Belfast, Northern Ireland- Certificate needed for private room listing?

[Joey13]

Hi folks,

Interested in joining the AirBnB community by hosting a private room in Belfast.  

There is some talk about needing a certificate in Northern Ireland from the tourist board, and making your listing match one of the Tourist Accommodation Certification Types.

Was told over the phone even simply offering a private room, no ensuite, that at the bare minimum you would need to offer a breakfast menu (the 'Guest house').  

Has anyone else in Belfast experience with this?  It's a £80 fee and it seems a bit old fashioned (given it is based on 1992 legislation that isn't entirely unfair!).

Any feedback would be much appreciated

Thanks all

[Ciarán4]

Hi Joey

I had NITB come out to do a site visit and made suggestions on what to do and buy etc. After i paid the money for the inspection I never heard from them again. You do not need to offer a breakfast menu...i hav my home down as self catering.

Good luck

Ciaran 

[Jennifer-and-Peter0]

Joey,

Rumor has it the tourist board is trawling websites for listings so whatever it is its probably not worth dodging for the sake of a few pounds. 

[James412]

Hi has any one had any bother with other reasoins not like airbnb being done in the apartment block

[Andy250]

We have recently had a similar issue. We have been told that to achieve NITB certification, we need to comply with a fire safety check, environmental health and get public liability insurance. Has anyone else gone through this process? We were under the impression that Airbnb provided insurance cover, so is the PLI ‘doubling up’, or a separate and necessary thing? 

[Jeff158]

Hi @Andy250

click the link for a bit of information

responsible-hosting-in-the-united-kingdom

[Anne797]

Hi joey, I am doing it very successfully in Lisburn, was worried about house insurance and contacted my insurers , no change as long as the owner still in residence, 

[William511]

Hi Anne Did you have any difficulties with NITB? Thanks

[Helen481]

Hi Anne, The inspector from NITB is coming back to check that we have met her requirements. Just wondering what you provide as a visitors register as they say that they need the name and address of each guest. Air bnb guests only give vague details. 

Thanks, Helen

[Suzanne497]

Hi Anne

do you have a Nitb certificate for running your Airbnb listing? 

Thanks 

suzanne 

[Helen481]

I am just about to list my house in Newcastle. Does everyone on airb&b in Northern Ireland need to have a certificate from the tourist board?

[Jeff158]

@Helen481 "A person shall not provide or offer to provide tourist accommodation in any establishment unless a certificate under Article 13 is in force in respect of that establishment".

If you provide accommodation for guests, apparently you're inspected every 4yrs according to page 12 & 13, click the link.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisi/1992/235/article/12

[Helen481]

Thanks Jeff. I have applied. Really straightforward - as long as I get it!! 

[Stewart24]

Hi All,

            The working is vague but my understanding is that if you don’t provide an en suite in the bedroom then  you don’t require a license. Our room is separate from bathroom. Air bnb cover the insurance side as they are brokers and we provide the service.

I think it’s Tourism NI trying to make cash instead of helping all of us promote and maintain our listings as the only way TNI get money is if the customers have a roof over their heads to visit the sites run by TBI

[Gail195]

Hi All, I'm just getting started with Airbnb hosting. Is it correct, I don't need a Tourist Board Licence if I'm just having guests stay in the spare bedroom, not en suite, breakfast provided? I had a look at the legal stuff which seems to be for actual businesses, where the BnB is their main form of income. Does all this checking and lisensing really apply to an individual having a couple of people to stay now and again?