Airbnb becomes a developer and hotelier, building thousands of rental homes
One rental home is to be built in the Florida town of Kissimmee. It is a strategic location, half an hour’s drive from Walt Disney World, which attracts more than 20 million visitors a year. The residential complex will have 324 apartments and Airbnb will build it in cooperation with a local developer. A building called Niido will also belong to him. Tenants who receive an annual contract will be able to rent their apartment up to 180 days a year.
Tenants who decide to continue renting their apartment will become part of the “Friendly Buildings by Airbnb” program, said BFM Business. Under the program, the rental income will be shared between the landlord, who will own 25 percent of the amount, and the tenant, who will receive the rest. Airbnb will charge a 3% brokerage fee. The price of the apartments or above is not yet known in the planned building.
The house will resemble a hotel to make renting easier. The door will not be turnkey, but will be opened using smartphones, there will be secure lockers and housekeeping services.
The tenants will not have to receive the guests in person, the “MasterHote” service will arrange it for them on the spot. The concierge will welcome them, arrange cleaning and linen change. They will be available to visitors if they have any questions and will help them with any problems they may encounter during their stay.
With these projects, Airbnb is trying to appease property owners and combat neighbors’ complaints about the inappropriate behavior of tourists in rented apartments. “This collaboration is proof that owners, developers and Airbnb can work together, all to gain and improve visitor services,” said Jaja Jackson, director of Global Multifamily Housing Partnerships at Airbnb.
The company is also trying to calm some cities, which involve a reduction in the supply of accommodation. In the face of “air conditioning”, which expels its inhabitants from the historic city centers and replaces them with tourists, more and more capital cities are tightening the rules for tourist rental. It can be Paris or Berlin.
Airbnb said the apartments at the Niido residence would have to be rented first before they could be offered on its website. If the concept works, other similar buildings will be created. By 2019, there could be up to 20,000.