Airbnb hosts adjusting their revenue estimates due to COVID-19

Airbnb hosts adjusting their revenue estimates due to COVID-19
Airbnb hosts adjusting their revenue estimates due to COVID-19

Airbnb and short-term rental property owners have felt the first-hand effects of Americans putting travel on hold due to COVID-19. Along with Americans limiting their travel, several states and local governments have put restrictions on short-term rentals, which has led to Airbnb hosts adjusting both their short-term and long-term revenue estimates.

In order to gain insight into how Covid-19 has affected short-term rentals, industry experts IPX 1031 surveyed both part-time and full-time Airbnb hosts as well as guests who have used the platform.

Here’s what theyย found:

  • 47% of hosts don’t feel safe renting to guests while 70% of guests are fearful to stay at an Airbnb right now.
  • 64% of guests either have cancelled or plan to cancel an Airbnb booking since the pandemic started.
  • Airbnb hosts expect a 44% decrease in revenue this summer (June-August). Hosts have dropped their daily rates as much as $90 on average.
  • 45% of hosts won’t be able to sustain operating costs if the pandemic lasts another 6 months (16% have already missed or delayed a mortgage payment on one or more of their properties).
  • On average, hosts have lost $4,036 since Covid-19 began to spread in the US.

Airbnb Revenue

According to respondents who host Airbnb properties, hosts have lost an average of $4,036 since Covid-19 began to spread in the U.S. Many expect to experience further revenue losses during the summer, which is typically a ripe time for travelers to rent out Airbnb properties. Overall, hosts anticipate a 44% decrease in revenue from June through August.

These revenue losses have led 41% of hosts to supplement their income with another job or revenue stream for the time being. Hosts have also gotten creative with their properties with 47% offering month-long stay options and 29% listing their properties at reduced prices to front-line personnel such as medical professionals who are traveling during this time.

In order to create consistent revenue, some hosts have opted to list their properties on the long-term rental market such as Zillow, Craigslist or Apartments.com for 3-, 6- or 12-month leases.

Airbnb Cancellations

According to respondents who have been Airbnb guests, 64% said they have either canceled or plan to cancel an upcoming reservation due to Covid-19. Almost half said they canceled their spring bookings while 24% canceled bookings planned for this summer.

Airbnb After Covid-19

While uncertainty remains around when travel will return to pre-Covid levels, both guests and hosts remain optimistic. Overall, 37% of hosts believe guests will return this fall.

But guests appear to be a little more eager to book. According to respondents, 26% said theyโ€™ll feel safe booking again this summer, which could be good news for hosts who look to recoup lost revenue from the spring.

In the meantime, guests are taking advantage of Airbnbโ€™s virtual experiences, which are online activities led by Airbnb hosts that include everything from online cooking classes to dancing lessons. Thirty percent of Airbnb travelers surveyed said theyโ€™ve taken part in virtual experiences, which provide an additional revenue source for hosts without them having to leave the house.

About the author

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Chief Assignment Editor

Chief Assignment editor is Oleg Siziakov

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