Several visitors to the island have been caught out by individuals offering unregulated accommodation during the TT fortnight.
In some circumstances visitors have found the accommodation doesn’t exist, whilst others have found the household to be unsafe and unclean.
In each case, none of the properties were registered with the island’s official homestay provider, Homestay IOM.
All official Homestay IOM properties have been inspected and regulated to provide the visitor with a pleasant and trustworthy service.
Accommodation scams
All accommodation on the Isle of Man to be let out for visitors must be registered with the Isle of Man Government under the Tourism Act 1975.
This ensures that people get a good experience when staying on the island, but also that the properties have been inspected and are safe for use.
Director of Homestay IOM, John Keggin, explains how important the Tourism Act is in order to prevent people running into these problems:
The unregulated homes that have left visitors disappointed, and in some cases scammed, have been advertised on Facebook or other platforms, none with the Homestay provider.
It is a reminder to all visitors to be vigilant when making bookings and ensure that the property is registered to avoid falling victim to potential scams:
Homestay IOM
Earlier this year, the new local firm, Homestay IOM Limited, was appointed to operate the scheme by Visit Isle of Man.
Alex Maitland, Homestay Property Management Coordinator hopes to ‘improve the overall experience’ for visitors and guests by using the knowledge gained from IOM Homestay‘s sister company, Island Escapes.
Homestay IOM manages all aspects of the scheme including; registrations, property inspections, fire safety requirements and have plans to introduce an online booking facility.
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