Matthew Burke articles

exasperated woman looking on as two people argue outside a building

I used a short-term rental app while visiting a new city only to find out the hard way that it’s banned there. Why did the site allow the listing?

You booked what appeared to be an ordinary vacation rental, arrived with your luggage, and discovered that the host was not legally permitted to accommodate you. When the landlord threatened the host with eviction, leaving was probably the safest and most practical choice. The experience raises an obvious question: Why could you reserve and pay for a prohibited rental in the first place?
August 5, 2026 Matthew Burke