Channel 4 commissions Airbnb: Dream or Nightmare?

Channel 4 has commissioned a one-hour documentary from Outline Productions exploring the Airbnb phenomenon. The Commission follows the success of another Channel 4 documentary from Outline, Posh Neighbours At War, which achieved an audience share 35 per cent over the average for the slot.

Airbnb: Dream or Nightmare? includes new statistics highlighting how London and the UK more widely have become one of the fastest growing markets worldwide for the lettings website. And, as George Osborne encourages home owners to take advantage through tax breaks announced in the budget, the programme explores the impact Airbnb is having on the housing market – with claims that it's pushing up rental rates and pricing people out of their own communities, while at the same time turning residential areas into tourist zones.

Airbnb has grown rapidly from a small "trusted community marketplace" listing a handful of rooms to book to a multi-billion-dollar business, with millions of people every year using the site to find accommodation from castles to tree houses in dream locations. As well as documenting the positive experiences enjoyed by some of the many hosts and travellers using the site, the programme also includes some of the stories of what can happen when things go wrong – from houses ruined by out of control parties to prize possessions being stolen; hosts whose behaviour is completely inappropriate to accommodation that is double-booked, dirty and in some cases dangerous; and owners finding out that their flats are being illegally sublet to overnight guests.

Laura Mansfield, MD, Outline Productions, says: "Most of us have considered, or already used Airbnb to book rooms and with new tax incentives allowing you to keep more money from letting a room out, more people will be using it in the future. This is a really timely look at not only individual experiences but also how the incredible growth in lettings sites like Airbnb is having a big impact on our cities."

Airbnb: Dream or Nightmare? is produced and directed by Anouk Curry and executive produced by Outline Productions Director of Programmes Bridget Boseley. It was commissioned by Channel 4 Commissioning Editor Siobhan Sinnerton.