I agree that short-term rentals are bad, but having more normal rental units, if there is demand for it, is not a bad thing. It’s profitable and desirable for people/companies to buy up houses to rent because the rental demand is not being met and they can charge what they want. “Investor” owned housing is generally not sitting empty, so it’s not as much of a drain on housing as its popularity as a punching bag warrants.

It’s important that we don’t pit people who want to rent and people who want to buy against each other. We just need more housing supply. Period.