Airbnb 'side hustle' scheme will help Aussies rent out their homes while they're on holiday
Holiday rental firm Airbnb says it is making it "easy" for Aussies to rent out their home while they are on holiday to combat the cost of living crisis.
The company has launched a new scheme which it says will help homeowners make some money while laying on a sun lounger.
The Co-Host Network will team up home owners with local people who already successfully run Airbnbs to manage everything while you are away.
READ MORE: How swapping seasons can save you hundreds on next year's holiday, and other travel trends
Airbnb is encouraging Aussies to rent out their places while they go on holiday. Getty Images/iStockphoto
Susan Wheeldon, Airbnb's Country Manager tells 9Travel people can make money by renting out their place by as little as one night.
And she claims you don't need a luxury beachside pad to do it.
"Sydney Olympic Park is already tending," she says.
"Everyone has the perception of 'my house needs to be beautiful, it needs to be Marie Kondo-ed and it needs to be in an iconic location'.
It doesn't matter what kind of home you have, Airbnb says, as long as it's clean you can list it. Getty
"It doesn't matter where your house is as long as it is clean there will be someone who wants to stay there."
READ MORE: The 10 best budget-friendly places to go in 2025, according to Skyscanner
She said homes could be rented by people visiting family, going to events or even in town for medical needs.
Airbnb is launching a new co-hosts scheme to help people make extra cash. Supplied
"For the first time every Aussie can go, 'I want to have my house on, because I'd like to have a Christmas holiday because this year we can't afford it," she said.
"Why not, when you go away on holidays, get someone else to do it for you - a side hustle without the hassle."
READ MORE: The seven travel trends you're going to see next year, according to Skyscanner
Meanwhile, Susan told 9Travel they are continuing to work with local councils amid crackdown on listings in places such as NSW holiday hotspot, Byron Bay.
Owners of short-term rental accommodation in parts of the local government area are now only allowed to list their properties for 60 days a year.
Like many parts of Australia, the area has a rental crisis affecting locals.
Susan said they share their data showing everything from how often listings are booked to what guests spend locally, with local councils.
"I think Byron is struggling with the exact same issues that lots of places are," she said
She said she expects the effect on Byron will mimic New York, which brought in strict new rules on Airbnb's.
Byron Bay has limited Airbnb's in some areas. Getty
"I think in Byron what we'll see is probably similar to what happened in New York," she said
"Which is hotel prices go through the roof, the rental occupancy did not soften, so it wasn't any easier to get a rental property, in fact rental prices increased.
"Every data point indicates it's just a chronic lack of supply over decades."
