Long term rental risks

[Michael1019]

Hi,

Me and my wife are moving to the UK for 4 month , and we are thinking to rent a place for this period through AirBnB , is there any risks that we need to consider?

Also , we found a nice apartment , but the host prefers that we wont book the place for the whole 4 month , but instead rent it month by month , and he will block the other months so no one else will be able to rent them. do you have any idea why he prefers it this way?

Thanks!

[Gerry-And-Rashid0]

@Michael1019

Hi - first, you should consider only booking  places that have reviews - at leastthat way you can see what others think of the place. 

The host might be doing this for anumber of reasons: they are not used to long-term guests and want to seee f it will work out, snd see what you are like as guests. It might also be that they are not 100% convinced of their plans for the property and want an easy get out clause.

Clerarly if you dont want the disruption of moving then you should go with a host who s prerared to give you 4 months, and not one looking for a month by month agreement.

[Michael1019]

@Gerry-And-Rashid0

In case we make a whole 4 month booking , who guarantees us that he wont cancel the booking somewhere in the middle of this 4 month? is there anything that protects me in this case?

[Gerry-And-Rashid0]

@Michael1019

There are pretty severe penalties for hosts who cancel a booking on a guest either before or during their stay - however, if a host has just indicated that you can book month to month then you won't have any cancellation policy in place. Hosts can (like guests) also cancel for a number of other reasons mid booking - anythiing from breaking house rules, to extenuating circumstances (eg serious illness etc).

Remember AirBnB was never set up as a long or even mid term property letting site. But it now includes that. Again I would suggest going for a host who has recommendations from other guests so that at least you know they are used to long term bookiings and the place is up to standard.

[Michael1019]

 @Gerry-And-Rashid0

Thanks alot - in your opinion does it worth the risk?

[Gerry-And-Rashid0]

@Michael1019 Personally if it's a host with good reviews I really don't see little risk, 

at at the end of the day, even going through a standard leggings agency is not risk free. At least in here, hosts with good reviews want to maintain  those and their business.

[Gerry-And-Rashid0]

(.....I see little risk!!!)

[Helen3]

Hi @Michael1019

Is this a long established host with Airbnb? Do they have superhost status or mainly five start reviews.

Personally I wouldn't accept a month by month arrangement if I wanted to stay somewhere for four months, but I can see that the host might want to see there is a good fit with a long term guest before committing.

You have no protection if for whatever reason the host decides you can't stay after a month. I am also wondering whether the host might be doing this so you pay them directly after the first month, so they save on Airbnb fees.

If they do this and you accept paying in cash after the first month, you won't be protected by Airbnb if something goes wrong.

[Michael1019]

Thanks!

[David126]

I would not use AirBnB as a host to long term rent.

I assume they do it this way to seek to avoide short term tenncy issues, not sure if this would work if the Court were involved.