Short-term rental companies like Airbnb are flooding New York City’s housing market, reducing available housing stock citywide by 10%, a new study has revealed.

“DRIVING while black” is a phrase frequently used in the United States to describe the imagined crime African-American drivers commit when they are pulled over by the police, as happens disproportionately often. Last week a derivative phrase-turned-hashtag took off on Twitter: #AirbnbWhileBlack.

“Beautiful 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom condo next to Angel Stadium. Only 2.5 miles from Disneyland. Secured parking structure, pool, jacuzzi, gym and sauna. Plenty of restaurants within walking distance.”

That Anaheim listing on the travel lodging website Airbnb – offered by “Marc” – screamed perfect Southern California vacation rental.

To use the industry jargon, it is the ultimate “disruptor”. Airbnb, the website that allows homeowners around the world to rent out their spare rooms, has had a seismic impact on the travel market.

If you rent out your home or apartment through an online rental site like Airbnb, you could be a greater risk of being a victim of identity theft.

Bad news for Airbnb: The Los Angeles City Planning Commission approved Thursday a draft of regulations for short-term rental services that would impose fines and time limits for listings.

Early this year, Mike Quinn, a lawyer in the art world, moved from the West Village to the East Village, into an apartment in an eight-unit building on Third Street between First and Second Avenues. The twin plagues of chain commerce and luxury residential towers have eradicated much of what distinguished the two neighborhoods historically, but Mr. Quinn noticed one big difference right away — all over the East Village, and where he lived in particular, people were hauling luggage around all the time. He began referring to his block as Suitcase Alley. Airbnb guests from around the world remain always in view.

When Ronnia Cherry, 30, and Stefan Grant, 27, rented a house in Atlanta through Airbnb last year, they were caught off guard by police officers at their door, with guns drawn, responding to a neighbor’s report that they were thieves.

New Orleans should ban whole-home vacation homes and put the screws to listing websites such as Airbnb.com to ensure compliance with the rules, according to a recent statement issued by one of New Orleans’ most influential housing advocates.