[mjolk]

Sure, but having lived in two buildings (Brooklyn) in which neighbors have made AirBNB hotels out of their apartments, I seriously hope AirBNB gets gutted on this. Why should other tenants who don't AirBNB share the risk of the spread of bedbugs, increased chance of crime, and potentially dangerous or annoying strangers in shared spaces (hallways, common areas)?

[chez17]

Is there any evidence that AirBNB rented rooms increase the spread of bed bugs, crime, and dangerous people?

As an interesting counterpoint here, it's legal to let someone crash on your couch, but the second you ask a dollar from them for the space, everything changes. That doesn't necessarily make sense to me.

[mjolk]

It's strangers over the internet - the same that report bedbug issues if you google for those terms. Bedbugs are spread by travelers, sometimes NYC hotels are to even blame.

People that do AirBNB in NYC aren't doing it at the same recurrence rate as 'having someone crash on the couch.' Either AirBNB hosts are trying to control the tone on hackernews or people are seriously oblivious to reality.

[colanderman]

The person you let crash on your couch for free is likely someone you know, who is at least somewhat socially beholden to you.

The person who paid you to sleep on your couch is just some person with cash. Especially if you are not around, they're much less likely to feel socially obligated to treat the place like their own.