Airbnb: Delaware seniors gain income from guest stays

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    An analysis  from Airbnb makes the case for Delaware seniors benefitting from room and home rentals. 

    The survey comes as the service faces scrutiny and stepped up regulations in some areas. 

    According to the company, abut  300 Airbnb senior hosts reside in Delaware with the statewide total increasing  82 percent during 2017, the release indicated.

     “Seniors have become an extremely vital and positive group within Airbnb’s community,” Will Burns, director of public policy for Airbnb in Delaware. “In addition to being the most highly rated hosts, seniors in Delaware and beyond are reaping huge socioeconomic benefits from Airbnb, and gaining the financial means to age in place and keep their homes.”

     Other findings include;

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    • Delaware has 300 senior Airbnb hosts – 27 percent of all hosts. 
    • Active senior hosts in Delaware grew 82 percent during 2017.
    • The typical Airbnb senior host in Delaware earns $8,000.
    • 88 percent of Airbnb senior hosts in Delaware have five-star reviews.
    • Wilmington, Dover, and Newark have the highest percentage of senior Airbnb hosts across the state.

    The report states that seniors benefit from their association with Airbnb and gain needed income from rentals.

    The report on seniors comes as critics of Airbnb claim that some users of the system have set up the equivalent of hotels by controlling multiple rental units or apartments.

    New York City has taken steps to track down Airbnb and other agency rentals  that may skirt laws.

    Meanwhile, in San Diego,  Airbnb has contributed to an effort to overturn short-term rental regulations.

    Airbnb was  able to escape the local room tax is now being rolled out in New Castle County.

      Airbnb properties and small bed and breakfasts are exempt from room taxes. A  short-term rental tax proposal that might have affected Airbnb rentals  went nowhere in 2017.

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