Renters and homeowners have always managed to rent out or share rooms in their living spaces. It has suddenly become possible for people to advertise and rent out their homes and spare bedrooms to complete strangers from far-away with a few mouse-clicks. As a result, the number of homes listed for short-term rent has grown to about 4 million, a 10 fold increase over the last 5 years. With this rapid growth, many communities across the country are for the first time experiencing the many positive and negative consequences of an increased volume of “strangers” in residential communities.
