From Glasgow flats to Ayrshire piles, homeowners seek to cash in on COP26

After a torrid year in which global travel has been brought to a near standstill, COP26 is a chance for hotels, and indeed, private homeowners, to make hay.

While the UK government’s official accommodation provider for the climate change summit is charging excessive rates for delegates, the prices on offer are even higher in the wild west of the private booking market.

A host of upmarket properties in the central belt are available to rent for the duration of COP26, but prospective guests will require deep pockets.

The highest price by far is to be found on Airbnb, where a two-bedroom duplex property in the west end of Glasgow, complete with stained glass windows and ornate cornicing, is on offer for £5,993 a night. Once a £12,000 service fee is added, the total cost of the 12 night stay comes to £84,150.

For that kind of price, delegates to the summit could even consider buying a property outright; a one-bedroom flat in the city’s popular Strathbungo area, just three miles south of the COP26, is currently on the market with Slater Hogg & Howison for offers over £80,000.

Those inbound parties looking for a quiet spot to consider their negotiations might consider a modern farmhouse in the peaceful South Lanarkshire village of Glassford, which is available to rent for the entire conference. With six bedrooms available, guests would be asked to split the total bill of £38,819.

READ MORE:

Elsewhere, Kennox House, a grade A-listed 17th century baronial mansion in Ayrshire, is available for exclusive rent, with the bill running in at £19,120.

Homeowners living next to the summit venue - the SEC campus - are also getting in on the act. A two bedroom flat adjacent to the SEC Hydro on the Clyde waterfront is listed on Airbnb for £1,384 a night during the conference, with other charges bringing the total for a 12 night stay to £16,650.

Other commercial booking sites are offering private accommodation at exorbitant rates. A three-bedroom flat in the city’s Tradeston area is available via booking.com for £17,033 for the duration of the summit.

A message from the editor:

Thank you for reading this article. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by coronavirus impacts our advertisers. If you haven't already, please consider supporting our trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription.