Airbnb and Booking.com dominate the holiday rental market, but a wave of smaller platforms is offering alternatives that aim to benefit local communities. These sites focus on owner-run properties, home swaps, and rentals that are primary residences, rather than fuelling the second-home market.
Fairbnb, a cooperative platform started in Venice, lists only homes owned and lived in by locals, donating 50% of its commission to community projects. It has about 2,000 listings across Europe, including a Lisbon flat where half the fee goes to a homeless charity.
Socialbnb connects travellers with social and ecological projects worldwide, offering stays like a restored water mill in Germany or an organic farm in Spain. Ecobnb lists 3,000 sustainable properties in over 55 countries, each meeting criteria such as renewable energy and organic produce.
House-swapping platform Kindred offers 80,000 homes, 90% of which are primary residences. It uses a credit system and charges a cleaning fee of about £250 per week. Landfolk, a Danish start-up, focuses on nature stays in Scandinavia, prioritising remote cabins and rural retreats.
