Bad landlords get annihilated in real estate. Airbnb has solved a lot of issues for them. Unless an owner, or location/property, precludes Airbnb for whatever reason, there isn't a compelling case to not rent through them.
Maybe there is a market opportunity for a similar company but for long term rentals.
Some tenants really are just terrible, and I can sympathize with landlords stuck with the messes they cause, but I'd guess that far more often good tenants are being overcharged for rent that goes up every year in amounts far exceeding any increase to their income, are screwed out of security deposits they should have gotten, are forced to let strangers into their homes with little to no notice, and all while having to deal with the countless other indignities that so often come with rental living (forced to get up at 5am to move your car every morning there's half an inch of snowfall, old inefficient appliances, putting up with loud neighbors and a general reduction in privacy, running out of hot water, etc).
You can argue that anyone who doesn't want to put up will all of that should just buy a home, but I think many if not most renters would much rather be home owners yet simply can't afford it. They've got little choice but to rent and because of a huge lack of affordable units are often forced to pay more than they'd like for housing. Just a couple generations ago home ownership was far more accessible and a little before that it was commonly attainable on just a single person's modest salary. Because home ownership is out of reach for so many landlords have been able to take advantage of the situation. As for renters being litigious I'm guessing most couldn't even afford a layer while property management companies have far more resources giving them a huge advantage in our pay-to-win legal system, the laws themselves are often stacked against renters too. Renters also have a reputation at stake as well. Depending on the area, a bad rental history can limit your options severely.
Landlords can have a difficult time too, but I don't think renters brought this on themselves, I think properties have been being bought up by investors (foreign and domestic) who would rather list those properties on airbnb where they have fewer regulations and tenant's rights to worry about. It lets them rake in fast money at variable rates often from wealthy vacationers as opposed to being locked into year long leases from families and professionals looking for a home. It's lower risk since vacationers don't often have problems paying because they were laid off or because they got sick and were unable to work. It's a great deal for property owners, but it drives up prices and limits options for everyone else.
Additionally Airbnbs inject tourism money into the area but can have a detrimental effect on community cohesion as a whole
Not to mention the negative externality of living next to what is basically an unlicensed hotel reserved for tourists. Coming in all hours of the night, loud and rowdy and not a care in the world about the people who have to actually live in an area. AirBnB has done more harm than good, all because tourists feel they should be entitled to live like a local, which completely disregards any planning and zoning done by cities, which count for tourists in hotels/hostels, not in actual residences meant for locals. And thus the locals get driven out and the city basically becomes full of tourists.
Galway is just as bad too. If AirBnB were shut down tomorrow, it would be 100 times better (it still wouldn't be great as the government hasn't done anything to really help matters, but AirBnB is a major issue).
Either way, the only way to satiate demand is to create more supply.
I told those people not to do it. If you are in the same situation, I advise you sell. Now.
Feel free to downvote this if you're feeling hurt, angry, confused, etc.
