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Being an Airbnb host is quite special. But being an Airbnb host in London is on another level. London is the Airbnb city by excellence, with more than 65,000 listings and an average of 12,900 bookings a day. So how do you survive in this Airbnb host anthill?
#1 London hosts should be competitive
Everybody is short-letting around you including your neighbours and even your beloved grandma. Make sure your property is worth every penny by meeting the needs of your guests. Once the first happy guest leaves great reviews, you can increase your pricing slightly. Just note that the average price per night for a one-bedroom flat is £130 and £170 for a two-bedroom flat. So don’t list your one-bedroom studio for £300 a night. It won’t get you any bookings. Advertising your flat on Instagram could be a great idea to stand out, too! Learn effective tips to use multiple social media channels to promote your London Airbnb.
#2 London hosts should be very precise
Imagine if all the 65,000 listings in London refer to their property as “the beautiful London flat.” Using the same generic description of your flat will probably compromise your ability to get bookings. Create a distinct listing name by describing the unique features of your property. You can describe the area you’re living in but still mention some popular neighbourhoods like “The Hyde Park Light House” or the “The Notting Hill Westbourne Getaway”. Include amazing pictures of your flat to match the title and write a detailed description. For instance, a detail that you usually miss (or hide) is the fact that there is no elevator and trust us, this will lead to bad reviews. Keep your listing truthful so guests form the right expectations. If your elevator is not working anymore, specify it. Keeping your listing updated also means changing the name during a big event like “the Notting Hill Carnival Gem”. The more accurate and detailed your listing is, the more bookings you will get because you will stand out from the crowd of London hosts.
Check out our Photoshoot Case Study and our Photoshoot tips to become a pro!
#3 London hosts should play the London card
If your guests are booking a flat in London, it’s because they want to experience the authenticity of the place. You don’t need to replace your MJ poster with one of the Queen but it helps to adopt the British style. You can provide tea and coffee and British mugs and Walkers’ Shortbread, you can have a little flag or something branded somewhere else.
#4 London hosts should be preventive host
London is the best city in the world, no doubt about that. But it’s far from perfect. Two issues will work against you: the weather and the rubbish. The rules regarding the trash and the restrictions in the common areas are not easy at all. So try to be clear with your guests by providing an Airbnb House Manual. Inform your neighbours that you will have some guests so they won’t be surprised that other people are staying in your flat. This will open communications about security, if any, and you can head off issues or complaints in the future.
Get preventive and check out our Airbnb Manual Review!
At City Relay we manage more than 300 flats in London and we know all the tips and tricks to stand out from the competition! Becoming a host is quick and easy. Simply click the button below and fill out your details to view your property’s earning potential!
