Homeowners benefit from coronation: Airbnb says Londoners can earn £500 renting out their property… but they’ll have to keep the neighbors on their side
- Airbnb is recruiting new hosts ahead of coronation weekend
- The typical house earned £500 during the Queen’s Jubilee and could match that
- But new rules are in place to ensure guests don’t cause a nuisance
There hasn’t been a coronation in 70 years – so it’s no wonder companies want to make money.
And so is the short-term housing website, Airbnb, which is actively recruiting new homeowners, with the incentive of making money over coronation weekend, especially if you live near London.
The company claims the typical Airbnb host made more than £500 over the three-day weekend of the Queen’s Jubilee in 2022. Coronation hosts should easily match that. As an added incentive, the company is offering newcomers a £100 travel voucher.
Geoff Robjent, a business executive living in Bristol, regularly hosts his home on Airbnb. “I often work abroad, so it makes sense that I rent out my apartment during those weeks,” says 34-year-old Geoff. economic climate.’
Royal rental: Airbnb claims a typical host made more than £500 over the three-day weekend of the Queen’s 2022 anniversary
Geoff has been running his side business for the past two years. He has no reason to complain about the behavior of any of his guests and he keeps his neighbors happy by informing them when he rents out the property.
Yet Airbnb does not have such a spotless image elsewhere. Last month, while speaking in Chelmsford, Essex, Rishi Sunak was berated by locals, who complained that Airbnbs were being used as rowdy party houses.
Unruly guests have also made headlines in Bath, where residents of Lansdown’s Georgian terraces are surrounded by houses rented for stag weekends.
“We often threw beer cans in our gardens and most weekends have all-night parties with loud music,” says 71-year-old Emily Jones.
‘It’s been a nightmare. A poor gentleman in a garden flat woke up one Sunday morning with puke as he ran down the common stairs.’
Airbnb claims it has “zero tolerance” for anti-social behavior and has removed or suspended at least 1,000 properties as part of a crackdown on party houses.
The problem is largely due to irresponsible, get-rich-quick hosts who don’t keep an eye on their guests. Fortunately, legislation is in the works.
Michael Gove, the secretary of Leveling Up, Housing and Communities, plans to give municipalities the power to ban vacation rentals if they deprive locals of their homes. However, this change will not take effect until the end of the year: too late for the royal shindig.
If you’re thinking about becoming an Airbnb host for the coronation, how can you make sure guests don’t disturb your neighbors or violate your property? Airbnb’s guidelines emphasize that all guests should be made aware of the house rules, so “prevent problems before they start.”
If the host thinks a party is planned, the booking should be canceled immediately. Hosts are also advised to share their mobile numbers with neighbors so that they can be notified of the first signs of trouble.
Airbnb also suggests that newcomers meet with a “super host” — an experienced and valued host — for one-on-one guidance.
Clair Huggins is such a super host. She runs five large Airbnb homes in Norfolk, renting them out each for a minimum of £1,200 per night.
With expensive furnishings, ornaments on display, and a pool in every room, it’s in Clair’s interest to attract well-behaved guests.
“I have ground rules, like asking for a guarantee if the guests come for, say, an 18th birthday party,” says Clair, a former personal assistant in her 50s.
“If it’s a chicken weekend, I prefer the mother to be there too. As a result, I have suffered no greater damage than a broken bed lamp.’
Geoff in Bristol thinks communication is key. “I like to talk to my guests on the phone before they arrive,” he says. Failing that, I like a chatty exchange of emails. You learn a lot about people that way.
“Contrary to popular advice, I never tidy up my personal belongings. I want people to know this is my home. That way they are more likely to treat it with respect.’
