Rising numbers of houses and flats listed as short-term lets on Airbnb are associated with higher rates of crimes such as burglaries and street robberies right across London, according to the most detailed study of its kind.

Airbnb representatives say the academic report linking rental properties to a spike in crime in London is "misleading". The post Criminology study links Airbnb rentals to soaring crime rates appeared first on Talker.

Airbnb rental properties drive up crime rates, a study suggests. Cambridge University has discovered a link between Airbnb locations and police-reported robberies or violent crimes in thousands of London neighbourhoods.

The study, led by Cambridge University, indicated that a 10% increase in active Airbnb rentals in London would correspond to an additional 1,000 robberies per year across the city, above 2018 levels when the study data ends. Researchers used crime statistics from the Home Office and Greater London Authority.

The association between active Airbnb rentals and crime was most significant for robbery and burglary, followed by theft and any violence. No link was found for anti-social behaviour and bodily harm.

A 10% rise in active Airbnb rentals in the capital would correspond to an additional 1,000 robberies per year across the city above 2018 levels, when the study data ends, researchers said.