Rental through digital platforms in central areas: a hybridization between housing and lodging

Abstract The central areas of some Brazilian cities, transformed into privileged territories for real estate development through structuring public policies and tax incentives, have recently attracted investments for the construction of buildings with studios and one-bedroom apartments, which are offered for rent through digital platforms. By dissolving the boundaries between housing and lodging and promoting the concept of “hassle-free rental”, this new real estate supply aims to serve both investors and transient residents. Through a detailed case study of Recife, the study examines the innovations in the real estate market resulting from the consolidation of this new platform-based rental model, as well as the impact of this dynamic on the urban areas hosting such developments.