Home sharing, property crime and disorder

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to test the association between home sharing, property crime and disorder. Design/methodology/approach Using a sample of Texas cities, this study examined the relationship between city-level home sharing density (number of listings per 10,000 residents) and five specific offenses (burglary, larceny, simple assault, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness) while controlling for the size of the local food service/accommodation and arts/entertainment sectors, economic disadvantage and other demographic variables. Findings The results suggest a statistically significant but very small association between home sharing and four of the five offenses. Research limitations/implications The primary limitations of this study are that it was limited to a single state and included only a few large cities. Practical implications There is clearly a need for many more studies of home sharing and crime using other samples and methods. If the association between home sharing and crimes is confirmed by future studies, that may affect regulation of home sharing and allocation of law enforcement resources. Originality/value Only a few studies have examined the relationship between home sharing and crime. The present study builds on that work using a sample from a new location, a different level of aggregation and previously unstudied crimes.