Zoning rules needed for Airbnb to stop suburban rents declining

Study authors, Auckland University business school senior property lecturer William Cheung and associate professor Edward Yiu say the impact of landlords’ Airbnb rentals on different neighbourhoods shows a need for designated zoning laws.

Cheung and Yiu say changes to Airbnb accommodation indicated by some councils will not fix the impacts of Airbnb allowed to operate anywhere.

Christchurch City Council, for example, has decided Airbnb operators will need consent and that consent will cost more than $1,000.

Chueng says consenting changes like that won't determine where Airbnbs can operate, whereas zoning laws could.