Airbnb offering new hosts $1,000 in scramble for World Cup home rentals
· Toronto Sun
Airbnb is offering some extra dough to anyone who might list a Toronto-area home in time for the FIFA World Cup.
Airbnb said its offer, announced Wednesday, is its “biggest new host incentive program ever.” It applies to anyone in the 16 World Cup markets who lists a home on the platform for the first time before July 31.
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“The launch comes as new data shows that demand for stays on Airbnb during the FIFA World Cup is surging, with searches for stays in host cities increasing by an average of 80% compared to the same period last year,” an Airbnb news release said.
Details are available online at airbnb.com/new-host-fifa . While the promotion is for a $750 US bonus, Canadian hosts are instead offered $1,015. Only “new hosts of entire homes” are eligible, Airbnb said.
Hamilton postal codes included in promotion
The deal even applies to would-be Airbnbs far from the soccer venue. The list of eligible postal codes spans the GTA and Hamilton.
City leaders have spoken broadly about demand for short-term stays during the tournament, which was used as a partial justification for the prioritization of the RapidTO program last year. In a statement, city hall told the Toronto Sun that it “anticipates there may be an increase in short-term rentals in Toronto as the FIFA World Cup dates approach.”
However, city hall warned that anyone taking Airbnb up on their offer “must register with the city as an operator and comply with the bylaw ,” including agreeing to annual inspections and paying a $390 registration fee. There are a number of regulations in Toronto, including that short-term rentals are only allowed at a principal residence.
“Since this registration system launched in 2020,” the city said in a statement, “staff have continued to register short-term rental operators, bring short-term rental companies into compliance with the licensing requirements, undertake investigation and enforcement efforts and share short-term rental registration data publicly.
“The city investigates short-term rental bylaws violations and pursues appropriate enforcement action as required.”
Different rules for different municipalities
According to city hall’s Open Data portal , Toronto received 204 applications to register a short-term rental in January, but only approved 180. Meanwhile, 152 registrations were revoked that month.
Other Ontario jurisdictions that are eligible for the promotion have their own rules for short-term rentals and many require hosts to pay licence fees. Much like in Toronto, homeowners in Mississauga and Brampton can only rent out their principal residence and are subject to other restrictions.
In Markham? Forget the whole idea. “Short-term rental accommodations are not permitted in the city of Markham,” a representative from the York Region city told the Toronto Sun .
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Tens of thousands of fans expected
According to a Deloitte study commissioned by Airbnb, average earnings per host in the Toronto area are projected around $2,000 US. Deloitte estimated some 146,000 soccer fans will require accommodation for the Toronto games, including 28,000 expected to stay at an Airbnb.
Tourists who stay in an Airbnb won’t be exempt from the City of Toronto’s so-called hotel tax. Officially called the municipal accommodation tax , it is being temporarily hiked from 6% to 8.5% until July 31.
That levy did not exist in Toronto until 2018 and was just 4% as recently as 2023.
Toronto will host six matches during the World Cup with the first taking place on June 12.