Over the years, Airbnb has seen some holiday lets being trashed by unruly guests and people booking fancy homes and apartments to host a party. From a £2 million pound home in Sandbanks being trashed by a huge 100-person party. To a mansion in Chelsea that saw £445,000 worth of damage caused by guests.

Airbnb announced it would temporarily ban all events and parties in all listings in August 2020. Since then, Airbnb has now codified the temporary ban as their policy after proving the ban’s effectiveness. Airbnb’s data suggested party complaints dropped by 44% since the measure was introduced.

If you’re thinking about buying a holiday let and renting it out, there are a few things to keep in mind. By analysing the latest crime rates in 2022, we identify the best areas to buy a holiday let and where to avoid.

We have analysed the latest crime rates, flood risks and the number of accessible hospitals and police stations throughout the UK to deem the safest and least safe areas to buy an Airbnb holiday let.

Location plays a major role in the decision to buy a new holiday home. There are a number of things you will need to consider, which include house prices, transport links and amenities nearby.

It’s also important to consider how safe the area is. You will need to factor in if there is a lot of crime in the area. Also take into consideration if the location is prone to severe weather events, such as flooding.

Safest Areas to Buy an Airbnb Let

The overall crime rate for England and Wales in 2021/22, based on police force areas.

The choice of area deems how active tourists are and whether there are plenty of amenities and facilities nearby. The crime rate is also a major influence when deciding on the location. Choose an area with a low rate of crime, as high crime rates can deter guests from wanting to stay at your property and impact your insurance premium.

Top 3 Safest Areas in the UK:

1. Wiltshire – 55.8 crime rate per 1,000 people in the UK
2. Devon & Cornwall – 56.8 crime rate per 1,000 people in the UK
3. North Yorkshire – 56.9 crime rate per 1,000 people in the UK

Wiltshire’s low-crime rate is the safest place to buy an Airbnb holiday let in 2022.

Closely followed in the top 3 safest locations:

• Surrey – 59.3 – crime rate per 1,000 people in the UK
• Staffordshire – 62.1 crime rate per 1,000 people in the UK
• Hertfordshire – 62.7 crime rate per 1,000 people in the UK
• Dorset – 65.5 crime rate per 1,000 people in the UK
• Suffolk – 66.5 crime rate per 1,000 people in the UK

Worst Areas to Buy an Airbnb Let

The overall crime rate for England and Wales in 2021/22, based on police force areas.

Crime is more prevalent in some regions of the country, making buying an Airbnb holiday let in those areas less safe.

Top 3 Least Safe Areas in the UK:

1. Cleveland – Crime rate – 129 per 1,000 people in the UK
2. West Yorkshire – Crime rate – 125.5 per 1,000 people in the UK
3. Greater Manchester – Crime rate – 124.3 per 1,000 people in the UK

Cleveland’s high-crime rate is the least safe place to buy an Airbnb holiday let in 2022.

Closely followed in the top 3 worst locations:

• West Midlands – 123 – crime rate per 1,000 people in the UK
• Merseyside – 115.6 crime rate per 1,000 people in the UK
• South Yorkshire – 105 crime rate per 1,000 people in the UK
• Humberside – 98.3 crime rate per 1,000 people in the UK
• Kent – 96.8 crime rate per 1,000 people in the UK

Phil Schofield from Schofields Insurance commented:

“Airbnb has revolutionised the travel industry ever since its launch. When it comes to buying a holiday let, location is key. The increasing demand for holiday rentals in the most popular areas has rocketed over the years. The holiday season creates thousands of jobs year-round. Tourists spend money in towns, which helps businesses thrive.”

He continued:

“The UK tourism industry is expected to generate more than £257 billion in revenue by 2025. We have analysed the latest data on the country’s crime rate and other nearby amenities to help property investors decide, where are the safest and least safe places to buy a holiday let.”