The Short Term Accommodation Association

The Short Term Accommodation Association – whose members include Airbnb, Altido, City Relay in London and holiday cottage specialists – has welcomed news that COVID relaxations are set to allow one family to stay at a holiday let from 12 April, but is pressing government for more support.

The association is asking that all short term rentals businesses are supported financially, not ending when they can fully reopen but until all restrictions are removed (including international travel restrictions). This means they should be eligible for grant funding and not omitted on technicalities as happened last year.

It wants government to recognise that short term rental properties are a very COVID-safe and secure type of accommodation for people to holiday in because they enable easy social distancing and the properties themselves will have been cleaned in accordance with industry-wide cleaning protocols introduced in collaboration with government last year.

Holiday lets also support other COVID-safe behaviours such as home deliveries of groceries or meals and not mixing with people outside of a family bubble. Members have indicated that a period of three weeks’ notice would allow them to prepare their properties, book supplies and give guests adequate time to make their bookings.

They have also called for clear and consistent messages from government about what is and isn’t allowed, with precise communications to minimise the opportunity for different interpretations.