An AirBNB unit was rented out in our building, and was a semi-regular source of noise and trouble. So, we took the listing to the landlord and they shut it down: it's illegal here now, and it's specifically forbidden in the lease.
The more popular AirBNB gets, the more likely it seems that this sort of reaction will become the defacto one in popular areas.
You know what? I'm fine with that. The idea of using someone's apartment oogs me out anyway.
AirBNB is rapidly turning into the best market for small, independent, professional hoteliers. There are a lot of them, and Craigslist used to be the only option for these folks.
Actually, I believe many vacation home rentals were (and are?) done via VRBO.
Renting out an individual apartment -- even 'professionally' -- is not necessarily unusual, but increasingly difficult due to the spotlight AirBNB has brought to the process.
The more popular AirBNB gets, the more likely it seems that this sort of reaction will become the defacto one in popular areas.
This is already the case with large developments like Stuytown in NYC: http://www.betabeat.com/2011/05/31/airbnb-takes-manhattan-wi...