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Airbnb’s breakneck growth
The Evening Standard reported this month
that stays on Airbnb in London grew by
130% last year, giving it a 9% market share
of overnight visitors to London in 2016 (up
from under 4% in 2015). The research from
Colliers International and Hotelschool The
Hague found that the number of properties
listed on Airbnb had grown by 57% from
88,162 in 2015 to more than 138,000 by the
end of 2016.
An EU study out this month also found that
commercial landlords dominate ‘peer-to-
peer’ sites: two thirds of the ‘hosts’ own
more than one property, and 21% own
multiple properties on the sites.
‘Death trap’ Airbnb owner: defence lawyer says Airbnb hosts
have “complete and utter ignorance of fire regulations”
A property listed on Airbnb in Plymouth was
branded such a ‘death trap’ in court this
month that the owner almost ended up in
prison. Jean Hendy, 64, had been warned
about the dangers of her three-storey
property by the council but continued to
rent it on the site.
Plymouth Crown Court court heard the only
fire extinguisher had not been tested since
2002 and polystyrene tiles would have given
off poisonous fumes in a fire. Hendy also
failed to provide emergency lighting, some
doors had the wrong locks on them and
there was a dangerous storage of bedding
and other combustible materials at the base
of the single staircase.
Hendy pleaded guilty to six breaches of
fire safety regulations and was given a
six-month prison sentence, suspended for
18 months due to her early guilty plea and
ill-health. She was ordered to pay £5,580
prosecution costs and £115 victim surcharge.
Judge Ian Lawrie told her: “You have
created the risk of a potential death trap if
fire ever broke out.
“Whenever you rent out a property in
whatever circumstances there is a clear
oblig ation to ensure the fire safety of
everyone. There is certainly a risk of cost-
cutting at the expense of safety.”
Defending, Nick Lewin, said a lot of people
advertised homes on Airbnb with “complete
and utter ignorance of fire regulations”.
After the case Paul Bray, fire safety
manager for Devon and Somerset Fire and
Rescue Service, said: “Anyone who has or is
thinking of turning their home into a business
providing sleeping accommodation has a
duty to ensure the people staying on their
premises will be kept safe.”
Hendy was only prosecuted because very
unusually, a fire safety complaint from a
member of the public meant that officers
from Devon & Somerset Fire and Rescue
Service inspected the property last August.
Fire authorities do NOT usually inspect
any properties on sites like Airbnb – fire
chiefs have told the B&B Association that
they only do so if a fire safety complaint is
received, or “in the event of a fire”.