Socioeconomic and spatial impacts of short-term rentals: a systematic review of Airbnb’s shared accommodation

Short-term rentals (STRs) have transformed the global housing and tourism landscape, reshaping urban economies, residential communities, and neighborhood dynamics. Within this broader market, shared accommodation, exemplified by Airbnb, has expanded rapidly through peer-to-peer platforms and is linked to housing affordability issues, long-term resident displacement, and gentrification in major cities across the globe. The study aims to conduct a systematic literature review that synthesizes spatial distribution patterns of short-term rentals (STRs) and their socioeconomic impacts on urban neighborhoods, using Airbnb as a primary empirical case. This systematic review synthesizes 53 empirical peer-reviewed studies published between 2017 and 2024, following the PRISMA-P guidelines. Using descriptive statistics, content analysis, and co-word analysis, the review identifies three principal findings. First, shared accommodation listings are spatially clustered in affluent areas with high tourist demand and proximity to cultural landmarks, business districts, and well-connected transport networks. Second, quantitative evidence consistently links STR proliferation to declining long-term housing supply and accelerated gentrification, particularly in tourism-intensive districts. Third, qualitative findings point to subtler yet equally significant social consequences, including the erosion of community cohesion, heightened residential dissatisfaction, and growing security concerns among long-term inhabitants. The expansion of shared accommodation has generated significant yet uneven consequences for housing markets, social cohesion, and urban planning, particularly in tourism-concentrated and heritage districts, manifesting in rental price escalation, intensified gentrification, and infrastructural strain. The review concludes that context-sensitive regulation is essential to balance the economic opportunities. STRs must address the imperatives of social equity, cultural preservation, and urban sustainability. This study provides a systematic evidence base to inform land-use planning, housing policy, and regulatory frameworks.