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Move-In Fees as a Residential Sorting Mechanism Within Online Rental Markets.
Remy Stewart1, Chris Hess2, Ian Kennedy3
1Cornell University.
Cityscape (Washington, D.C.)
|May 3, 2024
Summary
Landlords use varied language about move-in fees on online platforms, impacting renter affordability. This study offers a framework to analyze these fees and inform policies for low-income renters.
Area of Science:
- Housing Studies
- Urban Economics
- Sociology
Background:
- Online platforms are crucial for renters in major metropolitan areas.
- Landlords adapt listing language based on neighborhood demographics.
- Move-in fees (security deposits, application fees, advanced rent) present financial barriers for renters.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate landlord discourse surrounding move-in fees on online rental platforms.
- To develop a framework for analyzing landlord language in online housing markets.
- To assess variations in move-in fee prevalence across sociodemographic, spatial, and policy factors.
Main Methods:
- Web scraping of online rental listings.
- Text analysis of landlord-advertised move-in fees.
- Descriptive statistical analyses of fee variations.
Main Results:
- Significant variations in move-in fee prevalence were identified.
- Fee prevalence differs based on sociodemographic characteristics, location, and housing policies.
- Online listing language reflects and potentially influences renter search behavior regarding affordability.
Conclusions:
- Move-in fees are a critical, yet underexplored, aspect of rental housing affordability.
- The developed framework enables researchers to quantify landlord discourse on fees.
- Findings support policy interventions to mitigate financial barriers for low-income renters.
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