AIRBNB hosts in Powys made nearly £2 million last summer when coronavirus restrictions were relaxed, research has found.

The average host in Powys earned more than £1,000 during a brighter period where the ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme was introduced by the UK Government and even though things were more regulated, life seemed relatively normal.

And, with vaccinations continuing at pace throughout Wales – with the announcement that more than one million (over 40 per cent) of the country’s population have now received a first jab earlier this week – the opportunity for locals to capitalise once again on the return of travel this summer and earn additional income through hosting on Airbnb is becoming a real prospect.

Powys was slightly behind visitors to Snowdonia last summer, where hosts on Airbnb made nearly £3.5m, with the average host earning over £1,500.

The UK is beginning to look forward to a brighter summer with Airbnb revealing that all searches by guests or potential guests in the UK nearly tripled week-over-week following the government announcement that self-contained accommodation could open up by April 12.

With the increasing attention on nearby summer stays, many Brits are considering hosting too. Visits to Airbnb’s landing page for new hosts were up in both January and February compared to December.

Patrick Robinson, director of public policy at Airbnb, said: “The great British staycation is back on the horizon and hosts across the UK are ready to provide clean and private homes for families and loved ones to safely reconnect.

“The government's announcement is welcome news for new and potential hosts looking to boost their earnings, as everyone looks forward to a brighter future.”

A survey of the Airbnb community conducted before the pandemic shows the majority of guests would not have visited the area they stayed in had it not been for their listing and nearly 80 per cent visited local businesses recommended by hosts. The same survey of hosts found that nearly half of them do it to help make ends meet and nearly a third enjoy the opportunities of meeting new people.

Potential hosts can look forward to a number of financial perks. They keep up to 97 per cent of what they charge and set their own nightly rates and cleaning fees, while the UK Government’s sharing economy tax free allowance helps back micro entrepreneurs and allows hosts to earn £1,000 tax free. Some hosts may separately qualify for the rent-a-room scheme which allows you to earn up to £7,500 tax free.

Potential hosts who are unsure about cleaning requirements in the current climate can refer to Airbnb’s simple to follow enhanced cleaning protocol, a set of guidelines for cleaning and sanitation. Airbnb has also partnered with RB, the makers of Dettol, to give hosts the opportunity to purchase discounted Dettol product bundles directly.