@crowriver - My thoughts exactly
Guardian article with some good comments.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/feb/12/profiteers-killing-airbnb-erode-communities
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » General Edinburgh
"Holiday Flats Edinburgh's Ruin"
(541 posts)-
Posted 6 years ago #
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Cockburn Association:-
Cockburn mini-conference entitled the Air BnB Phenomenon – Impact and Opportunities of the Collaborative Economy and Disruptive Technologies: how should Edinburgh respond to short-term letting?
It will be held on Wed 14th March from 2-5 at the Methodist Church.
Posted 6 years ago # -
"Time to defend tenement life
Spurtle recently interviewed a local tenant who has lived in the same tenement for over 15 years. Until recently they took the lead in organising all those little jobs on the common stair – such as arranging for cleaners and changing lightbulbs – and their plants here were an attractive feature enjoyed by all.
But then one flat on the stair was sold and began operating as an AirBnB. There followed a huge increase in comings-and-goings, strangers struggling with locks, drunk ‘guests’ pushing the wrong buzzers and kicking doors. Rubbish was now badly binned and recycling stopped altogether.
The model tenant reluctantly began monitoring who used the stair, on one occasion interrupting a burglar who had somehow gained access to the outside key-box code and let himself in.
When the tenant took their plants indoors for fear of them being pinched or damaged, AirBnB guests complained to their ‘host’ that the stair no longer resembled the pretty plant-filled photo featured on the website. The host then complained to the tenant’s landlord about this removal and about the tenant monitoring the stair He said it made his guests feel ‘unwelcome’.
Thankfully, the landlord dismissed these complaints. But the situation as described is a perfect case-study in how short-term lets can rapidly disrupt community life and sour relations.
AirBnB issues sensible guidelines on responsible hosting, but they are unenforceable (http://goo.gl/YoJHuh).
Since February 2017, Glasgow has effectively banned short-term whole-flat lets on common stairs (http://goo.gl/4FVW51). Similar regulation of the sector in Edinburgh cannot
come soon enough."Posted 6 years ago # -
“
And it is impossible to rent a home in Venice, as every conceivable space is now advertised on Airbnb as a holiday let. Tomorrow, the highly respected Cockburn Association hosts an event to discuss whether Edinburgh could be facing the same fate.
“
Posted 6 years ago # -
“
VisitScotland has launched a new tourism initiative with Airbnb to give visitors more “authentic experiences” of Scotland.
“
Posted 6 years ago # -
This whole AirBnB phenomenon has kind of passed me by - age, maybe?
When I think about the concept, it seems a nice idea - pick up a short term let in some nice city for a price significantly lower than the robbing hotel chains charge - sounds a great idea.
However, clearly owner greed has taken over in some places, and some kind of regulation seems necessary - It seems ridiculous to walk along tenement streets and see multiple key locks bolted to walls outside one stair.
AirBnB will say that they are just the facilitator and its nothing to do with them - but they must be part of any solution.
Regardless of what the council (or Glasgow for that matter) say, they cant limit the numbers or resolve this without AirBnB and their competitors helping and allowing access to data - i.e. to confirm how many short term lets are at one address and limit / reduce the nyumber registered.
Regardless of what regulations councils put in place, without AirBnB help, some landlords will simply lie if its left to them.
Presumably AirBnB started in the USA - has the issue been resolved there?
Posted 6 years ago # -
When you rent (a) flat(s) you have to register as a Landlord, and renew every 3 years (c.£100), the services have to be tested - Gas must be checked annually by a Gas Safe engineer (c.£60) & a whole pile more paperwork. Mains-linked smoke detectors must be installed, with a fire detector in the kitchen, and a CO detector - usually close to the boiler. More than 2 unrelated tenants and you need an HMO licence.
None of this is required for punting the flat for airbnb, yet the risks are all still there (CO poisoning, fire etc).
Many of the flat rental regulations came after fatal or serious incidents, as yet we've not had such a denouement for an airbnb property but will it simply be a matter of time?
Posted 6 years ago # -
People buying a flat and letting it out on AirBnB is having an effect on the market too.
It’s an attractive proposition - you’re paying very little LBTT, it’s an unregulated market and you can let it out for good prices.”
ESPC said a shortage of property was continuing to drive up prices in the Capital.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Solicitor’s advertorial trying to talk the market up
“Buy 1 bed flats NOW. While the price is high”
Yeah, great idea
Posted 6 years ago # -
Also: "Don't by that upmarket property in Heriot Row (that I have my eye on): it wouldn't be a good investment (for the likes of you)."
Posted 6 years ago # -
Good news for those prepared to enjoy the LIGWIE lifestyle then - for around half the price of an Edinburgh Flat (or a larger place with a 25-30 minute commute in to the city) you can pick up a place within 5 minutes of Queen Street/Buchanan Bus Station and enjoy (with the electric trains especially) a 35 minute trip to Haymarket or a slightly slower but muchly cheaper coach trip - which more conveniently stops closer to the Western Flank centres of employment. Both trains & coaches carry bikes (the latter requires a bag/cover).
* opposite to a WIGLIE (Works in Glasgow - Lives in Edinburgh)
Posted 6 years ago # -
"Richard Branson: Edinburgh tourist tax could drive visitors to Glasgow"
And the downside to that is....?
Posted 6 years ago # -
@Rosie; indeed. Adding £3 onto a £150 hotel room would apparently cause people to spend at least two hours, and £18 to travel to Glasgow. Really?
Weirdly, the same price elasticity doesn't apply to hotels ramping their charges during the festivals.
The real question to ask is what percentage of hotel profits stays in Edinburgh, and how much goes to large multi-nationals, like, say Virgin?
Posted 6 years ago # -
"The City of Edinburgh Council has announced today that it welcomes new research on Transient Visitor Levy (TVL) or tourist tax, and that it will be taking further steps to persuade Holyrood to allow the council to impose such a charge.
Leaders across all 32 Scottish Local Authorities are today expected to agree and launch a campaign to secure the legal power for local government to implement a levy. The council says it signals increasing support across the political spectrum for the principle of local discretion to propose and implement a TVL.
The findings in the latest research by the council shows that a charge of £1 a night per visitor could result in an extra £11 million a year in income. It is possible that up to £29 million could be raised depending on the way it is imposed.
One of the key points raised is that it is not all about price when it comes to choosing a hotel or a city to visit. While the charging mechanism has yet to be ironed out, it is clear that a percentage charge would not adversely affect budget travellers."
It's rubbish they have to get permission from central govt.
https://www.theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2018/05/council-moving-on-with-tourist-tax/
Posted 6 years ago # -
"Edinburgh risks repeating the housing mistakes that have made central London inaccessible to many people, amid a growing homelessness crisis resulting in hundreds of families being stuck in inadequate B&Bs for months at a time, a charity has warned.
Shelter Scotland told the Guardian that the Scottish capital was being harmed by long-term underinvestment in affordable housing, an acute shortage of suitable temporary accommodation for homeless people, and the growth of short-term lets such as Airbnb."
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/may/30/edinburgh-must-avoid-housing-mistakes-made-by-london-charity-saysPosted 6 years ago # -
Posted 6 years ago #
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Barcelona fights back@-
Posted 6 years ago # -
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The city council will lobby the Scottish Government for a “licensing regime” to potentially cap the number of Airbnb properties in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh is set to be treated differently than the rest of Scotland, with pilot measures touted to tackle concerns over “antisocial behaviour and the loss of community” caused by an influx of short term letting in the Capital.
“
Posted 6 years ago # -
Council leader sets out Airbnb licensing wish list
"A licence would be required for anyone either operating a property on a commercial or professional basis - or for at least 45 days a year."
IIRC 45 days is half what Airb'n'b wanted - but it does conveniently exempt festival lets. Perhaps that's what Airb'n'b had in mind all the time?
Posted 6 years ago # -
I would guess a bigger problem than air b and b is locals priced out areas gentrification altering character. May be the council should have permits for all houses and to buy have to apply to the council and give a reason and could be criteria as some houses empty. There could be rules like Guernsey. There could be permits based on how near to work house is.
Posted 6 years ago # -
"I would guess a bigger problem than air b and b is locals priced out areas gentrification altering character. "
Hm, I would guess it's all part of the same problem: demand massively outstripping supply of housing.
"There are more than 9000 properties in Edinburgh listed on Airbnb and the growth of the industry is squeezing the supply of rented accommodation.
An estimated 10% of private rented homes are being lost to short-term lets."
https://stv.tv/news/east-central/1425654-bid-to-tackle-growth-of-airbnb-flats-in-edinburgh/
Posted 6 years ago # -
Edinburgh Airbnb bookings up by 70%
"Almost a third (31%) of bookings are now taken by landlords with three or more properties listed on the site."
Posted 6 years ago # -
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And almost one third of Airbnb listings in the Capital are being offered by landlords with three or more properties on the site, it has emerged.
Critics say the revelation highlights the extent to which effectively property ‘barons’ are using Airbnb lets as a platform for commercial business and effectively gaming the system to get round taxation and regulation.
“
Posted 6 years ago # -
From the Beeb article:
"While 31% of units are provided by multi-listers with three or more properties, currently just 9% of supply is provided by those with 10 or more units."
Posted 6 years ago #
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