For the past few weeks, criticism has been raining down on AirBNB, so much so that many already see the end of the platform coming and therefore the end of the seasonal rental “bubble”. However, seasonal rental services between individuals have never been so successful. Explanations with our AirBNB concierge in Grenoble.
Overpriced accommodation, too many restrictive rules, problems with landlords… Critics are flying around AirBNB and are more and more numerous at the start of the year. So much so that on the American side, we are starting to talk about the end of AirBNB, a disaster that we call “AirBNBust” (“bust” meaning bankruptcy in English). For owners too, who record fewer rentals and therefore less money, a wind of panic is beginning to blow.
If all is not well, “the tourist rental business is bigger than ever and some operators are thriving at unprecedented levels. The number of nights booked in tourist rentals in the United States reached a record level in 2022, as did total revenues, ”we learn from Business Insider, based on information from the specialized site AirDNA, which analyzes data from Airbnb. Logically, AirBNB's figures had collapsed by half in 2020 at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, then they had risen by 21% per year in 2021 and then in 2022. were perfectly recovered from the pandemic, explains Françoise Calabro, director of theconcierge agency in Grenoble YourHostHelper. Today the platforms are doing better, but are subject to a lot of criticism.
Seasonal rentals: what criticisms against AirBNB?
Among the many criticisms that often come up, we can cite in the first place the rising prices, often brought up on the carpet due to inflation but also to the increase in maintenance costs. Thus, many users denounce excessive taxes, which make accommodation on AirBNB as expensive as hotel rooms. As for owners, they are struggling to fill their homes and are also forced to adapt, as Françoise Calabro, director of our AirBNB agency in Grenoble explains: "prices per night are increasing and to remain competitive, all owners must follow. But with the growing crisis, it is likely to become more and more complicated to go on vacation for not very expensive ”.
Another recurring criticism of AirBNB is the tightening of rules around seasonal rentals, for both owners and tenants. The former have to deal with increasingly restrictive municipalities. Supervision of rents, limitations, registration obligations… Cumbersome procedures that put off more than one. “We often meet owners who are in difficulty with the rules of the municipalities, says Françoise Calabro, director of our AirBNB concierge service in Grenoble. At YourHostHelper, we can provide them with help and advise them on this kind of procedure to take.” Shortages of year-round housing are the main reasons that encourage the implementation of such measures. Municipalities are fighting against seasonal rentals to try to get their hands back on a housing stock that has been falling apart for many years, which corresponds to the rise of seasonal rental platforms such as AirBNB or Booking.
Tenants, on the other hand, have to endure landlords that are too strict and too demanding. Many testimonials abound in this direction, deploring apartments that are uncomfortable, impractical and above all in which it is forbidden to do everything: smoking, having a party, inviting friends, making noise, or even having an animal. The quality of the apartments is also called into question, as is the fact of not always being alone in a dwelling. Indeed, some seasonal rentals are annexes or cellars and garages transformed into seasonal accommodation. “Landlords and tenants don't always manage to get along,” explains Françoise Calabro, director of the YourHostHelper agency in Grenoble. Especially when the accommodation is shared, cohabitation is not easy, especially when everything is not specified from the announcement”. This causes a lot of problems and adds to the general frustration around AirBNB rentals.
Finally, and last non-negligible point, the controversies accumulate around the surveillance cameras placed in certain accommodations for seasonal rental. In fact, in recent years, complaints from women traumatized after being captured by cameras hidden in homes have multiplied. Many testimonies are flourishing on the Internet, such as that of a young woman taken in by Liberation: two years ago, a young woman offered her husband a night in a small town in the Allier. Six months later, she was surprised to receive a summons from the gendarmerie, informing her that the individual who rented the accommodation had hidden several cameras in it. The gendarmes then invited her to join the other complaints, all denouncing the presence of cameras. “The gendarmes identified us on several videos. I cried when I saw myself naked coming out of the shower, ”she testified. AirBNB does not prohibit surveillance cameras but recalls that "devices that allow viewing or monitoring only a public space (for example, a front door or an alley) or a common space, and which are clearly identified and disclosed prior to a booking, are permitted. Common areas do not include sleeping areas or bathrooms. A light response and weak sanctions that do not help the situation.
Despite criticism, AirBNB remains master of vacation rentals
The many criticisms of AirBNB are making a lot of noise, yet the American giant has never done so well. The platform achieved 8,4 billion in turnover in 2022, of which it generated 1,9 billion in net profits. Seasonal rentals have been skyrocketing for two years, a record. In many regions of France, the business is still as fruitful as ever, as Françoise Calabro, director of the AirBNB agency in Grenoble, describes it: “Throughout the year, there are many requests and the calendars are never empty. Whether it's for winter with nearby ski resorts or summer to fill up with mountain air, we don't feel like we're witnessing the bursting of an AirBNB "bubble" ".
On the contrary, seasonal rentals are still on the rise. “Critics are more numerous and louder because more and more people are using seasonal rentals, explains Françoise Calabro, director of the YourHostHelper agency in Grenoble. We talk less about the very high satisfaction rates in most accommodations. Concierge agencies like YourHostHelper aim to deliver premium services and offer the best services to tenants”. So, whether you are an owner or a tenant, don't worry: the "AirBNBulle" is not likely to burst tomorrow.
