This is the fourth article in my Airbnb series. And perhaps the most important. Because in this article, I will talk about the legal obligations that you must comply with under the law. The reopening of businesses across the country is supported by NHS Test and Trace. This program aims to trace close contacts of people who test positive for the coronavirus and, if necessary, inform them that they need to self-isolate at home to stop the spread of the virus. The government has asked hosts to keep records of incoming guests for 21 days to help deal with local outbreaks. Please check your host dashboard for more details on your recent guests. Depending on where you host, you may need to keep additional records to meet regulatory requirements, which may change depending on the location of the host. You can read the Information Commissioner`s guidelines on your guests` data protection best practices. It`s Wimbledon, but people who rent their room on Airbnb should be wary of the legal implications.

Photo: www.gettyimages.co.uk The idea behind the 90-day rule was to legalise short-term rentals in London. Indeed, previously, the Greater London Council (General Powers) Act 1973 states that it is not legal for anyone to introduce any form of short-term rental (a single stay of less than 90 days) anywhere in Greater London. However, if you do not comply with your legal obligations, you risk being prosecuted and fined. And your “guests” may acquire rights you don`t want to have on your property or have the right to sue you for compensation. So it`s best to get it right. Interesting article. As a rental agent in Berkhamsted, a new tenant asked us if he could use his rent as an airbnb, to which we answered with a resounding no. I wonder how many tenants “sublet” to Airbnb customers without being aware of the possible consequences. I think this could cause all sorts of problems for owners and brokers in the long run. This means, for example, that if you rent rooms – in a real licensing situation – you must provide an appropriate “notice of resignation” if you want them to leave, and then, if they don`t leave, you will have to initiate legal proceedings – which requires a process other than the tenant`s eviction process. There is no special legal code for owners who rent properties in their own four walls. It is mainly the lack of regulation that applies in other situations.

If you would like to discuss other matters in this article, please contact Linda Marshall, Licensed Legal Officer at Spire Solicitors LLP, on 01603 677077 www.spiresolicitors.co.uk We encourage you to do your own research as this article is not complete and does not constitute legal or tax advice. As we do not update this article in real time, please check each source and make sure that the information provided has not changed recently. One of the reasons I devoted the last article in this series to studying professional types is that it`s about the legal rights and obligations you have as a landlord (or to use Airbnb terminology, “hosts”). An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) contains details about the energy performance of your property and what you can do to improve it. To find out more about your needs, please consult the appropriate government resource where you host: England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. This column is not a complete legal presentation and you should always seek professional legal advice. Airbnb`s Host Guarantee and Airbnb`s Host Protection Insurance provide you with basic coverage for the listed damages and liabilities. However, these do not replace homeowners` insurance, tenants` insurance or adequate liability insurance. You may also need to meet other insurance requirements. You will also need to check the terms of your mortgage deed. Since your mortgage company has a legal interest in the property, it also has the right to say what you do with it about the terms of the mortgage deed. If you don`t have a “buy to rent” mortgage, it`s likely that your mortgage deed prohibits subletting.

Note: If you`re an Airbnb host and would like to learn more about your legal rights and obligations, click here. www.airbnb.co.uk/help/article/1379/responsible-hosting-in-the-united-kingdom The following resources provide government guidelines on cleaning and customer safety guidelines. These resources include information on how to conduct risk assessments, clean and disinfect your space, dispose of waste safely, and maintain quality control. It is important that you become familiar with local government guidelines and industry standards for cleanliness and hygiene in the UK. The information may vary depending on where your property is located in the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland). @Jenny187 where did you read this, all the B&Bs in the country would have to close if that were true. Work with your insurance agent or insurance company to determine the type of obligations, limits, and coverage required for your particular situation. Thank you, Helen.

I really appreciate your answer. I have read the site and on the Internet, nowhere is it indicated if there is even a limit on the number of nights to rent a room. I saw 140 nights in this post, is this also the limit to rent a room? This applies to properties in the Greater London area and means that your property can only be rented for 90 days in a calendar year unless you have a specific permit to rent your property on a short-term basis The UK allows VAT-subject businesses to request a deferral of VAT payments or a temporary reduced VAT rate of 5% for tourism and hospitality. Airbnb offers digital services that attract the standard VAT rate. The UK`s standard VAT rate is 20%. Please note that the temporary introduction of a 5% VAT rate only applies to hospitality, hotel, holiday accommodation and admission to events. Airbnb`s services do not fall into these service categories. Government emergency response measures are subject to change and depend on the latest public health information. The government has announced its intention to help councils deal with local COVID-19 outbreaks.

For more information on live restrictions in England, visit the UK Government website (Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland). You must determine if your property falls into one of the regulated accommodation categories and take appropriate action. Airbnb Help is a great resource to help you understand the basics of Airbnb and includes a useful section on taxes and regulations related to accommodation in the UK, including a section on the 90-day limit in London. If you rent real estate as a business or are treated as such, you are also subject to various regulations that serve to protect consumers. You can use the general information in this article as a starting point to learn more about hosting regulations and permissions.