Airbnb has written to the South African government, urging authorities to accelerate the implementation of a national host registration system.
Airbnbs letter recommends a national host registration system to boost transparency on hosting activity and help ensure that Cape Town and other cities are equipped to introduce additional targeted rules based on clear evidence if needed.
The call follows newresearchby Airbnb examining the impact of short-term rentals on Cape Towns economy and housing market. The research raised concerns about the benefit of short-term rentals , the need for regulations, and the importance of balancing tourism with community benefits.
However, Airbnb says there is little to no correlation between Airbnb listings and rising rent prices in the city. The report notes that dedicated Airbnb listings, defined as properties rented out more frequently than typical listings, accounted for less than 0,9 of all formal housing units in Cape Town, which is less than 1,5 of the number of additional housing units needed to meet growing housing demand over the next four years, the report says.
The analysis on the impacts of hosting also shows that stays on Airbnb contributed an estimated R14,4 billion to GDP and supported 42 000 jobs in Cape Town in 2023 alone. Survey data from hosts also shows that for around half of them, hosting is an economic lifeline that actually helps them afford their homes, the report says.
