27th
Apr 2022
Airbnb has always been heavily criticised for taking advantage of the mostly unregulated short lets market, but is now demanding the UK government to abolish Section 21 notices.
According to Airbnb many long term rental evictions are instigated so properties can be used to short lets and if Section 21 is scrapped it would apparently help the platform to ‘police’ the holiday lettings sector.
Airbnb spokeswoman Amanda Cupples claims it does ‘outlaw’ landlords who have unlawfully evicted tenants to take advantage of the lucrative holiday lets sector, but is being held back by Section 21 notices.
Cupples says: “At the moment there are very few illegal evictions that we can take action against because they are done legally using Section 21.”
Cupples also recommends the introduction of a UK-wide short lets landlord register alongside local tourism taxes to help communities living in tourist hotspots to gain some benefit. The platform has outlined the measures as part of its "Healthy Tourism Commitment" which has just been published.
Amanda says: "We have collected $4 billion in 'tourism taxes' all around the world so where local authorities or regulators think it is in the best interests of communities to introduce tourism taxes, we will be supportive.”
The SNP has also stated that if it is successful in the local elections in Edinburgh it promises to introduce a tourism tax in the city, whilst the Welsh government intends to hold a consultation on tourism taxes this Autumn.
The UK government last year announced it would hold a consultation as to whether to introduce an industry wide Tourism Accommodation Register to control the holiday let sector, but so far there is no progress whatsoever.
A statement from Airbnb says it can help UK local authorities by sharing its information on worldwide tourism taxes, “where there is clear support for such a measure to be introduced in the community.”
Cupples adds: “Our priority is to make sure the recovery is a success and to ensure communities can benefit from the return of tourism in a healthy and sustainable way. Since last year we have led calls on short-term lets rules being introduced and now, alongside communities in some parts of the UK, we are keen to see the government turn talk into action.”
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