… is making it harder to book in some places
The Telegraph describes why booking an Airbnb in your favourite destination is getting harder “from New York City to Edinburgh, the global campaign against Airbnb is intensifying”. Fortunately for those with AL properties in Madeira, why rely on the portal, the reverse is happening, with the President of the Regional Government, Miguel Albuquerque specifically citing the number of AL beds in the Region as part of a great success story (one that he thinks deserves to get him re-elected a week today!).
The newspaper reports on how two more tourist destinations have recently clamped down on Airbnb, as the global war on the controversial accommodation website continues.
Last week, North Devon began a six-week public consultation to ban houses in multiple occupation from being let out as holiday accommodation. Local councillors argue that this would stop residents from being priced out by landlords looking to make more money from holiday rentals.
Meanwhile, strict new regulations on short-term rentals have come into effect in New York City, with rentals shorter than 30 days only allowed if hosts are officially registered with the city, and the host must be present in the property for the duration of the stay. More than two guests at a time are not allowed, in what has been described as a de facto ban on the platform.
Airbnb formed in 2007
Airbnb, which operates in more than 100,000 towns and cities, has faced a significant backlash since launching 15 years ago. And things seem to have ramped up in 2023.
In Scotland, Airbnb hosts are approaching what has been described as the “D-Day” of October 1. Under the new legislation, hosts now have just a matter of weeks to apply for a permit to host guests (in Madeira a full Alojamento Local” license is required) or face a £2,500 fine and a ban.
Uptake, apparently, has been slow in some areas, including Edinburgh. Those listing whole properties will also need to apply for planning permission.
October also brings the deadline for Airbnb hosts in England and Wales to comply with new health and safety regulations. The rules mean that holiday-let owners must install fire doors and have a smoke alarm fitted in virtually every room of the house. Wales has also introduced new planning rules, introducing a new classification for short-term lets.
The Telegraph concludes: “Name a city, be it Barcelona, Miami, Amsterdam or Palma de Mallorca, and the chances are that it will have addressed the issue of short-term accommodation in some form since 2008. Many are only just catching up”.
The global clampdown on Airbnb is coming in all forms. In Seville, Airbnbs and other short-term lettings have been told this year they must install “noise meters” under new regional laws. These will measure the decibel levels of tourists in a bid to prevent excessive noise pollution in the city. If guests exceed the limit, the property owner will be informed and will have to take action, or face a penalty.
Why just airbnb? There are plenty of other holiday rental sites, so why not a clampdown on all holiday rentals? We never use air bnb. Never like their website, but we do use other rental site, inc. Vrbo, although that seems to have gone downhill over recent years.
We have total sympathy, esp. with English seaside towns that are totally dead in Winter. We spent a couple of weeks in Woolacombe in February last year and were shocked at how few local shops were open. There was a small supermarket, and a chemist, but no take always, not even fish and chips, anywhere in the area, e.g within about five miles at least! They had all closed for the Winter, as had the hotels, coffee shops, etc. Closed in October and didn’t open again until April. For any locals left living in the town, it must be awful. Swamped with tourists in the Summer and closed in the winter!
Clearly something needs to be done.