Campaigners criticise Airbnb heritage donation

Airbnb has come in for criticism after gifting £1.25m to charity English Heritage.

The rental giant says the donation is part of a broader project designed to “enhance the cultural heritage” promoted on its platform.

Airbnb has seen an increase in listings in coastal areas across England and Wales after it added a historical homes category to its website in July. Bookings for historical homes on its platform have now doubled since 2019.

Housing campaigners say this is worsening the housing crisis in the UK, with landlords in holiday locations favouring tourists over tenants.

Will McMahon, Director of charity Action on Empty Homes, called the donation “a sort of cultural greenwashing for what has become an investment platform taking homes out of residential use and worsening our housing crisis”.

“Airbnb clearly has a strategic understanding of their own vulnerabilities and in my view are making corporate donations to offset the poor publicity they are now receiving countrywide due to short lets impacting on long-standing local communities in city, coast and countryside alike,” he added.

English Heritage Chief Executive Kate Mavor said the charity is very grateful for the donation: “English Heritage is an independent charity and support like Airbnb’s is vital to protect the great stone circles and castles, abbeys and historic houses in our care”.