> I'm strongly opposed to short term rentals because it's just giving rise to alt-hotel property management landlords that reduce housing supply. I'm sort of OK with it on an ad-hoc this is my primary residence and I have a spare bedroom.

I'm opposed to long term rental.

Wait no. I'm not actually "opposed" to it. I just think of it as a major failure and a big obstacle in modern times.

Who the hell think it is acceptable to be forced into an unbreakable lease for 1-3 years and pay 1 months of agency fee + 2 months of guarantee in advance?

I'm not even sure I could keep a job for an entire year. (and I'm not talking of a programmer in SV who got a better offer but of normal people who just can't get a permanent job in this era).

If you want to stay somewhere for 1-3 week, an hotel will do.

If you want to stay 1-3 years, a "normal" flat will do.

AirBnB fills the gap between.

Not to mention that it also fills the gap for people who cannot give all the bullshit paperwork of normal flats. Just pay and done, AirBnb does not reject a host for [the same] bullshit reasons [as agencies]. (I don't know how it is in the USA but in France it's a nightmare to get a flat).