When people started buying new properties to turn into Airbnbs, it became clear that everything had turned into a business.

nThe morning after a wedding in Vermont this summer, my friends were recovering in a hot tub while I wrestled with a trash can. And cleaned the kitchen table. And take the clothes from the bed. And I took the recycling process to the street. Everyone was happy in a hotel before they had to drive back to New York for a six-hour drive, except for me and my friend, who made the mistake of staying in an Airbnb. Despite the €90 cleaning fee, we were stuck with a dizzying list of tasks we had to complete before leaving the house.

Something strange is happening with Airbnb these days. Those looking for an attractive and welcoming place to stay now often have to contend with high prices, inconsistent fees, cumbersome check-out requests, and unreliable photos and descriptions. And, as happened to me in Vermont, they risk staying in one of the many pre-designed homes owned by the same host, which look less like “a cozy ski cabin” and more like “an IKEA showroom that never had the human touch.” . Not only were customers angry, voicing their anger on social media, but cities were restricting the platform. Earlier this month, New York City passed a tough new law that effectively bans most short-term rentals, causing 15,000 Airbnb listings to disappear.

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*Author of the “Embedded” newsletter on digital culture