Don't even get me started on the social effects of AIRBNB Janice. It's frightening. Here in Australia local governments have taken steps to deter people from having them, one ruling being that people can only rent them out for a given number of months of the year say eight months.

You can see why the average citizen is drawn to it rather than having someone rent from them whole year.

I did some quick maths on the one across the road. In the high season they are drawing in $3000 a week. This is a very popular house, so it's a terrific money spinner. Were they to rent it out annually, they would be taking in $400 a week.

One thing that troubles people here is the parking on the roads, wide roads, but still. I counted some cars the other day and there were ten. Doesn't sound much. but it can be quite hard to exit your own driveway.

And then there's the social aspect you talk of, strangers coming and going and that sense of community is disturbed.

I've had my own personal problems with the group. I no longer use them.

I just thought of something else. We booked one in Canberra for our daughter's wedding. One of the bedrooms was a renovated garage with floorboards significantly lower. We arrived in the dark, and as I tend to do, went through the house checking out the layout. I stepped into the room, into a void, and badly-sprained my ankled badly.

I had to borrow a friend's sandals to cater for my swollen foot, not to mention having to deal with significant pain. AIRBNB didn't want to know.

I'd never use them again.