Washington DC to introduce new rule on home-sharing

Washington

DISTRICT lawmakers will soon introduce legislation that would further restrict how property owners can use home-sharing sites such as Airbnb and VRBO.

The measure, to be introduced on Tuesday by DC Council member Kenyan McDuffie, would limit hosts to renting out one unit at a time, and only in their permanent homes.

The big target of the legislation is people who buy commercial properties and list all the units of the building for short-term rental on such sites - thereby cutting into the supply of affordable housing available to local residents.

"When you look at the affordable housing crisis…