Airbnb has called on the South African government to fast-track the implementation of a national host registration system.

This system would improve transparency and give authorities a clearer understanding of hosting activity, enabling them to take targeted action when necessary.

This request follows new research conducted by Airbnb, which found little to no connection between short-term rentals and rising rents in Cape Town.

The analysis revealed that dedicated Airbnb listings—homes rented more frequently than average—account for less than 0.9% of all formal housing units in the city. This is far below the 1.5% needed to meet growing housing demand over the next four years.

The report also highlighted Airbnb’s positive economic impact on Cape Town, with stays generating an estimated R14.4 billion in GDP and supporting 42,000 jobs in 2023 alone.

Many hosts rely on the additional income to help cover housing costs, with nearly half stating that hosting allows them to afford their homes.

Velma Corcoran, Airbnb’s Regional Lead for the Middle East and Africa, stressed the importance of short-term rentals to the South African economy.

“Hosting on Airbnb provides much needed income to families in South Africa and supports thousands of jobs across the wider economy. As short-term rentals play an increasing role in South Africa’s tourism economy, we are calling on the government to accelerate the introduction of a national registration system that gives authorities better visibility of hosting activity in their area.

“Data from a register of hosts can then inform targeted and proportionate steps to regulate activity, where there is a clear need.”

Report highlights:

Airbnb’s letter to the South African government advocates for the swift introduction of a host registration system to provide clearer data and guide potential regulatory measures.

The full report is available

here

.