Short-term rental hosts offering their services through platforms like Airbnb in Mexico City denied being the causes of the rise in rental prices in some areas and gentrification, requesting a pause on reforms to the Tourism Law that would affect their livelihoods.
Ángel Torres, founder of the collective 'We are all hosts', expressed his concern, mentioning that the reduction in the number of maximum nights to offer on platforms like Airbnb would negatively impact their income, leaving them practically without sustenance. According to Torres, they are merely professionals who have found in this activity a vital source of income.
The government of Mexico City has implemented changes to the legislation regulating short-term rentals under models like Airbnb. Among the reforms, the limit of three properties per host and the halving of the time in which spaces can be rented in the city is highlighted.
Government analysis indicates that short-term rentals have contributed to the rise in long-term rental prices and the housing shortage in Mexico City. Despite the percentage of short-term rental properties being minimal compared to the total number of homes, affected hosts emphasize that these regulations will severely impact their finances.
For his part, Farid Zablah, another affected host, mentioned that short-term rentals were his economic lifeline after the crisis caused by the pandemic. Ironically, he now faces the possibility of losing his income if these reforms are implemented.
Airbnb, the platform at the center of the controversy, warned that restrictions on short-term rentals could lead to an increase in prices in the traditional hotel industry and in long-term rentals, as occurred in New York. The collective 'We are all hosts' insists on the importance of considering their proposals and that regulations should be progressive, ensuring the development of the city as a tourist destination.
