Citation

Reinhard D. Am. J. Crim. Justice 2023; 48(1): 233-249.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, College of Law Enforcement, Eastern Kentucky University, Publisher Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s12103-021-09635-8

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study examines the association between vacation home rentals (VHR) and residential burglary, disturbances, and substance crimes from social disorganization and routine activity perspectives. Airbnb and crime data for 2018 in Austin, Texas, were analyzed spatially and with multivariate count regression models. Census block groups were used as the unit of analysis (N = 602). Other variables considered include socio-demographic variables, a spatial lag, and bar and nightclub locations. Negative binomial regression analyses revealed VHR properties to be significantly and negatively associated with residential burglary, substance crimes, and disturbances when the rental was the entire structure; however, VHR properties were associated with all crime types in a significant and positive manner when the rental was only for an individual room in the property. This is the second study to find negative associations between entire structure VHRs and crime, though this study varies from others in several aspects. VHRs do not appear to contribute to crime in all circumstances, and listing type matters. However, this is a newer research topic and future studies would benefit from using longitudinal methods, addressing the temporal order of VHR properties and crime in neighborhoods, as well as considering property management characteristics.

Language: en

Keywords

Airbnb; Crime; Neighborhoods; Vacation home rentals