Short-term rentals like Airbnb and VRBO have been the source of many debates in communities worldwide.

Local governments have voiced concerns about the rising cost of living and lack of accountability.

But, Airbnb data says it’s actually doing a lot of good, contributing $4.5 billion to New York’s GDP, and helping 65% of hosts earn income to keep them in their own home.

It's a balance of risk and reward, but Airbnb says it’s cracked down on unauthorized parties and is doing more to identify high-risk reservations.

With 4.2 million guests in New York in 2023 alone, that’s important, but more of this battle over short-term rentals is hitting the lawbooks.

Now, hosts and community members are speaking out with their own concerns.

For Kathy DuBois, her short-term rental is a labor of love.

“Twelve hours a day for four years," she said, referencing how much work was put in. A lot of time and money.” 

She's been in the short-term rental business for seven years, but it’s not one she’d recommend.

“Would I make this investment again? No,” DuBois said.

Restrictions continue to creep into cities worldwide. Niagara Falls was no exception.

They limited rentals to an area downtown, which is where she found this fixer-upper.

“It used to be a very transient rental, because it was a day from the wrecking ball,” she said.

She sees Airbnbs like hers as a way to uplift the community.

“The only way to make a strong neighborhood is to have a mixed-use neighborhood,” DuBois said.

However, she’s not unfamiliar with drama. 

Years ago, at her Airbnb in a now-banned residential area, neighbors would complain about noise and parties and reportedly confront her guests.

She eventually shut the rental down, despite being legally grandfathered in.

“I checked it every night. I was never seeing the trouble. I think it was just they didn't want that to be in their yard," she said. "But what are the restrictions on [long-term] rentals?”

They are concerns echoed by Linda Gellman in Buffalo, which is considering its own restrictions.

“We do have a lot of [long-term] rental properties on this street," Gellman said. "We have some owners who live out of state or live, you know, further south or further north, and they aren't in this area and their houses were not maintained as well.”

With representatives bringing concerns over the availability of rentals for living and not just vacationing, she says a variety of issues are being lumped together.

“We have a shortage of affordable housing in this area and it seems to be something that's throughout our country," she said. "That's a whole other topic, as far as I'm concerned.”

She helped a neighbor get signatures for a short-term rental petition and would use short-term rentals herself. 

“I couldn't afford to go to a hotel that's $500, $600 a night, so an Airbnb is a good second choice," Gellman said. "I think they have the right to exist.”

But both her and DuBois agree that short-term rentals with owners who live far away can be problematic.

“My neighbors all have my phone number. If there was ever any trouble, they're welcome to call,” said DuBois.

DuBois is a seven-minute drive away, always meets guests in person and has a variety of security features at the property, but no amount of work on her end will make her worry less about restrictions.

“When we started, this was not on the radar that this could happen," DuBois said. "I hate making bad investments, and I do feel like it could be bad in the end.”

DuBois knows Airbnb owners in neighboring Lewiston stuck with properties they can’t rent after restrictions.

She says the plus of those is that they are in a desirable area and could sell easier.

Her downtown Niagara Falls rental isn’t in as good a spot. 

She fears if restrictions ever expand and it were outlawed as well, she could lose thousands of dollars put into those repairs.