Airbnb encourages LA residents to rent homes during World Cup surge – NBC Los Angeles

With more than 100,000 visitors expected to travel to Los Angeles this summer for the World Cup, short-term rental platform Airbnb is encouraging residents to rent out their homes to fans.

The company is offering a $750 incentive to first-time hosts who live in certain ZIP codes and list their properties. 

On Thursday, Airbnb hosted a workshop for prospective and current hosts at SoFi Stadium to explain how residents can take advantage of the anticipated demand.

Many of the attendees were experienced hosts, though some were considering renting out their homes for the first time. While the promise of extra income can be appealing, seasoned hosts say there are important factors to weigh before opening your home to visitors.

Sharon Pickford, who has been renting out rooms in her home for seven years, said hosting has allowed her to connect with people from around the world. Her home sits between SoFi Stadium and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

“When I can’t travel to have people from other countries come to me instead of me going to them is really joyful… it’s really educational,” Pickford said.

Pickford attended the workshop to learn more about policy changes, regulations, and ways to increase profits.

“Is it worth the transition of your home just for the World Cup? Sure, definitely, if that’s what you want to do,” she said. “Somebody has moved out of their house just to be able to rent the Airbnb.”

According to Airbnb, hosts could make about $5,100 by renting out their properties during the World Cup matches. But experienced hosts say safety should be a top priority when deciding whether to rent out a home.

“You want to look at what is the safety component,” Pickford said. “Am I willing to have somebody in my home?”

She said she also verifies bookings for security reasons.

“I will ask them, is this your account, or did someone book it for you? … for security purposes,” Pickford said.

The $750 incentive is aimed at attracting new hosts, including residents like Yesenia Chicas of Torrance, who is considering listing her home for the first time.

“I was thinking what can we do to better ourselves, help ourselves with extra income, take advantage of what all of these big events coming to our communities have for us,” Chicas said.

Experts say homeowners should also review local regulations before listing their properties. That includes checking city, neighborhood or homeowners association rules governing short-term rentals.

Other factors to consider include securing valuables, reviewing insurance coverage, and preparing for maintenance and other hosting costs.

Pickford advises prospective hosts to do extensive research before listing their homes, including reading online forums and joining host groups. Many people who attended the workshop already knew one another through local hosting communities.