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D.C. Moves to Limit Short-Term Rentals | Next City

November 15, 2018
  • D.C. Policy Center

On November 15, 2018, Next City has extensively used D.C. Policy Center’s research on the impact of Airbnb in the District of Columbia:

Research into how Airbnb has affected D.C.’s housing supply, in particular, is largely anecdotal, but a report from the independent D.C. Policy Center earlier this year suggested that Airbnb rentals make up just over 1 percent of D.C.’s total housing stock, and over two-thirds of active listings are for whole unit rentals, which are more likely to be offered by investors. Most Airbnb hosts in D.C. have only one listing, but 41 hosts in D.C. have six or more listings available, pointing to the presence of at least some significant investors.

The D.C. Policy Center also found that the majority of “commercial” hosts (defined as someone with at least three room listings or one whole-unit listing) are concentrated downtown in high-rent neighborhoods. “These listings are considered particularly problematic because they likely take housing units off the market that would have otherwise been available to residents.”

Read More: D.C. Moves to Limit Short-Term Rentals | Next City

Related: The knowns and unknowns if Airbnb in DC | D.C. Policy Center

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D.C. Policy Center


Established in 2016, the D.C. Policy Center is a non-partisan research and policy organization committed to advancing policies for a strong and vibrant economy in the District of Columbia. Through rigorous research and collaboration, the D.C. Policy Center develops and tests policy ideas, disseminates its findings, and engages in constructive dialogue and debate.

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