UK's Hostmaker takes own adverts in response to user criticism

Estate listing marketplace faces more harsh criticism for seeming to encourage landlords to let their properties to short-let visitors exclusively. To combat this, Hostmaker has taken down the rental adverts that seem to convey this on its TfL network.

The firm, which launched in 2016, manages London-based properties that are listed on to Airbnb and other lettings platforms, had faced mounting criticism after it was found to be promoting a marketing campaign on Transport for London buses and tubes.

The adverts were seen by some people to be a means of encouraging buy-to-let landlords to convert their properties into more lucrative short-term lets and no longer cater for long-term rental tenants.

In response, Labour’s housing spokesman in the London Assembly launched a high profile campaign criticising the advert. The campaign was endorsed by the Residential Landlords Association as they questioned the legality of Hostmaker’s actions given that properties have a maximum limit of 90 nights per year for short-term lets in the English capital.

Hostmaker London spokesman Renaud Barnoin said in a statement: “We are committed to complying with all rules and regulations in the markets we operate in and the London 90-day rule is no different.

“We provide furnished and managed housing for short-, mid- and long-term rental needs, and our flexible lettings solution is designed for hosts to make the most of short lets and switch to medium and long lets when the 90-day limit is reached, opening housing stock to local demand.

“In a cosmopolitan city like London, there is always going to be a need for a range of housing and rental solutions.

“We were pleased to be one of the inaugural members of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Short Lets and are committed to continuing a dialogue with all parties to ensure the needs of a diverse housing and rental market are addressed,” he added.

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