Glastonbury is in the grip of a housing crisis — and short-term lets are right at the centre of it.

There are now 145 entire homes and flats in the town listed on Airbnb, according to verified data from Airroi. With around 4,000 residential properties in Glastonbury, that means more than one in every 25 homes is now a holiday let. Add the 131 private room listings, and nearly 7% of all local accommodation is being booked by the night instead of lived in.

In a town of fewer than 9,000 people, that figure is not just high — it's having a visible, devastating impact.

At the same time, more than 300 people are living in vans and caravans on roadsides and verges in and around Glastonbury — one of the highest van-dwelling populations in the country. Most of them are working. Most have references. What they don't have is a home they can afford — or any home to rent at all.

A snapshot of the short-term lets available in Glastonbury (AirROI)

The Airbnb economy

In June 2025 alone, entire-home listings in Glastonbury earned £298,100. Private rooms brought in another £86,400, with shared-room bookings adding £2,500 more. The average nightly rate rose from £103 in January to £140 in June, with occupancy peaking at 62% in August. In high season, Airbnb hosts can earn over £2,000 a month per property — far more than a long-term rental, with none of the responsibility.

Even in winter, a listing pulls in nearly £1,000 a month, and for many landlords, that's all they need to make the switch permanent. As long as the bookings keep coming, the chances of homes going back to local renters are slim.

Each red dot marks an AirBnb or short-term let in Glastonbury (AirROI)

Locked out and pushed out

While holidaymakers enjoy "quirky cottages" and "rural escapes", more and more people are ending up in vans — not by choice, but because housing in Glastonbury is either unavailable or out of reach. And no one in power is pretending otherwise.

"It's not about freedom or lifestyle," said one van-dweller. "It's necessity. I've got a job, I've got references, but I can't find anywhere to rent that I can afford — or even anywhere that's available."

In a previous council meeting, Cllr Susannah Hart called the situation "unprecedented", confirming that more than 300 vehicles are now being lived in around the town. Cllr Liz Leyshon said even if a transit site is created, "we'll simply create vacancies on roadsides unless we can afford permanent barriers… We understand people cannot afford housing."

A breakdown of the property types in Glastonbury (AirROI)

Airbnb says it's not to blame

The company behind the listings disputes the idea that it's fuelling the crisis. A recent report commissioned by Airbnb claims that high-frequency short-term lets make up just 0.17% of the UK's housing stock, and that most homes listed on the site are only rented "a few days a month."

Amanda Cupples, Airbnb's northern Europe general manager, said:

"While only a tiny fraction of British homes are listed on Airbnb — typically for just a few days a month — this activity is generating billions for the UK economy and supporting tens of thousands of jobs."

But in Glastonbury, critics say even small percentages have huge consequences. One support worker put it bluntly:

"When you take even 100 homes out of a small town, that's 100 families who are now looking for something else — often with nowhere to go."

Active listings in Glastonbury are rising (AirROI)

Not just a problem — a crisis

Nationally, short-term lets make up around 1% of the housing stock. In Glastonbury, the proportion is closer to 7% — significantly above the national average and placing additional strain on a limited pool of available housing.

Social housing registers such as Homefinder Somerset remain oversubscribed, and private rentals are frequently reported as either unaffordable or quickly taken. Some residents say that even with steady employment and references, finding a place to live locally can be extremely difficult.

Landlords are increasingly opting for short-term lets over long-term tenancies, drawn by the potential for higher earnings and more flexibility. In peak season, the average monthly revenue for an entire home listing in Glastonbury exceeds £2,000.

The situation has led to rising concern among residents and local councillors, with many linking the increased use of short-term lets to growing housing pressures — including the number of people now living in vehicles in and around the town.

There are no immediate solutions. But with occupancy rates hovering below 50% across many Airbnb listings, and demand for stable housing rising, the challenge is no longer abstract. It's visible across the town, from the digital listings to the laybys — and it continues to grow.