North Kent's proximity to Ebbsfleet International is good for Olympic tourism

Kent homeowners could be cashing in this summer by renting out their homes during the Olympic Games.

With London 2012 less than six months away, residents are taking advantage of the county's prime locations - particularly in Dartford and Gravesham, with high speed links to the Olympic Stadium in Stratford - and advertising their homes for weekly rental during the games and Paralympics.

Some are offering spectators exclusive use of their property, or renting out individual rooms.

An online search revealed website rentduringthegames.com has at least six properties on its books, with one five-bedroomed house sleeping 10 appearing to have been snapped up at a staggering rate of £6,500 per week.

Other properties include a three-bedroom Victorian cottage in Horton Kirby for £2,000, two bedrooms for rent in a three-bed Gravesend home at £1,000 a week, and a two-bed cottage in Swanscombe for £1,150.

Flat owners are also cashing in and offering single rooms.

All the properties boast of their proximity to Ebbsfleet International, with high speed trains to Stratford taking just 11 minutes. Some homeowners are even offering their services as drivers to and from the station.

But local property management companies believe homeowners could be disappointed. A member of staff at 2-Move said only one call had been received - and that was from someone looking to lend a property.

Caxtons said they had not had a single inquiry, and it was a similar story at Accommodation and First Choice - Urban Estates.

Meanwhile, plans are being made for Gravesend RFC to provide camping facilities for short stay visitors.
One admitted: "I think the Olympics are going to be a damp squib."

The ground is one of several locations where temporary camp sites will be established for visitors looking to visit the Olympics on the cheap. Another is to be located at Culverstone Green.

Ebbsfleet International car park is to provide a park and ride facility, but only for drivers who have pre-booked.

Kent County Council is still formulating traffic management schemes with the Highways Agency and local councils.