Illegal lockdown parties hosted in online rentals - BBC News

Lockdown parties hosted in properties booked via online sites, including Airbnb and Booking.com, are putting "communities at risk", the Bed and Breakfast Association has said.

Hosts and residents have complained of groups of up to 30 breaking social-distancing rules and taking drugs.

BBC News has been told of several such parties in the past month.

Airbnb said it had gone further than its rivals to protect public health during the pandemic.

However, last week a man was stabbed at a party in a south London property police believe had been rented out via the platform.

'Take responsibility'

Following a previous BBC News investigation into "coronavirus retreats", Airbnb had told users they could make bookings only if they were key workers or required "essential stays".

But that restriction is to be lifted, in line with local rules on hotels and self-catering accommodation, in:

• Northern Ireland on 26 June
• England on 4 July
• Wales on 13 July
• Scotland on 15 July

Rival platform Booking.com does not currently flag such limits.

Shared On DLIKE

---