If you have any kind of connection to so cial media, then I guarantee you have heard of Airbnb before. This home-sharing-for-profit site began in San Francisco in 2008. It has seen an unanticipated boom in the past few years as traditional travel options have gotten more expensive.

I recently had a client who came into my office quite distressed. He had not been able to sleep due to a disruptive guest and had felt that his safety was at risk. He asked what his rights were and what remedies could be afforded to him, if any.

Renting property for the short or long term has always been a practice in our society; however, recently short-term rental for the use of Airbnb users has aggressively taken over the real estate market. A large percentage of property owners have decided to enter this lucrative market in an effort to supplement their income, or as an investment for retirement. While the practice is great and no doubt rewarding, the effects are equally concerning:

 

1. Have you considered the effects of these activities on your neighbours, especially if the property is part of a strata or development?

2. Have you considered looking at the by-laws that govern your strata or development?

3. Are property owners aware of the laws that govern these types of activities?

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sunday-finance/airbnb-sensation_126761