City of Culture residents urged to '˜rent out room'

To launch the Homestay campaign, the designer was commissioned to create a outdoor show room featuring locally-sourced Scandanavian style furniture to reflect the port’s connection with Northern Europe. But Linda said people would not need to break the bank: “You don’t need a big budget to makeover your spare room – all you need is an imagination.”

“Hull boasts some fantastic treasure troves where you can pick up second-hand items that, with a little bit creative thinking, can be given a new lease of life.”

During the recent mass naked art installation in Hull by Spencer Tunick, all the city’s hotels were full.

Expectations of a mass influx of visitors is already increasing the number of rooms being made available on the Airbnb website.

Listings on the website have shot up 227 per cent, said James McClure, Airbnb’s General Manager for Northern Europe.

He said, adding: “With the average host in Hull earning £127 a week, it’s worth considering listing your property too.”

Anyone who wants to throw open their doors will be able to sign up for “The Big Welcome” training, offered by Visit Hull and East Yorkshire (VHEY) to hospitality and tourism professionals.

Anthony Yates, Visitor Economy Manager for VHEY, said: “City of Culture is expected to bring in an extra million visitors to the city from all over the world.

“Whether it’s friends and family or an interesting visitor who you’ve rented your room out to, we want each and every guest to have a fantastic experience and leave with a lasting impression that Hull is a city with a personality like no other.”

The show home, which will be on display during the Freedom Festival, features “upcycled” furniture from charity shops and salvage yards across the city. These include Humber Wood Recycling - a social enterprise which reduces waste wood while creating training, volunteering and work opportunities - and Emmaus - a treasure trove of second-hand goods that supports homeless people.

For more information on Homestay, including top home makeover tips, visit www.hull2017.co.uk/homestay

To find out more about the Rent a Room Scheme, which lets you earn up to a threshold of £7,500 per year tax-free from letting out furnished accommodation in your home (halved if you share the income with your partner or someone else) visit: https://www.gov.uk/rent-room-in-your-home/the-rent-a-room-scheme