So we're banning this the avoid deaths-by-fire? Can you name a single example to justify the restraint? And if you could, wouldn't it apply to residences in general, not just those let out by their owners?
What does a fire in a hotel say about short-term rentals, which have more to do with homes & apts than hotels? Do horrific club fires (e.g. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZx4i1TwZME) justify a ban on house parties?
To restate: one of the justifications for regulating landlords is the possibility that they may offer unsuitable, even unsafe housing, in desperate circumstances. But where's the evidence that this is happening in the short-term rental market?
I have no opinion on the relative dangers of fires to residents vs short-term visitors, nor am I saying that regulation of short-term lets is necessary. I posted only to respond to the general contention that the market makes safety regulation unnecessary or superfluous.
