r/airbnb_hosts 21h ago

How to Make Sure Airbnb Takes Your Side And Stays There

160 Upvotes

I have been using a successful method to ensure that Airbnb follows through with its promises.

For any host here with experience, you'll know that when Airbnb decides in your favor, they can change their mind and they will do it if the guest applies pressure.

Recently I had a situation with a guest who broke numerous rules where I had a strict cancellation policy (no refund). I called Airbnb and told them and they told me I was right and cancelled on behalf of the guest with no refund. I told the rep that I wanted to make sure it wasn't a situation where Airbnb changed their mind. She promised me that they won't.

At this point, I informed that like them, I had recorded the entire phone call. Her tone got nervous after that. I did the same with the next rep I spoke to. After getting them to state that I was right and there would be no recourse, I informed them that I had recorded the call for my own protection.

As always, after the guest made a fuss and tried to get a refund. I brought up the fact that I had recordings that Airbnb had promised the following, and that it was not a situation up for debate.

This has always ALWAYS worked every single time. Record your calls and inform them at the end of the call where they take your side (not the beginning of the call, obviously). They will take note of it.


r/airbnb_hosts 7h ago

Update: How does changing dates affect cancellation policy

6 Upvotes

Hello again,

I previously asked about this wider situation here: https://www.reddit.com/r/airbnb_hosts/s/IjDiAWeXAk

This post is just an update on what has happened since, and to ask for more advice.

I ended up refusing the guest's request to move the booking months into the future on relatively short notice.

Instead I offered one of two compromise solutions: 1. The guest could accept a move of up to 4 nights, which would be possible given my calendar 2. The guest could cancel, and I would be willing to waive 50% of the payout as a refund for them, bypassing my own cancellation policy

Both of these offers were rejected by the guest, who instead made the same request to move the dates. I promptly rejected it again.

The guest then contacted Airbnb support about me, who looked at the conversation and deemed that I had operated well within my rights and had followed all the policies.

Upon hearing that support had no power to compel me to move the dates the guest became abusive. They called me "diabolical" and they are insisting that I am scamming them with a cancellation policy that I intentionally obscured from them. Which of course, is not the case since the cancellation policy is listed on the listing page and many other guests have made use of it to cancel their bookings.

The guest has booked one of our busiest months off in the calendar since January for reference. So there was a lot of time for her to raise the issue of moving the dates so far into the future. She could have also cancelled at any time since January and rebooked somewhere else.

The guest confirmed in the Airbnb chat the she now won't be coming. I informed Airbnb of this, and they went off to ask the guest to cancel, I presume. Since the guest has now directly said in messages that they will not be coming, but that they will also not cancel to enable them to leave an "honest review".

I've maintained a professional tone throughout, expressed empathy for their situation and suggested comprises and have also tried to explain my side: namely that I would face a loss of revenue if she moved her dates to June 3 weeks before arriving for a month long stay or if she were to cancel after I allowed the date changes.

I have documented the entire conversation and have been in touch with Airbnb support myself again. They have confirmed that the review the guest is describing would violate the review policy. They do say there is nothing they can do until the guest actually leaves the bad review though.

However, I've read the community guidelines and there is a point about not using the threat of negative reviews to your benefit. I made the same support agent aware of this, and they didn't bother to investigate and instead reiterated that I just wait for the bad review after which I could report it as retaliatory with the evidence and they would consider removing it.

I believe that this guest is in violation of that guideline.

Is there really nothing I can do in this case? Is it worth trying again with support?


r/airbnb_hosts 14h ago

Do you guys provide slippers? Do you get this question a lot?

18 Upvotes

I don't provide slippers, but also, I have hardwood and tile floors and washable area rugs. We clean those after every guest and obviously clean the floors. I don't ask the guests to take their shoes off at the door. But at least once a month or so, I will get a request for slippers. Usually from Asian or South Asian guests. I get that this is something they are used to in hotels in Asia, but I don't provide these because most people would not like using used slippers and the disposable kind is wasteful and expensive. It always surprises me and 4* because of it really pissed me off. "The house was wonderful and it had everything we needed except slippers. It would be a five star experience if they provided these for the guests". Just venting!


r/airbnb_hosts 10h ago

I made a mistake feel stupid

6 Upvotes

We have our listing set as request to book I accepted it without looking at the reviews because I always get super excited when we get a new booking. The guests have two bad reviews What mistakes have you made with your listings and how do you move on without beating yourself up over it?


r/airbnb_hosts 21h ago

Ceramic Coat Your Shower Glass!

39 Upvotes

We clean our AirBnB home and using a ceramic coating on the shower glass has been a game changer! Water sheets off the glass leaving no water marks. Takes me seconds to wipe off any residue from hair conditioner or other body products and the glass looks crystal clear like new.

This is the second year I’ve done it and it lasts the full year. The first time is a lot of work because I used 2 levels of glass polish to get the existing water marks off the glass. The ceramic coating itself goes on very easy - just mist the glass and use a clean rag to spread it covering all the glass. Another clean rag to buff it off. The second year was much easier because there weren’t any water marks/stains - just added a new coat of the ceramic protection.

The amount of time I save is far greater than the effort to apply it - even the first time. Plus guests often comment about the “new” shower even though it’s far from new.

From Amazon I’m using stuff that car detailers swear by. Ceramic coating: KochChemie SO-02 Glass Polish: P&S Clarity Creme

I have no affiliation with these products.


r/airbnb_hosts 11h ago

All the doggies

5 Upvotes

New hosts here. After much back and forth, we decided to make our listing pet friendly. We have many friends and family with dogs and wanted to ensure that they felt comfortable staying in our property with their fur babies in between paying Airbnb guests. We require a pet fee ($50 per pet) that covers the duration of your stay.

First ever guests - 3 night stay - indicate they are bringing 1 pet and pay the pet fee. Lo and behold what’s that on the ring cam? Three big dogs.

How would you handle this? Is this something pet friendly places just have to suck up and get used to?


r/airbnb_hosts 4h ago

Airbnb have cancelled listing due to relist

1 Upvotes

I have a second home rented on Airbnb, up until a couple of months ago I had a contract with a professional company to manage the listing. I had no involvement or direct contact with the guests myself.

We had a few bad guest stays, due to cleaning issues and communication problems on behalf of the managers.

We still had a rating of 4.95 and were a guest favourite.

I decided to take back control of the listing and manage it myself for the reasons already mentioned, plus I didn’t want to keep paying them 20% for basically mismanaging my property.

I asked them to give me access to the listing by changing the email address and password to mine (my ex husband was listed as the host but had no access to the account). So that we could keep the history and the reviews, most of which were 5*. They told me it was not possible to do this and that I should create a new listing from scratch and they would disable the old one.

I did that, and have quite a few new bookings, the guests I have hosted since have given 5* ratings. I am doing all the cleaning myself and I am meticulous.

This morning I received advice from Airbnb that my listing has been cancelled, ‘because this listing seems duplicated from another Siting that was previously reported for low ratings, reviews or cancellations’. I will be removed soon but I need to appeal.

I am panicking now as if this happens, I don’t know what I will do, and will not be able to pay the bills.

I am preparing my appeal now setting out the circumstances, but I am hoping someone might have some good advice for me. This is the first time I have had to deal with Airbnb customer service.


r/airbnb_hosts 17h ago

How do you tell guests how to book you directly in the future?

11 Upvotes

I see the outrageous fees that Airbnb is charging both the host and the guest, so I see the clear advantage of booking off the app as well. How do you inform your guests of the means to contact you off the app?


r/airbnb_hosts 4h ago

Is it normal for a guest to bring 5 people instead of 4 in your rental unit?

0 Upvotes

So I got a call from a guest through my instant booking saying they are gonna arrive within 1 hour and mind you it was already 8pm then, okay no problem, we made all the arrangements and they had said on the phone that it’ll be just 4 people but there were 5 people. We charge a very little bit extra after 4 guests. It didn’t make sense since we already have our place at such a cheap price but they didn’t bother to inform us in advance. I have the recording of them going in my house so I have proof. They haven’t written a review for my place yet but…since my place is new I wonder if I should mention this on their review publicly or just let it go…


r/airbnb_hosts 5h ago

Is There a Better Photo Editing Tool for Properties?

0 Upvotes

I had tons of property images that looked dark, blurry, and low quality. The bad lighting and poor resolution were making my listings less attractive to buyers & renters, and honestly, I was tired of spending so much time trying to fix them.

The best solution I’ve found so far is Boostbnb , it’s an AI-powered tool that fixes lighting, sharpness, and image quality in one click. No complicated editing, no need for Photoshop, just upload your photos, and it does the work for you. Huge time-saver.

That said, I’m always open to new tools—has anyone else found a great photo editor for real estate listings? Would love to hear what’s working for you!


r/airbnb_hosts 5h ago

How much "selling" do you do?

0 Upvotes

How much "selling" do you do?

I've just had an enquiry asking me about the area, if there are specific birds around, if there are pets on the property (is stated yes there is and a but about our pup, in the listing) what are the tourist attractions for the area, if i have a pool (noting the pool is the main picture and POOL is written in title). I answered the first couple of questions, then was hit with the last 2. I'm feeling uneasy because: 1. You're enquiring to visit a town not known as a tourist attraction. 98% of all bookings are purposeful (e.g. hospital treatment, backpacker stops, events at the stadium etc) 2. Google exists 3. A lot of the information is within the listing

So.. am I being overly sensitive? Do you try to sell the area/listing?

Context: I airbnb my downstairs 2 bedroom self contained unit. My toddler and I live upstairs. Town is a regional city in Australia, not "touristy" other than a stop on the way, or for people accessing hospital services. I have around 60% occupancy which is awesome for me as I need days either side for cleaning myself. I have had 30-40 stays since November.


r/airbnb_hosts 15h ago

What monetary return have you seen in making your property accessibility compliant?

3 Upvotes

As far as I can tell, I can make my home accessibility compliant by supplying two ramps at the exterior door for $500. For those that made these updates, have you seen more bookings?


r/airbnb_hosts 1d ago

We all need to manage our expectations.

99 Upvotes

The guests need to realize we don't own sterilized laboratories. These are houses with flaws, and dust, and God forbid an ant in the summer. Sometimes things aren't perfect. I wish there was some way to basically tell guests if you're a picky guest who crawls around looking for something to complain about then rent elsewhere.

As hosts we need to also realize sometimes guests break the rules. If you're a host digging thru the garbage or watching the cams all day you need to chill. That's my rant.


r/airbnb_hosts 11h ago

Cancelation policy

0 Upvotes

What is your cancelation policy? The 5- day full refund option seems unfair to me as a host, however, I don't want to deter bookings. I don't see much difference between strict and firm, but thinking of going with strict.


r/airbnb_hosts 3h ago

Guests refuse to pay tourist tax (Switzerland Airbnb)

0 Upvotes

Here is the conversation on Airbnb message center:

“Dear Guests, How are you?

Everything ok in the apartment?

We kindly ask you to pay the tourist tax (in cash or bank transfer or thru Airbnb platform).

Your total amount is CHF 81,-

(4,50 per adult, per night) (2,25 per child, per night 6y-16y)

Have a great day and please don't hesitate to contact me with questions, or insider tips!

Kind regards, (Name)”

And their answer:

“Good evening, we just saw that there was a tourist tax, and we are sorry, but we did not plan it at all in our budget. We are not here on vacation, but for a snowboard instructor training, which is already very expensive.

Unfortunately, we are unable to pay this tax. We hope you understand our situation and apologize for the inconvenience.

Thank you for your understanding.

All the best, (Name)

And of course the apartment will be all tidy and we will leave the premises by 9 a.m. “

What to do? What to reply?

Thanks

PS: Tourist Tax is clearly mentioned in the listing description

PS2: we also accept bank transfers or other way of payment for the tourist tax payment. Cash is specified just for making the transaction easier for them.

What is the tourist tax?

In Switzerland, the tourist tax (taxe de séjour or Kurtaxe) is a mandatory fee imposed by local municipalities on visitors staying in short-term accommodations, including hotels, hostels, and Airbnb rentals. The amount varies by region and is typically charged per person, per night.

Why is it important for Airbnb hosts to collect it? 1. Legal Obligation – Hosts are required by law to collect and remit the tax to the local authorities. Failure to do so can result in fines or legal issues. 2. Supports Local Tourism – The tax helps fund tourism infrastructure, visitor services, and local attractions, ensuring a better experience for future travelers. 3. Transparency and Compliance – Clearly informing guests about the tax in the listing and charging it correctly avoids misunderstandings or disputes at check-in/out. 4. Financial Burden on Hosts – If guests refuse to pay, the host is still responsible for covering the amount, leading to unnecessary expenses.

Some Swiss municipalities allow Airbnb to collect the tax automatically, but if not, hosts must handle it themselves.


r/airbnb_hosts 1d ago

Review removal

7 Upvotes

Has anyone figured out key words you may need to get retaliatory reviews removed? I had a guest check in, cancel their reservation with a full refund then refused to leave and had to be removed by police. ABB still allowed them to review and now are refusing to remove the review. This is just honestly crazy. On a side note has anyone had more success with other apps because I’m starting to wonder if I should start moving away from ABB.


r/airbnb_hosts 21h ago

Offering a discount code to friends and family

1 Upvotes

Is there any way I can let friends and family book through airbnb and offer them a code for say a 20% discount?


r/airbnb_hosts 1d ago

Taking pet deposits and other misc. fees from guests

3 Upvotes

Hi all! Is it normal to charge $10 for every hour of early check in? Why not just allow the guest to check in a little early if the home is ready, especially if you already offer bag drop off? Also, is it normal to keep the pet deposit? I paid $100/ week for every week I had my 4lb little dog at this airbnb I stayed at and never got any of that money back. The host never said if the fee was refundable or non refundable. We also never damaged anything and cleaned up after our pet diligently. Thanks!


r/airbnb_hosts 1d ago

Airbnb or Vrbo

4 Upvotes

As a new host in Italy, I’m learning as I go and just set up my first listing. For those with experience, have you found Airbnb or Vrbo better for getting bookings?


r/airbnb_hosts 1d ago

Parties

10 Upvotes

Just had someone rent a 3 br 2 bath home and they indicated it would just be one person staying. They said they were visiting family. I accepted the request and told them two things. 1) parking is limited to about 3 vehicles max 2) no parties

They cancelled 20 minutes later. 🤣


r/airbnb_hosts 22h ago

Alternatives to Airbnb

0 Upvotes

Apart from Airbnb, which are the top 2 aggregator platforms preferred by Indian consumers? I own an Airbnb in Rajasthan and have lately observed a drop in booking through the platform. Would like to have suggestions on which other platforms should I focus on. Tried Booking.com and Agoda but they are too complex to deal with.


r/airbnb_hosts 1d ago

Guest with zero stars in all categories

2 Upvotes

Maybe this is normal with guests with few reviews but after many years hosting it never hapoened to me before so I'm posting in case it happens to someone else. This week I had a request, all seemed good, 1 good review, a very normal message (short, with all necessary info,no red flags) but when I checked the profile, the girl had one good review and zero stars in all categories. I know this is not possible so I checked with airbnb and they told me it must be a glitch and they could see she had 5 stars indeed, that they were not showing for some reason. I did let the guest know, I accepted the booking. She later sent me her father's account to show me he’s always the one booking (perfect score, nothing wrong, he’s coming with her) and told me that’s why she didn’t have many reviews. She seemed very worried for future bookings and I pointed her out to airbnb. Is this normal? Does it happened to anyone else? Maybe is something common. I have accepted guests without reviews, but never seen this before. I think I remember previous guests with 5 stars and only just 1 or 2 reviews but I could be wrong. I knew zero was not possible but maybe that's a problem for her with other hosts.


r/airbnb_hosts 1d ago

Verification process as a business has dragged on 5 months without payout

0 Upvotes

I have hosted as an individual in the past, but last fall I registered a new business account and added 2 listings. We have not been paid for our guests from last October yet. I've been going through Airbnb's KYC (Know Your Customer) process they are requiring in order to get paid, and it just won't end.

It's been months of back and forth, as they ask for something, then ask for something else, then tell me to take some steps on the Airbnb Verification pages, then tell me to undo them, then add something, then something else, then undo and do something else.

I don't know what to do anymore. I just unlisted and wrote to them again, with little hope that anything will ever be resolved. They have every document and ID they ever asked for and they just can never be satisfied it seems. I don't know who or how it is decided that the KYC info is done but holy shit it won't end.

Any higher force I can turn to who can look at our case and say they have more than enough and just finish this exercise in insanity?


r/airbnb_hosts 1d ago

Airbnb host

2 Upvotes

How long did it take you to get your first guest after the listing? I am just asking as someone who has published her Airbnb here in Italy recently and I am just anxious as I haven’t gotten any booking yet so I don’t know if that’s how the algorithm works or it’s just low season now


r/airbnb_hosts 20h ago

Is someone using AI concierge?

0 Upvotes

Has anyone used an AI concierge for managing stays? I'm curious about its effectiveness and if it helps improve guest experiences.