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UK Enacts New Home Sharing Law New law means everyone in the UK can share their home LONDON —March, 26, 2015—Airbnb, the world's leading community driven hospitality company, today highlighted that London has joined the growing list of cities around the world that are embracing home sharing, thanks to new rules passed by Parliament and signed into law by Her Majesty the Queen. Under the new law, London residents will be free to share their homes with guests from around the world, just like residents in the rest of the UK, without the need for permission from the local authorities. The new law makes the UK a leader in the sharing economy, adding London to the growing list of cities across the world implementing progressive laws that embrace home sharing, including Paris and Amsterdam. Matt Hancock, UK Minister for Business, said: "Platforms like Airbnb are empowering a generation of innovators and everyday entrepreneurs. They are disrupting the status quo and making sure consumers get the very best deal. We will back them all the way and continue to remove barriers to their success. This new law will unlock opportunities for this dynamic, growing sector and cements our commitment to be the world leader for the sharing economy." Brandon Lewis, UK Minister for Housing, said: “These were unworkable and outdated rules dating back to the long ​
gone, analogue days of the 1970s. Previously, London homeowners looking to make a bit of extra money and rent out their homes faced nothing but bureaucracy and red tape. st
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“So I’m pleased we’ve been able to update the rules for the digital age of the 21​
century. Anyone looking to rent out their London home for a short period can now do ​
so without having to pay for a council permit.” Brian Chesky, Airbnb co​
­founder and CEO said: "London has a long history of supporting innovation, which continues today with the signing of this progressive law. Under these new rules, more Londoners will be able to make ends meet by opening up their homes to visitors from around the world, and allowing their guests to feel like locals in one of the greatest cities in the world." Under the new law, London residents will be able to share their homes ​
or any residential property they may have ​
for up to 90 days a year.
Today’s announcement follows a range of measures announced by the government last week to support the UK sharing economy, including:
● making it easier for tenants to secure permission from their landlords and updating the official model tenancy agreement to allow home sharing by default
● encouraging government employees to use sharing economy solutions like Airbnb to book accommodation when travelling on official business
● piloting local “sharing city” initiatives in Manchester and Leeds to explore the potential for collaborative models in transport, public space, health and social care. These policies were announced in the annual budget statement and in response to last year’s independent review of the sharing economy, which said the UK should aim to be the world’s leading sharing economy. There are currently more than 39,000 homes listed on the Airbnb platform across the UK. The vast majority of these are outside of the main hotel districts and tourist hotspots. This allows Airbnb guests to live locals in communities that are off the beaten track, eat in local restaurants and shop at local businesses that they might have otherwise missed. Research shows that this spreads economic benefits to communities that haven’t previously benefitted from tourism. About Airbnb Founded in August of 2008 and based in San Francisco, California, Airbnb is a trusted community marketplace for people to list, discover, and book unique accommodations around the world – online or from a mobile phone. Whether an apartment for a night, a castle for a week, or a villa for a month, Airbnb connects people to unique travel experiences, at any price point, in more than 35,000 cities and 192 countries. And with world​
class customer service and a growing community of users, Airbnb is the easiest way for people to monetize their extra space and showcase it to an audience of millions.