Airbnb under fire for continuing to advertise Edinburgh accommodation despite travel ban

Airbnb has come under fire for continuing to promote holiday accommodation in the Capital despite the current travel ban.

Airbnbn is advertising 300+ places available to stay in Edinburgh

The short-term let platform is still advertising more than 300 places to stay in Edinburgh even though the lockdown restrictions now in operation outlaw moving around the country except in very limited circumstances.

Writer David Weinczok posted ton Twitter: “Cheers to @Airbnb for taking bookings at the height of a pandemic - currently 89 in New Town/ North Edinburgh alone. Before you say it could be for essential purposes etc. tell that to the group of 10+ drunk, shouty lads who kept me up the last two nights. Reporting them today.”

Lothian Green MSP Andy Wightman said firms like Airbnb had been advertising throughout the pandemic.

He said they should only be offering short-term lets to people who were entitled to use them under coronavirus legislation, which he said would include essential workers who had to be in Edinburgh for a temporary period and possibly people who were self-isolating.

“But they should not be available for people on holiday,” he said.

“The platforms should not be providing a commercial service to people which is inviting people to break the law.”

And he said Airbnb and the others had a responsibility to make clear the restrictions which applied.

“If they are not making that explicit then they are putting their clients, the owners of the properties, at risk of prosecution.

“Anyone advertising them should be drawing the attention of customers to the fact there is only a limited range of reasons for which you are allowed in law to book them.”

Airbnb said they did highlight Covid travel restrictions on their website and included a warning that failure to follow the law was a criminal offence. Anyone wanting to book also had to tick a statement saying their trip was for a legally exempt reason under the regulations.

An Airbnb spokesman said: “There are lockdowns in place across Scotland and stays on Airbnb are only available in limited circumstances, in line with government guidance. This is made clear on our website, which restricts bookings to these legal exemptions.”

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