I'm in Austin, and been considering renting out a spare bed in my primary residence.wondering if I should consider this trend / news a net positive or negative (possibly better market for "type 1" STR, but increased regulatory burden across the board)

What is the regulatory landscape like?

@Travis Ward-Osborne I’d keep in mind the regulatory piece of the Airbnb model.

You will definitely want to consult with whomever designs systems in that area along with conferring with the applicable regulatory agency.

The UK regulator is the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority; the UK's version of the SEC).

I'll be looking more in depth at the regulatory measures that Lansing has in place over the weekend, and make sure I have a sound business plan going into a new market.  

The task force may make recommendations for legislative and regulatory change.

Short-term rentals are a good business, although be very wary of some key things:1) if you are looking at urban markets, find Commercial zoned or you may be at risk of a regulatory change.  1a) The cash flow is higher if you rent-to-rent (vs. buy-to-rent), and also more flexible. 

There are regulatory concerns to be aware of, especially connected to the JV option.

While there’s no risk of a regulatory agency investigating your offering (way too small), the actual risk is in a lawsuit should a passive investor decide to sue you.