Figures for empty houses in the UK compared to those available for short-term rent have been released by the country’s Short-Term Accommodation Association (STAA).
The conclusion is overwhelming for those seeking a clear answer on Airbnb vs the housing problem: there are more empty houses than there are licensed houses for short-term rentals by UK local authorities.
The survey by the UK The Short Term Accommodation Association (STAA), with the assistance of industry data provider Key Data, was carried out across 313 UK Local Authority areas. It showed that 58% of these areas have more houses closed than there are houses available for short term rental.
Therefore, the Association stresses, Airbnb-type accommodation cannot be seen as the scapegoats for the UK’s housing shortage.
According to the STAA, the blame game shows a “misunderstanding” of the value of holidays to local communities, the provision of authentic local experiences and the economic contribution of short-term lets to local businesses.
Empty houses and holiday homes
At the same time as the angry backlash against the industry intensifies, the UK association points out, empty houses have remained that way for years and not to the benefit of communities. The same is true of second homes that remain empty most of the calendar year.
Looking at tourist areas, the STAA survey highlights this is true in Arun Borough, which includes the popular seaside town of Bognor Regis. Figures here show there are more than 400 long-term empty houses, which is 6.7 times that of the 66 holiday lets in the area.
Even in Wales and Scotland, where tight restrictions have been introduced on short-term rental accommodation, the number of empty houses dwarfs the size of the short-term rental accommodation market according to the survey.
The ‘scourge’ of empty houses illustrates the problem in Britain’s housing market, according to the STAA. While many landlords are wealthy enough to simply keep their properties empty or are happy to wait for higher valuations to provide them with a better return, there is little incentive to rent or sell. For example, the tax policy for empty houses does not force owners to bring properties back into full use.
Holidays, on the other hand, generate significant amounts of revenue for communities, many of which do not have enough hotels. A report by Oxford Economics found that in 2021, the short-term rental sector contributed £27.7 billion to GDP and supported nearly half a million jobs.
There are currently 330,325 long-term empty houses in England, Scotland and Wales, according to the latest official figures.
Andy Fenner, chief executive of the UK Short-Term Letting Association (STAA), said:
“Short-term rental accommodation has been blamed for the housing crisis for a long time, but this survey reveals the true picture. We all need somewhere to live and we all need somewhere to work. This survey shows that short-term rented homes are not to blame for the housing crisis, but rather the blame lies with councils who allow homes to sit idle. Short-term rentals create jobs and revenue for local businesses and councils, empty homes produce nothing.”
The housing crisis, Andy Fenner concluded, is a complex issue and cannot be solved overnight, but using our existing housing stock would be an excellent start.
