Around 5,800 social homes in England are being illicitly sublet on short-term rental platforms, costing taxpayers an estimated £78,300 per instance of tenancy fraud. In a bid to tackle this issue, councils will soon be able to access Airbnb data as part of a new government initiative.
Under the agreement with the Cabinet Office, local authorities can cross-reference social housing records against listings on Airbnb to pinpoint properties being used for short-term lets instead of providing genuine homes for those in need. The government hopes this will allow them to reclaim these properties and allocate them to eligible families.
Councils will be able to access the data to identify individuals who are profiting from properties intended for social housing, with severe consequences awaiting those found guilty of tenancy fraud – including eviction, substantial fines, and potential prison sentences of up to two years. Cabinet Office Minister Satvir Kaur stressed that the partnership with Airbnb sends a 'crystal clear message' that fraudsters will be prosecuted.
Airbnb has expressed its commitment to the initiative, stating that it is committed to removing confirmed fraudulent properties from its platform and advocating for the entire short-term rental industry to participate in data-sharing efforts. The company highlighted its existing process for councils to flag suspicious listings and remove them swiftly.
One notable example of the scheme's success has already been demonstrated: a social housing tenant who rented out their Westminster City Council flat on Airbnb while living abroad was identified, fined £12,890 based on generated income, and had their property returned to the council to be allocated to a family in genuine need.