 2 miles away, oh horrors" ?), so it should be subject to market forces.

[wool_gather]

No, being close to Starbucks does not count. Job, family, friends, school, church. Those count.

[DanBC]

I didn't say it was wrong.