Airbnb welcomes new rules as a significant step forwards

At Airbnb, we welcome the Government’s announcement that registration and planning rules for short term lets will be introduced in England. We have long led calls for registration for everyone to increase transparency and give local authorities the information they need to enforce rules that clampdown on speculators and protect everyday Brits who Host to earn additional income – in many cases, to afford to stay in their homes.

We recognise there are historic housing challenges facing some communities in the UK. While short-term lets are not the root cause of housing challenges, we want to be a responsible partner and help make communities stronger and work hand in hand to address the challenges they face. It’s why we have shared local data and travel trends with local authorities through our City Portal, and most recently, announced a landmark data-sharing partnership with the Office of National Statistics.

Amanda Cupples, General Manager for Northern Europe, Airbnb: “The introduction of a short term lets register is good news for everyone. Families who Host on Airbnb will benefit from clear rules that support their activity, and local authorities will get access to the information they need to assess and manage housing impacts and keep communities healthy, where necessary. We have long led calls for the introduction of a Host register and we look forward to working together to make it a success.”

For over 15 years local Hosts have helped people to explore the UK and to have more authentic travel experiences. Millions of people checked into an Airbnb in the UK last year to discover the hidden gems of our countryside, coastal towns, and cities¹. And, by booking on Airbnb, over a third of UK guests found themselves in lesser visited destinations they would not have otherwise explored².

The millions of people travelling on Airbnb bring unmatched benefits to communities and individuals. In 2022 alone, travel on Airbnb boosted the UK economy by £2.9 billion, supporting more than 100,000 British jobs – from bakers to bartenders, cleaners, and everything in between³. For our community of Hosts, Airbnb provides a flexible way for everyday Brits to boost their income. Last year, the typical Host earned almost £5,500 a year – the equivalent of two months of additional pay for the average UK household – money that helps them keep up with rising living costs and for some, to afford to stay in their homes⁴.