As local communities bear the brunt of over tourism, might the concept of exchanging homes with a stranger offer a solution to the housing shortages inflamed by short-term holiday lets?
When planning a holiday, the convenience of a low-key Airbnb apartment is often an appealing option: lots of space to loaf about in, a diverse selection of neighbourhoods to choose from and the opportunity to live hyperlocal. But the past few months has seen a sharp rise in negative headlines highlighting the role that short-term holiday lets – including those offered on Airbnb – play in driving up rents and house prices in popular tourist destinations such as Cornwall, Florence and Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
It’s something I witnessed first-hand during a recent holiday to Lisbon, which coincided with thousands of people taking to the streets to rally against skyrocketing rent prices, many pointing to the tourism boom as a key factor. In some travel hotspots, drastic measures have been taken to curb the visible effects of overtourism. In Seville, Spain, authorities recently announced plans to cut off the water supply to apartments that are caught illegally renting to tourists. Meanwhile, Pembrokeshire County Council in Wales is operating a steep council-tax premium on second homes to deter landlords and is even considering doubling this number, effectively tripling the standard rate.
