by Abhijith Ganapavaram
(Reuters) – Airbnb said on Wednesday it saw a “disproportionate” 31% rise in listings for single rooms on its platform in the third quarter as more people seek extra income in the face of the cost crisis. life.
The company said housing listings increased in all regions, without disclosing specific numbers, and to aid that growth, it unveiled an app update on Wednesday to help with the process.
“We’ve found that many people are more interested in accommodations than before to help with the cost of living,” said Brian Chesky, Airbnb’s chief executive, as high inflation due in part to the war in Ukraine puts pressure on household budgets.
Some 46% of hosts on Airbnb said they used rental income to buy food and other necessities, while one in 10 said it helped them avoid eviction or seized, the company said, citing an investigation.
Some popular tourist destinations, however, have blamed the company for exacerbating housing shortages as more landlords prefer to rent to vacationers rather than long-term tenants.
In an interview with Reuters, Airbnb co-founder Nathan Blecharczyk blamed rising interest rates for the shortage of new homes, saying the industry was struggling to adjust to growing demand for homes. outside the big cities.
(Written by Abhijith Ganapavaram in Bangalore with Doyinsola Oladipo in New York; French version Federica Mileo, editing by Tangi Salaün)
Copyright © 2022 Thomson Reuters