I found a great article from the Press Association, that was published in Sept 2018 that I wanted to share  and I have added my extra 2 cents of advice from my experience as a Short Term Rental Host since 2000.

Here’s what you need to know about Airbnb:

1. How does Airbnb work?

Airbnb is an online marketplace which lets people rent out their properties or spare rooms to guests. Airbnb takes 3% commission of every booking from hosts, and between 6% and 12% from guests.

There’s plenty of criteria to list for/search a property: from a shared room to an entire house, to having a swimming pool to having a washing machine. There are photos of the property, and the hosts/guests, with full map listing.

2. Why do people like it?

A combination of factors, but primarily financial ones. Guests get good value accommodation at a huge range of price points, from a few pounds a night to hundreds and often in prime locations where a normal hotel would cost infinitely more.

Hosts can cash in on spare space, perhaps if children have flown the nest and there’s a spare bedroom. In fact, according to economist Dr Margarethe Theseira, if an Airbnb host lists their property for seven days a month on average they would earn £5,600 per year, a boost to household income equivalent to a 15% pay rise for an average full-time employee.

3. What are the other benefits of Airbnb?

There is more than a financial impetus though: many guests like living like a local and getting restaurant recommendations from people really in-the-know, while many hosts just enjoy meeting new people and showing off their home.

4. Is it easy to book on Airbnb?

Yes, very. Once you’ve created a verified profile (which can be linked to social media), you can send a message to the host and either book instantly, or submit a request for later booking. Hosts must show calendars of availability – most are kept well up-to-date – and they will inform you of what they will provide like towels or hairdryers.

It’s not advised if you’re travelling through though – many people don’t take bookings for just one night.

5. Are there any hidden extras?

It’s not really ‘hidden’, but many hosts will add a charge for cleaning on top of their basic nightly fee. This is always made clear on booking.