‘There will not be a segment of short-term rentals that Airbnb does not wish to dominate’

The threat that Airbnb presents to agents is laid bare by recently comments by a senior figure within the company, as well as research carried out exclusively for The Negotiator within the London market. This shows that the dot com is not only beginning to eat up the general short lets market in London and remove many properties from the traditional private rented sector, but that many high-end property owners are also utilising it to increase their returns too. The research by Airdna reveals that there is a significant number of central London properties that are generating huge incomes for their owners, properties that can hardly be described as bedroom rents or sofa surfing. This includes a six-bedroom property in Mayfair that over the past 12 months has earned £97,600 for its host, a Swiss Cottage garden flat that has earned £69,800 and a Westminster duplex that has generated £67,100. Some property owners are also renting out entire apartment blocks. One property in Shoreditch, a nine-apartment block, has generated £212,670 for its owner via Airbnb over the past year, according to Airdna. “Entering the high end of the market lays out the statement that Airbnb has gone far beyond its air…