Supporting everyday families, local communities and their economies

‘Airbnb was founded in the recession of 2008, but there are parallels to where we are today, and we certainly see that with hosts in the UK. As living costs continue to rise, the extra earnings from hosting on Airbnb help hosts to pay for higher mortgages, higher energy costs – whatever the bill is.

‘Hosting is a really flexible way to make the most of what is, for most people, the most expensive thing they will buy in their life – their home – and to earn income from it. On average, hosts let out space in their home for three nights a month, and earn just over £6,000 a year. This can be quite a significant source of additional income for many families who need it.’

Last year, Airbnb launched the Sustainable Hosting Fund[1]  to help hosts make their properties greener. Can you tell us a bit about that?

‘Hosts on Airbnb are ordinary people – and we are constantly seeking ways to support them. Last year, we set up a £1 million fund to support hosts who wanted to make improvements to their property’s energy efficiency. This not only aids in reducing their carbon emissions, but it also helps them save on their bills at a time when every penny matters.’

Why did Airbnb call on banks and building societies to update their mortgage policies earlier this year?

‘In this country, the contractual structures that govern things like mortgages can be quite rigid. We believe it’s really important that people have the flexibility to share their space if they want or need to. Earlier this year, we called on banks and building societies to update their policies. We’ve had some good conversations and we’re hopeful for positive news on this front soon.

How does the money generated by Hosts and guests benefit the UK economy?

‘Stays on Airbnb bring guests to the communities that hosts call home. This creates jobs and infrastructure, with guests on Airbnb spending money in local cafes, restaurants and pubs. It’s a great way of supporting smaller economies – and it all adds up, with research estimating that travel on Airbnb generated £2.9 billion for the UK economy and supported more than 107,000 jobs last year. Local stays and unique travel experiences create something really meaningful.’

In the UK, why has the company called for the Government to introduce a ‘host register’?

‘Over the years, travelling on Airbnb has grown in popularity. But in some places, this growth has caused concerns in the local communities. Airbnb is very proactive in supporting regulation – we’d like to see the introduction of simple, modern rules for short-term lets. The government’s proposed host register is underpinned by the idea that local authorities would benefit from accurate information on hosting in their communities to help them understand the scale and types of short-term let activity taking place.

‘We’ve been calling for the introduction of a national host register since 2019, and in 2021, we published our own proposals. The government is currently in the process of consulting on the proposals for such a register, and we’ve put forward suggestions to to further strengthen these proposals.’

How does Airbnb benefit local communities as well as guests travelling on a budget?

‘We’re very proud of the positive impact we’ve had globally. Airbnb helps guests to travel to locations they may not otherwise be able to afford. Similarly, the platform unlocks the benefits of tourism for places that are underserved by traditional hospitality options. And in the UK, that really does drive tourism into new areas of the country.

‘We see it all the time: we get data on the destinations that are trending and sometimes one will pop up out of nowhere and we’ll think: “What’s going on here?” And it will be something like a local chef has opened an interesting restaurant and people want to go and have a meal and end up staying overnight. Not only does being able to stay locally on Airbnb allow guests to explore these new destinations, but these visits put money in the pockets of local hosts, businesses and communities.’

Does this include when there is increased demand for accommodation around huge events?

‘[2] Liverpool this summer was a wonderful example of this. We worked with the city of Liverpool to figure out what sort of accommodation was needed during the song contest and to promote the city as a destination that perhaps some guests hadn’t considered before.

‘It is useful for cities to be able to call on Hosts to open up their spaces temporarily to meet those peaks in demand and a great way for local people to make money and benefit directly from large events.

‘The song contest is about the spirit of making friends, breaking down boundaries and growing communities. We saw a lot of guests choosing to book stays in a private room in someone’s house, which helped add another authentic dimension to their whole experience.

‘At Airbnb, we really are trying to drive connection and belonging. For us, it’s all about building those bridges, and helping everyone benefit from the unique travel experiences we help facilitate.’