As a serviced accommodation host, we’ve had to endure a few changes recently. Most notably the change in home premiums in Wales. There’s also the cost-of-living that has been on everyone’s lips for the past month.
Owning a holiday home or serviced accommodation has started to become costly which is why it comes as a great relief to most hosts on the Airbnb platform that they’re offering up to £3,000 grants to support energy efficiency improvements for Hosts.
Airbnb has launched its Sustainable Hosting Plan, including a £1 million fund to support Hosts with energy efficiency improvements, cutting carbon emissions and making long-term savings on their bills to help with the rising cost of living.
From fitting insulation to replacing an old boiler, this grant can help save on bill and reduce carbon emissions. Home energy efficiency improvements and renovations can often come with daunting upfront costs.
Working with Energy Saving Trust, Airbnb will provide a personalized home and energy efficiency check and action plan for all Hosts including information about potential steps they can take to improve the efficiency of their home.
Local installers will be connected with Hosts who will receive a grant of £1,000, or £3,000 if they are a Superhost and will be applied before the 31st of January, towards their renovation bill. (Terms and conditions apply)
The grants can be used on projects big and small. According to Energy Saving Trust, a £1,000 grant could cover around a quarter of the cost of a typical boiler replacement and a sixth of the cost of installing solar panels.
Amanda Cupples, General Manager for Northern Europe at Airbnb, said, “More than a third of Hosts across the UK say they host to afford the rising cost of living. In the face of rising energy bills, we want to support Hosts further by helping them with energy efficiency improvements and bringing their bills down in the long-term. Getting started with energy efficiency improvements can seem a challenge so our Sustainable Hosting Plan will provide Hosts with the backing to take the first step and make positive changes.”
Inga Jirgensone, Group Head of Business Development at Energy Saving Trust, said, “Improving the energy efficiency of our homes and switching to low carbon heating systems is the quickest way to reduce energy costs both now and for the long term. These steps are also crucial in reducing carbon emissions as the UK transitions to net zero. We know the value of tailored advice to help people approach retrofitting and to ensure the best outcome for investment. We look forward to working with Airbnb to help develop a more sustainable future for Hosts.”
If you wish to take part in the Sustainable Hosting Plan, you can register your interest here. This is open to hosts that are based in the UK and have had two or more stays over the past year.
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