Airbnb to accommodate domestic abuse survivors

In London there were more than 90,000 recorded cases of domestic abuse in the year to August

Charity Women's Aid will work with a leading online short-term let provider and City Hall to give emergency accommodation to some of London's domestic abuse survivors.

A pilot scheme will provide up to 60 survivors and their children with free emergency accommodation in Airbnb-listed properties across London for up to two weeks.

Survivors will also get one-to-one support such as legal advice, advocacy and translation, and help with practicalities like transport.

Farah Nazeer, chief executive of Women's Aid, said the pilot "will be a valuable opportunity for us to see the impact that these collaborations can have".

'Survivors now have options'

Ms Nazeer added: "Systemic underfunding of specialist services has sadly meant that victims and survivors seeking support have been turned away at a point of crisis, with refuges operating a 60% refusal rate.

"Collaborations such as these will mean survivors now have options, instead of facing imminent homelessness or being forced to return to the abuser."

In London there were more than 90,000 cases of domestic abuse recorded by the police in the year to August 2025.

Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan said he was supporting the new pilot with up to £50,000, matched by a £50,000 commitment from Airbnb and a further £10,000 from Women's Aid in addition to the use of their London refuges.

Staff from Women's Aid will use the Airbnb platform to book the accommodation on behalf of the survivors, and safeguarding checks have been taken ahead of approving each listed property being offered as part of the pilot.

City Hall said the pilot would run until the end of the year and if successful it may open the door to additional future partnership projects to support survivors of domestic abuse.

Sir Sadiq said: "I am committed to continuing to work with partners to explore innovations to ensure survivors can access the care and support they need, whilst also working with the Met to go after perpetrators of these heinous crimes."

The mayor said he had previously allocated £54m to the Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation programme, which has helped more than 40,000 survivors of domestic abuse since it launched in 2021.