Published: Wednesday 8 July 2026
A new agreement with Airbnb will help local authorities including Kensington and Chelsea Council identify social homes being illegally let out as short-term rentals.
The partnership between the Cabinet Office and Airbnb will allow participating councils to check social housing records against Airbnb listings and take action where homes are being misused.
Listings confirmed as operating without permission will be removed and people found to be illegally subletting social housing can also face eviction, fines and, in serious cases, imprisonment.
The Council has long called for better data sharing from short-term letting platforms, so that publicly funded homes cannot be used as a source of private income.
Cllr Elizabeth Campbell, Leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council, said:
“This council has long called for short-term letting platforms to share the data needed to identify illegal subletting and stop people profiteering from publicly funded homes, so we strongly welcome this agreement with Airbnb.
“We recovered 20 fraudulently let properties over the last year, and every one of those was a home taken away from a deserving household in genuine need of a safe, secure place to live.
“Our message is clear: social homes are not private income streams and there is no hiding place for anyone abusing the system. We will keep rooting out illegal subletting and returning homes to those most in need.”
What is the new agreement?
The agreement allows local councils to check social housing records against Airbnb listings, identifying properties being exploited by fraudsters and allowing these properties to be returned to families in need.
Under the programme, local authorities across London, as well as Edinburgh City Council, Birmingham City Council and Anglesey Council, will work with Airbnb and listings confirmed as operating without permission will be removed.
Early results have shown that 470 potential cases of fraud have been identified across participating local authorities.
What can happen to people who illegally sublet?
People found to be illegally subletting social housing can face serious action.
This can include losing their tenancy, being fined and, in serious cases, imprisonment.
How much does social housing fraud cost?
Each case of tenancy fraud is estimated to cost taxpayers £78,300. Nationally, it is estimated that 5,800 social homes may be illegally sublet on short-term rental platforms in England.
How can I report housing fraud in Kensington and Chelsea?
If you think someone is committing housing or tenancy fraud in Kensington and Chelsea, you can report it to the Council in confidence. Call the fraud hotline on 020 7605 6401 (8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday) or report online.