New research from Penn Criminology professor David Kirk and University of Cambridge’s Charles Lanfear suggests that Airbnb lettings may be associated with crime.
The study, published in the journal “Criminology,” examines how Airbnb rentals influence crime rates across London — one of Airbnb’s largest markets — between 2014 and 2018. The researchers found a positive correlation between an increase in the number of Airbnbs available and an increase in theft, burglary, robbery, and violence.
“The explanation has more to do with the altering criminal opportunities in those neighborhoods as opposed to the slow erosion of community cohesion and what criminologists call social control,” Kirk told Penn Today.
This research suggests that Airbnb rentals foster conditions that make crime more likely, consistent with a concept in criminology called routine activity theory.
“An Airbnb rental can provide an easy potential victim such as a tourist unfamiliar with the area, or a property that is regularly vacant and so easier to burgle,” Lanfear explained. “A very temporary occupant may be more likely to cause criminal damage.”
The study found that each additional active Airbnb corresponded with 0.16 thefts and 0.06 violent offenses, as well as 0.04 burglaries and 0.03 robberies per quarter. If the volume of Airbnb rentals in London increased by 10% over 2018 levels, the researchers projected that would be associated with approximately 1,000 more robberies per year.
Airbnb has taken steps to reduce crime, including background checks and mandating minimum nights of rental. However, the spike in crime displays the seriousness of the risks associated with the sharing economy, according to the article.
While the study centers on London, it questioned whether similar trends could be prevalent in other cities. The article noted a 2021 study in Boston that found a relationship between Airbnb density and violence.
The Penn Criminology department is currently undertaking several projects to address crime, specifically in major cities. The Crime and Justice Policy Lab has seen results from its work in implementing a Group Violence Reduction Strategy in Baltimore.
Kirk’s research adds new insights into how platforms such as Airbnb influence urban communities, particularly in areas with high tourist turnover.
“I really wanted to test 20th century theories to see if they could do a good job of explaining a 21st century phenomenon,” Kirk told Penn Today.
Since Penn launched the first Criminology department in the Ivy League, professors in this interdisciplinary field have worked to understand the factors contributing to crime, drawing from concepts in sociology, psychology, economics, political science, biology, and statistics.
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