Scotland: Home security technology company Minut has partnered with Airbnb to test its noise detection system in Edinburgh properties rented on the short-term rental platform.
The three-month trial, which coincides with the start of Christmas and Hogmanay celebrations, is intended to reassure neighbors that visitors staying in short-term rental accommodation locally will not disturb them. A select group of hosts will install Minut’s device in their properties for the trial.
Minut’s noise detection device alerts short-term rental guests when noise levels become excessive and the decibel threshold is exceeded. It is then up to the host to notify the guest directly through the company’s app or through an “agent” to visit the property in person to notify them of its noise levels and neighborhood disturbances.
The device does not contain any camera or audio recording functions, thus ensuring that the privacy of the guests is respected.
Additionally, Minute closed an $8 million Series A funding round earlier this year in JulyCEO Nils Mattisson saying the capital injection would help “accelerate growth in the markets and strengthen the product portfolio”.
Following this partnership, Airbnb launched a “Good Guest Guide” dedicated to tenants visiting and staying in the Scottish capital.
Patrick Robinson, director of public policy at Airbnb, said The Edinburgh Evening News“Whether it’s supporting simple, fair and proportionate regulations or backing a local tourist levy, we’ve always been committed to working with Edinburgh to make home sharing work for everyone.
“The Noise Detector Trial and The Good Guest Guide are just the latest steps we’ve taken to support local hosts and the Edinburgh communities they call home,” he added.
The chief executive of the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC), Fiona Campbell, also told the newspaper: “As the trade body representing short-term rentals in Scotland, we at the ASSC warmly welcome the launch of this essay and the Good Guest Guide. Many of our members use the platform as a route to market and so we fully appreciate their commitment to Scotland and to ensuring our customers have the best experience while contributing to the local areas they stay in.
“Airbnb is to be commended for its commitment to finding solutions that work for industry players, our neighbors and our communities across Scotland,” she added.
It is now believed that more than 11,000 properties are listed in Edinburgh and the City Council intends to set up a licensing scheme which will be offered by the Scottish Government. The potential program could require landlords to ensure that antisocial behavior, i.e. excessive noise, does not disturb neighbors living nearby.
For more information on noise detection devices, visit the Minut website here.
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