New York takes big steps to curb Airbnbs

I used to host Airbnb in my own home. I think Airbnb came from Couchsurfing which offered accommodation in people's own homes. I met so many, mainly young, mainly foreign tourists, l didn't make much money but it was extremely interesting and good fun. I think that was the essence of Airbnb at the start but then it became far too sophisticated and just a money earner, competing against BnBs and hotels but not needing the regulation.

Aveline

Major clampdown in Scotland too. However, the legislation as it stands means that rural places are hit as hard as tourist town centre ones. Nobody complained about rural ones but Airbnb is a blight in Edinburgh. Anti social behaviour++ and generally making life difficult for residents as well as massively reducing long term homes for local workers. Amsterdam and Barcelona also clamping down. Fair enough.

Most certainly people complain about rural Airbnbs in Scotland, it takes accommodation away from people who need permanent homes and means villages are dying. Highlands, Islands and West Coast are particularly affected. Got some near me and they are hated. Due to the new regulations a lot are coming on the market and hopefully locals can afford to buy them.

Probably a bit late to reply to this. We used Airbnb a lot a few years ago, sleeping in people's homes and having a lovely breakfast in the morning. The hosts were all great and really looked after us. Now it is almost impossible to find an Airbnb that isn't self contained or a whole house/flat. We much prefer the B&B aspect of the old Airbnb with a genial host.

GrandmaKT My cottage is exactly the same as it was and there are many other similar properties on Airbnb, exactly the same as on cottages.com etc. My local community in the Lake District would be in a very sad state without tourism and places for visitors to stay!

Though not in Lake District, our holiday home is same to yours. Airbnb is a wonderful service, when we've no family using.

Fleurpepper

Chardy

A small house at the back of my home, 2 minutes from the sea tried to do Airbnb, and gave up very quickly as they could make more regular income renting it to tenants.
Secondly Airbnb is great for families and single people as the vast majority have a kitchen, and so there's not the expense of eating out all the time, or having takeaways. Personally I've always felt much safer in an Airbnb when travelling alone.

Why not hire a flat or cottage, etc, which is properly registered and checked. Doesn't have to be with AirBnB.

You don’t actually know when you book wether it’s registered or not, lots of legitimate businesses use AirBnB to advertise.

Chardy

A small house at the back of my home, 2 minutes from the sea tried to do Airbnb, and gave up very quickly as they could make more regular income renting it to tenants.
Secondly Airbnb is great for families and single people as the vast majority have a kitchen, and so there's not the expense of eating out all the time, or having takeaways. Personally I've always felt much safer in an Airbnb when travelling alone.

Why not hire a flat or cottage, etc, which is properly registered and checked. Doesn't have to be with AirBnB.

Our local council are taking action, those who advertise on AirBnB are getting visits about fire regulations and rates, if you’re not registered they will take action.
This does not affect the B&Bs or cottages that use AirBnB to advertise

A small house at the back of my home, 2 minutes from the sea tried to do Airbnb, and gave up very quickly as they could make more regular income renting it to tenants.
Secondly Airbnb is great for families and single people as the vast majority have a kitchen, and so there's not the expense of eating out all the time, or having takeaways. Personally I've always felt much safer in an Airbnb when travelling alone.

The Lake District was always a tourist attraction before Airbnb came along and swallowed up long term homes.

GrannyGravy13

netflixfan

I refuse to stay in air B&B because they wreck local communities.

Exactly

I wish people wouldn't make such blanket statements! I have a holiday cottage (it was built as a holiday cottage and not suitable for housing a needy family before anyone suggests it.) It was previously listed with one of the cottage letting agencies, but for various reasons I changed to Airbnb (who incidentally I have found to be a very good company and fair to deal with). My cottage is exactly the same as it was and there are many other similar properties on Airbnb, exactly the same as on cottages.com etc. My local community in the Lake District would be in a very sad state without tourism and places for visitors to stay!

Ive never stayed in an Airbnb so out of curiosity I had a look in my town and my goodness ... that's what nearly all the recently renovated big houses have been turned into! I just assumed theyd been bought by well-off families. Some sleep 10 and have two bathrooms, clearly aimed at hens and stags. God - the poor neighbours.

We refuse to use Airbnbs, so many communities have been hollowed out by them in the UK and abroad.

We have family friends in quite a desperate situation in Cornwall which would be made much better if there were houses available in their village for locals to buy and live in.

True

netflixfan

I refuse to stay in air B&B because they wreck local communities.

Exactly

I refuse to stay in air B&B because they wreck local communities.

Good heavens! Sounds like your experience is limited to nasty cheap city hotels SunnySusie. There are others!

I loathe hotels GrannyGravy so I guess we are all different. I did have to use hotels for years for work and that has possibly coloured my view, but I always find them so restrictive and inconvenient. Mostly gloomy and dark in the bedrooms with poor views and inadequate lighting. Frequently boiling hot with no means of turning heating off or down so I cant sleep, or I have to open the window and then its too noisy. The duvets are usually too hot and I have to remove them entirely and sleep under a bath towel, or take my own light travel blanket. Many have heavy door locking mechanisms which slam loudly as people come and go. Noisy guests march around late at night and I can only sleep wearing ear plugs. I used to quite like a hotel breakfast, but since Covid my enjoyment of buffets has sharply decreased and even before Covid the tea and coffee was usually poor. None of that in a well chosen Air B and B or other self catering rental. Usually they are immaculate, spacious, well equipped and quiet. If you have fruit and cereal for breakfast and go out for all other meals its not much work.

How nice BlueBelle. Could have made a very nice permanent home for a family.

We often stay in Air B&B's. Ive booked one for my trip to the Olympics in Paris next year. We have stayed in a lovely house on Exmoor which was clearly a family home, lots of family pics etc but nothing personal in the bedrooms or bathrooms. Last year we stayed at an air b&b in Croatia, the owner was delightful and said they used the house when it was not let but lived in a flat in town the rest of the time. She left us a huge supply of wine and spirits but asked us to feed the cats in return. I don't mind in the slightest.

No belongings around, it was an ABnB and immaculate and in a very easy area to get to and from

BlueBelle

Grannygravy not everyone can afford hotels up to now Airb &bs have been a good way of a family having a holiday
We just had a long weekend city break for 4 which was a fraction of a hotel price and it was a lovely flat
Two bathrooms three bedrooms large living room balcony and nice kitchen with everything possible needed it was very pleasant

Was it a holiday let or someone letting their own home.

I wouldn’t want to stay in someone’s home with their belongings around.

Grannygravy not everyone can afford hotels up to now Airb &bs have been a good way of a family having a holiday
We just had a long weekend city break for 4 which was a fraction of a hotel price and it was a lovely flat
Two bathrooms three bedrooms large living room balcony and nice kitchen with everything possible needed it was very pleasant

I live in an area where it is possible to get planning on a farm building if it is let as a holiday cottage but you can't let it on a permanent basis to a local who needs accommodation. There is a huge shortage of affordable housing locally. My neighbour has a wooden chalet that was erected to house her aged mother who needed care, her mum is now dead but she's struggling to get the planning changed. Anyone want a very nice log cabin, well maintained and 8 years old, to be moved at buyers cost!

I cannot see the attraction of an Air BnB, if I am going away I want a hotel, part of the attraction of not being at home is not having to make beds, cook breakfast etc.

It makes me so sad when whole houses or cottages are Airbnb. They should be lived in by local families (many are desperate for homes). There are several holiday parks in our area, and that is fine and that's where people should stay, but houses should be homes to keep our communities alive.