Report highlights how Airbnbs are impacting city’s hotel trade
The disruptive impact of more than 1,000 Airbnb properties on established hotels, guest houses and B&BS in Bath has been revealed in a new report. It says there are an estimated 680 homes and 402 private rooms listed on the platform and businesses are springing up to manage them. The rooms make up six per cent of the tourism accommodation market and the number is expected to keep growing as more residents tap into the extra income. Airbnb is seen a flexible alternative that lets visitors stay in areas of Bath they otherwise might not be able to afford to, like the Royal Crescent. But the report says there are mounting concerns about the impact the properties are having on the housing supply, neighbouring residents and other holiday accommodation providers, and about how safe they are. The report was drawn up by consultants Hotel Solutions for Bath and North East Somerset Council as an update on the tourism city’s industry. It is intended to inform the authority on the need to regulate the “rapidly growing supply of residential properties being marketed through online booking platforms for short-term lets, group houses and home sharing”. The council recently drew up proposals to lobby Government for more powers to control the shortterm let market. The Hotel Solutions report says licensing appears to be the most workable option but will take time. In the meantime B&NES Council could draw up a voluntary code of conduct to ensure the properties are safe, legal and not causing any disturbance to neighbouring properties. The authority also hopes to introduce a tourism levy to bring in extra income. The reported quoted analysis by AIRDNA showing there are 680 entire homes listed on Airbnb and 402 private rooms in Bath. There are at least five Airbnb property management companies that are active in Bath, it says, that welcome guests and market, clean and maintain the properties on behalf of the owners. And and there are at least 90 “party houses” in the city, large properties for group bookings. They are popular for hen and stag dos and the Federation of Bath Residents’ Associations told Hotel Solutions that party houses are increasingly causing problems in residential neighbourhoods. But it said people do not complain because they fear the complaints will be logged and hit their property prices. B&NES Council has only received complaints about four properties this year, and it is not aware of persistent issues, the report said. Demand for hotel rooms in Bath has increased by 23.5 per cent since 2015. The report says the market “remains very strong by national performance metrics” and the new openings have created a much more competitive market. In contrast, guest houses and B&BS have been on the decline in the last three years, driven by the new hotels, Airbnb and similar platforms, and the increased yearround availability of city centre student rooms for short stays. See Business on page 30 for more on the hotels report.