Spare room vs Airbnb

Baldytyke88

A few years ago I rented out my spare bedroom for £300 per month, which was at the bottom end of the price range recommended. I had 2 different lodgers and I was reasonably pleased with both of them; one was from India and the other from Colombia.

I don't live in a city or near a university. If I do it again later this/next year, is there any advantage to using Airbnb?

I live near Leeds, Google is saying that the price should now start from £450

gwynlas

Airbnb users looking for overnight or very short term lets so you are unlikely to make consistent income whereas with a straightforward lodger you have a steady income.

itsthelittlethings

You have to wash the sheets and clean every time an Airbnb visitor leaves, are you prepared to do this?

Albermarle

I presume an airbnb guest will want more privacy than a lodger has.

For example lodgers are not supposed to have locks on their bedroom door, otherwise they can not be classed as a lodger.

So for this and other reasons, I would imagine the tax situation would be different.

saajan_12

Totally different propositions

- a lodger is a housemate and fairly passive income. You have to attend to the odd repair issue and handle the move out / advertising / move in every few months or years.

-an Airbnb guest is buying a service for a few days. You have to liaise with different bookings, manage move in / move outs, clean, wash bedding, every few days. That's a part time job, where the income per night is higher, but also very patchy, could be nothing in the low season.

elkiedee

You say you're not in Leeds or near the universities? Are you in a place which has tourist appeal/good transport connections to attract AirB&B bookings)? From what you say this is a single room. It sounds as if it might be more attractive to potential lodgers already living nearby or working in the area.

RUSure

Assuming you can find a good lodger who is pleasant, clean and not too loud - I'd rather have a consistent house guest and income than run the daily lottery of random people on ABnB for a room inside my home (bit different if it's a separate appartment or something like that).