“Sharing economy” giants such as Airbnb — a multinational online short-term rental “home sharing” platform — have grown immensely in popularity over the past few years. This report examines the data available for Airbnb listings in Toronto, and estimates that a small percentage of hosts account for just under half of all Toronto Airbnb revenue. The high concentration of revenue in the hands of a small percentage of multiple listing hosts suggest they may using the Airbnb platform for commercial purposes to set up a short-term rental business without being subject to regulatory oversight.
The report also notes that Airbnb listings in Toronto have grown by 288 per cent since 2013, and are 81 per cent higher than Airbnb listings in Vancouver. It also also finds that Airbnb listings in Toronto are highly concentrated in three areas: the waterfront, Liberty Village area, and the Church-Yonge corridor.