APRIL 20, 2016 | BY A & S Property
Airbnb phenomenon “a growing issue” for landlords
More and more tenants are subletting rental properties on peer-to-peer websites such as Airbnb, according to an eviction specialist. Airbnb, and similar web platforms, allow homeowners to let individual rooms or the whole property to visitors on a nightly basis. But most landlords in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will ban subletting via a clause in the tenancy agreement. Those landlords that fall victim to tenants using their property to host Airbnb guests could be in breach of their mortgage terms and buildings insurance. Philips thought she had found the perfect tenant in a young doctor who wanted her home on a three-year lease. It all seemed very promising until she started receiving emails and calls from her neighbours complaining about the volume of people coming and going at her house. Philips was shocked to discover that her house was not being used as a home for the young doctor, but being rented out room by room as a boutique hotel on the Airbnb website. Making thousands over the rent being paid to Philips, the tenant was breaking the no subletting clause in her contract. By having so many people in the house, Philips’ home insurance was also at risk of being void. Philips was forced to give up her volunteer work in Africa to return to the UK and call in eviction specialist Paul Shamplina, founder of Landlord Action, in the hope of getting her property back. “Whilst Airbnb do provide a level of protection for hosts, naturally certain conditions and limitations do apply. My concern is that there is not enough safeguarding with regards to obtaining proof from the individual who is advertising the property that they are the legitimate owner. Or, if they are a tenant, that they have consent from their landlord to rent out the property in this way. Article courtesy of Landlord Today | Sign up for Landlord Today newsletter | Get this news on YOUR site! |