Thursday 25 June, 2020 TOP STORY What happens next if a guest claims to have contracted Covid-19 in your short-term rental? ShortTermRentalz assesses the steps that property managers and homeowners can take if a guest claims to have contracted Covid-19 in one of their short-term rentals. If you missed our last newsletter....
1. KKR buys vacation parks company Roompot for $1.1bn 2. English hospitality sector reopening expected for 4 July 3. HDZ proposes to establish booking portal in Croatia 4. Join our LinkedIn group here 5. Airbnb releases Enhanced Cleaning Protocol handbook
Editor's comment
25•06•20 Welcome to the latest ShortTermRentalz newsletter!
• The last few months have shone a spotlight on how cleaning, disinfection and sanitisation will start to form part of the lexicon for short-term rental property managers and owners, but one key question remains: what happens if a guest claims they contracted Covid-19 in your short-term rental?
In our latest in-depth feature piece, we analysed how companies will need to convince potential guests that their properties are Covid-free and ultimately safe, including implementing a "booking buffer tool" to reduce the spread of the virus or adopting standard cleaning procedures. As we edge further into uncharted waters, guests will have higher expectations of cleaning standards and will need more definitive reassurances about their safety during their stays and the changeover process.
Dev Desai, Partner at London-based Watson Farley & Williams LLP, who heads up the property dispute resolution service at the firm, also provided a salient insight from a lawyer's perspective. He shared his concern for how more dilettante hosts, as opposed to those seeking to "professionalise" the industry, will need to ensure they are following strict risk assessments and writing down all of their cleaning checks and criteria, in case a guest claims that they contracted the coronavirus in their property.
In addition, Desai stated his belief that future travellers may look to book more "minimalist" rental accommodation that has fewer amenities or touch points where they could be contaminated, as well as remote check-ins and contactless technology. Consumers will inevitably still have their eye on more opulent, kitted-out spaces but those travellers that are more cautious will soon be rethinking their service priorities.
One company offering professional cleaning is Sonder, which has announced a $170m Series E funding round led by Fidelity, WestCap Group and Inovia Capital, taking the company's valuation to $1.3 billion.
The startup has also placed an emphasis on developing the “contactless” guest experience in its self-contained spaces due to the Covid-19 pandemic, by introducing digital check-ins, keyless entry, professional cleaning, and no lines or crowded lobbies. This has led to Sonder maintaining a global occupancy rate of 75 per cent during the pandemic, indicating there may yet be life in the master lease model.
• Don't forget to register for the next in our Urban Living webinar series, which takes place on 1 July at 14:00 BST, when the panel will be discussing hotel funding and investment.
Joining IHM editor-in-chief George Sell for the discussion will be:
Click here to register for the no cost webinar.
If you have a story you want us to tell the industry, please click here and get involved with the community by joining our ShortTermRentalz LinkedIn group here.
Paul Stevens, news editor
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