Bristol Airbnb grows by 23% in 6 months

AirBnb double bedroom in Bedminster

At the end of 2024 there were 2,368 Airbnb lets in Bristol.

By June 2025 this number had grown to 2,904

That is an increase of 23% (536) in 6 months (01/01/2025 to 27/06/2025)

See Also: Clifton Down is the Airbnb Capital of Bristol (Apr 2025)

Airbnb Density

"Clifton Down" is still the Airbnb capital of Bristol (by Airbnb Density), but "Hotwells & Harbourside" and "Central" are rising up the chart. This suggests that more properties in central locations are being used as Airbnb lets for tourists.

Changes since 2024 - Wards

This is reflected in the additional Airbnb lets added in the first 6 months of 2025.

Airbnb Locations

This map shows the locations of the new Airbnb lets.

And here are the new Airbnb lets in "Hotwells & Harbourside" and "Central".

When you look at the percentage change in Airbnb lets, you can see that "Henbury and Brentry" have increased by 60% (15 to 24). And "Southmead" has also increased by 60% (25 to 40). Whilst these area have got relatively low numbers of Airbnb lets, they are increasing at the fastest rates.

New Airbnb lets in "Southmead"

You can explore this data on BU Reports (look for the "Airbnb" button).

Licensing and Legislation

In the Homelessness Review (published by BCC in Dec 2024), it was reported some of the factors that have led to a decline in the number of properties to let in the private rented sector:

The growth of the Bristol universities has resulted in a significant student population increase; over 3,500 student units have been completed since 2006 but this is not enough to meet demand for student accommodation. The overall supply of properties listed to rent declined by nearly two thirds from 2018 to 2020.

Another contributor to declining numbers of properties to let in the Private Rented Sector (PRS) is the effect of increasing numbers of short term-rentals. In January 2022, there were over 4000 AirBnB listings in Bristol.

I don't know where BCC for the figure of "4000 AirBnb listings" from, as they do not reference their data sources. My number of "2904 current Airbnb listings" is derived from data provided by Inside Airbnb. Perhaps BCC are referring to "4000 beds" rather than listings, unless Airbnb listings have actually dropped by 50% between 2022 and 2024 (which I doubt).

Are changes to legislation on the horizon?

"Hello Bristol" recently reported "Bristol City Council to Review Airbnb Licensing Amid Housing Pressure".

Licensing is firmly on the table. While exact details remain under active discussion, there are several established models the Council appears to be weighing:

Annual licencing requirements: Landlords may need council approval each year before listing a property for short-term use.

Capped nights: Some cities limit entire-home rentals to a set number of nights per year to protect the housing stock.

Strict safety and amenity standards: Any licensed short-let must meet the same basic standards as long-term rentals, like smoke alarms and accessibility features.

Full transparency: Public registers may be created, allowing residents to see which properties in their neighbourhood are licensed as short lets.

If rolled out, these new rules would directly affect anyone whose property is used for short-term lets. Whether they’re long-term landlords diversifying their income, families renting out a spare room, or micro-entrepreneurs catering to visiting tourists. The plans under review reflect practical lessons learned from other cities, such as Edinburgh and London, that have already introduced similar schemes.

Summary

As the housing crisis in Bristol continues to grow, it is likely that BCC will implement changes to make it more difficult (and costly) to let Airbnb properties, but people who let single rooms in properties are less likely to be affected.