prize5-7, Exercise 1: Short-term lets

Model answer (check the details):

As a problem: critics say that flats let to visitors through holiday platforms are taken out of the housing stock, which raises rents and house prices and makes it harder for residents, workers and students to find homes. They add that a neighbourhood with many short lets loses its sense of community and that visitors can bring noise and turnover to residential buildings.

As an advantage: supporters say lets give owners an income, offer visitors an alternative to hotels at a time when the city is short of rooms, and spread the benefit of tourism more widely, including to people who rent out a room or their own home while they are away during August.

Fair summary: both arguments depend on evidence about the number of lets, who owns them, how long they are let and what would happen to the homes if they were not let to visitors, and the city has introduced licensing and planning control to manage the effects (check the current rules).