Tourist hotspot residents say Government crackdown Airbnb short-term

‘I don’t blame people for selling up’: Tourist hotspot residents say Government crackdown on Airbnb short-term lets will do nothing to stop locals moving out

• Tourist hotspot locals say Airbnb crackdown does nothing to stop locals leaving
• Government hopes plans will help stop Airbnbs rental from pushing locals away 

Residents of British tourist hotspots such as Brighton and Salcombe have said that a government crackdown on Airbnb short-term lets will do nothing to stop locals leaving.

Locals in the tourist hotspot of Salcombe, which was last week named the most expensive seaside town with an average sale price of £1.2million, did not believe a change in the law which means Airbnb owners will need planning permission before renting out their homes would make much difference to the local economy.

Stephen Holt, 70, who works as an estuary guide in Salcombe, said: ‘A lot of locals have chosen to move out and sell their homes to people who let them out on Airbnb as a business but it’s been going on for longer than they’ve been around.

‘I don’t blame people for selling their homes when they are being offered huge amounts of money but it’s changed the character of the town because people in their 20s can’t afford to live here anymore.

‘Of course we want people here for tourism but you need people to work in the pubs and the shops and at the moment they can’t live here and they can’t easily drive in and park.’

SALCOMBE: Salcombe was last week named the most expensive seaside town with an average sale price of £1.2million

Tourists David Malahoty (left), 37, and Sarah Bee (right), 36, from Edinburgh, were staying in an Airbnb while visiting Salcombe for the weekend with friends

Mr Holt added: ‘The thing with Airbnb is people let out their spare rooms which means more people coming into the town creating issues with parking.

‘I think Airbnb has an unfair advantage over local holiday lets because they don’t seem to have the same rules and regulations so this legislation might help level the field a bit.

‘But I don’t know if a bureaucratic solution is the right one, people always find a way around bureaucracy, particularly where money is involved.’

Kevin Pott, 62, who has run Salcombe Deli for 10 years said tourism is vital to the local economy but believes people will come whether they use Airbnb or not.

He said: ‘No tourists would not be good news for us but I don’t think that will happen. House prices are crazy but they are not going to go back.

‘It’s not going to cause a massive change for us. Even if it caused property prices to drop 10% that still wouldn’t make homes affordable.

‘I think we’re trying to address the wrong problem with this legislation, we need to be building more affordable housing that is ringfenced for local people. That has to be realistically affordable for local people.’

Tourists David Malahoty, 37, and Sarah Bee, 36, from Edinburgh, were staying in an Airbnb while visiting Salcombe for the weekend with friends.

Stephen Holt (pictured), 70, who works as an estuary guide in Salcombe, said: ‘A lot of locals have chosen to move out and sell their homes to people who let them out on Airbnb as a business but it’s been going on for longer than they’ve been around’

Stephen Holt on his estuary cruise boat which offers boat trips for tourists

Kevin Pott (pictured), 62, who has run Salcombe Deli for 10 years said tourism is vital to the local economy but believes people will come whether they use Airbnb or not

Beautiful homes in the coastal tourist hotspots of Salcombe, in South Hams, Devon

David said: ‘I’m sympathetic to problems with homes being used as holiday lets because it’s something we see ourselves back home.

‘We booked on Airbnb because of the ease and choice but we would still visit if it wasn’t available.

‘There have to be homes for locals in towns and I wouldn’t mind paying a bit more for accommodation, within reason, if I knew it protected local people.’

Anna Rayson, 21, and her mum Julie, 59, from London have owned a second home in Salcombe for nine years. They have let the property out through other providers in the past.

Anna said: ‘I think a crackdown on Airbnb is long overdue. I used to live in Falmouth while I was at Uni and during Covid landlords kicked students out of private rentals, just tore up their contracts, because they could make more on Airbnb.’

Julie said: ‘High house prices isn’t a new thing in Salcombe, it’s always been this way.

‘It does cause some tension between locals and second home owners but there has always been a lot of second homes in the town. Lots of them stay empty which isn’t good for the town at all, my view has always been if there is somebody staying in that house they will spend money in bars and restaurants and that helps the local economy.’

Salcombe residents did not believe a change in the law which means Airbnb owners will need planning permission before renting out their homes would make much difference to the local economy

Anna Rayson (right), 21, and her mum Julie (left), 59, from London have owned a second home in Salcombe for nine years. They have let the property out through other providers in the past

And in tourist hotspot Brighton, student Mary Carmel, 22, said that new Airbnb rules should help preserve the local economy.

‘The government should prioritise residents and find a way to make it so tourism gets a boost without annoying the residents,’ she said.

Another student Aiswarya Raj, 22, said: ‘It’s going to affect the tourism economy if the government starts to regulate it since places like Brighton benefits from tourists. 

‘But at the same time the residents are the backbone of such tourist attractions, so I think the government should have a policy which would benefit both the holiday home market as well as the residents.’

Brighton student Mary Carmel (pictured), 22, said new Airbnb rules should help preserve the local economy

Brighton student Aiswarya Raj (pictured), 22, said: ‘It’s going to affect the tourism economy if the government starts to regulate it since places like Brighton benefits from tourists’

University lecturer Ilia Mirsky Katz (pictured), 24, said: ‘I think tourism is undoubtedly a vital component of many local economies and Airbnb has emerged as a significant player in the accommodation sector’

University lecturer Ilia Mirsky Katz, 24, said: ‘I think tourism is undoubtedly a vital component of many local economies and Airbnb has emerged as a significant player in the accommodation sector.

‘While regulating Airbnb is crucial to maintaining a balance between the needs of tourists and locals and ensuring sustainable growth, it’s also essential to consider the perspective of local residents.

‘While there may be concerns about regulating Airbnb, it’s vital to recognise that effective regulation can help ensure that the growth of Airbnb benefits both tourists and locals, and that the impact on the community is positive.

‘Feedback from local residents who may view tourism as a welcome boost to the economy and the community can help shape more effective and inclusive regulations that foster positive growth.’

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