An unauthorized Belfast Airbnb profited greatly, fueling worries about its impact on local housing availability.
A local councillor, Ruth Brooks, is worried. Short-term rentals hurt East Belfast. Many await housing in the city. Brooks said 10,000 Belfast residents need housing. People struggle to find affordable places.
They face housing stress. Folks are sofa surfing or living in crowded homes. They cannot reach their potential without stable housing.
Brooks saw a Holywood Road rental. It cost over £19,000 for two adults. The stay was from June to mid-August. East Belfast is nice, Brooks said. People are stuck between social housing and private rent.
Housing stress affects life quality. HMOs have housing rules. Airbnbs are seen as tourism. Tourism NI inspects Airbnbs well. They only check quality, not quantity. Renters could get squeezed more. Why rent if Airbnb pays ten times more?
HMO rules cap them at 10% per street. Airbnb has no limits, as it is not an HMO. The Economy Minister must tighten rules. They promised a review in August 2024.
Housing is managed differently. Short-term rentals are under the Economy department. This creates a loophole. People blame foreigners for housing shortages.
Brooks said short-term rentals are the real cause. They are not part of housing plans. They are not private rentals or social housing. People get moved far from Belfast. A woman and kids went to Coleraine. Then they moved to Castlederg and Newry. Belfast lacks temporary housing. Landlords earn more from short-term rentals.