Airbnb Rules for Hosts and Guests

Airbnb has revolutionized how we travel and given millions of people from all walks of life the opportunity to start their own business or side hustle on its platform. Airbnb statistics by city shows that running a short-term rental property can be lucrative in different locations. 

But if you are considering hosting on Airbnb, you should understand that you can only build a successful and sustainable business if you align your strategies with the company’s core values. These core values emphasize community, respect, safety, inclusivity, and innovation.

The Airbnb community is built on trust grounded in consistent expectations of host and guest behavior. Both hosts and guests are expected to uphold certain standards, such as safety, security, fairness, authenticity, and reliability. Airbnb also requires all community members to stick to ground rules that help ensure safe interactions and foster belonging.

In this blog, we’ll talk about the Airbnb rules for hosts and guests to give you a better idea of what is expected of you as a member of the global Airbnb community.

Airbnb Rules for Hosts

Anybody can become an Airbnb host, and signing up and listing your property on the platform is completely free. All required is to provide safe and comfortable accommodation, abide by all local Airbnb laws and regulations, and follow some basic hosting requirements.

According to the information provided in the Airbnb Help Center, hosts are required to follow ground rules in these areas to create enjoyable stays for guests and make them feel welcome:

• Reservation commitment

• Listing accuracy

• Timely communication

• Listing cleanliness

• Positive review ratings

Airbnb guests expect consistent quality and use reviews to share their experiences during their stays. So, as a host, you need to focus all your efforts on providing great service to your guests that can help you earn excellent reviews and get more bookings.

That involves a lot of work and means juggling many operations, which can often feel overwhelming. One of the possible solutions is delegating some of your tasks to a virtual assistant, but there’s a better, more cost-effective alternative.

You can use vacation rental software like Hospitable to automate your STR business and have more time to explore new opportunities. For example, the founder of Ecabo Home, Niyi Adewole, began his journey in the STR market when he listed his first property in April 2021.

After he implemented software systems that automated 80% of the routine management tasks, other investors hired him to manage their short-term rentals. Then Niyi created the Ekabo Home short-term rental property management team. With Hospitable by its side, Ecabo Home has grown into a thriving property management business. 

Reservation commitment

Airbnb states that hosts should honor accepted reservations and provide a reliable check-in experience.

You shouldn’t cancel confirmed bookings if there are no valid reasons to do so that are beyond your control, for example, emergency repairs (like a burst pipe) or natural disasters. And even in these cases, you should do your best to cancel with as much lead time as possible to allow your guests to adjust their plans. You should also contact Airbnb if you need help.

You should give your guests the right information to access their stay at check-in, such as the exact property address, correct directions, and proper access codes. You can include this info in your vacation rental welcome letter. If you plan to meet your guests at check-in, you must ensure that you’re present at the agreed upon time.

Timely communication

You must stay in contact with your guests during all stages of their journey, from the booking request until they check out, to inform them of anything they want to know. That’s an essential aspect of good Airbnb etiquette. You should be responsive and willing to answer guest questions within a reasonable time.

• For example, if a guest reaches out with a question more than five days before check-in, asking for additional information to plan their trip, Airbnb expects you to respond within three days of receiving a message.

• Close to check-in time, or if an issue arises during the stay, hosts are expected to respond to guest messages within 1 hour during local daytime hours.

• When a guest reaches out to you during the stay or within five days of arrival, Airbnb recommends responding to guest messages within 12 hours during local daytime hours.

But the sooner you answer your guests’ messages, the better. You should also be proactive in communicating with guests and provide them with all the necessary information for a pleasant stay at the right time. It will be much easier if you opt for Hospitable, which can help you ensure perfect communication with your guests by automating the entire process.

Listing accuracy

When you create your listing, it’s important to accurately describe your place to your guests, highlighting things that make it special. Don’t try to oversell your home because it’s the easiest way to get negative reviews, and be honest about potential drawbacks, such as a small bathroom or a busy street nearby.

Your listing description and photos should reflect the features and amenities that will be available to your guests during their stay, including

• Booking details (date, price, additional fees)

• Location information (map pin, address, etc.)

• Type of accommodation that you offer (the entire place, private room, or shared room)

• Setup of the listing (number of bedrooms and bathrooms, size of beds, etc.)

• Level of privacy (presence of an on-site property manager, other guests, etc.)

• All available amenities and restrictions associated with access to them (for example, a pool that is only available during certain months of the year)

• House rules to set expectations with your guests

This way, you can help your guests get a clear idea of what staying at your home is like and what kind of experience they may have. Remember that you may only adjust details for an accepted booking after the guest’s consent.

Listing cleanliness

Airbnb requires that all listings must be clean and free of health hazards (mold, pests, vermin) before guest check-in. Hosts should be sure to clean their rentals between every stay (take the trash, do laundry, vacuum/sweep floors, wipe down surfaces, etc.).

Giving your property a deep clean can be very time-consuming, so it’s better to outsource this task to a reliable, professional cleaning service. However, you should provide them with a detailed cleaning checklist to ensure that your rental meets a high standard of cleanliness.

Airbnb Rules for Guests

Airbnb requires everyone in their community to stick to certain rules for being a great guest. Guests are expected to treat their host’s home like their own and follow the host’s standard house rules.

• Guests shouldn’t leave the Airbnb rental in a state that requires excessive or deep cleaning (soiled carpets, moldy dishes, stains from pets, etc.).

• They should put their trash in designated areas and be mindful of excessive trash.

• If guests cause damage beyond normal wear and tear, they should inform their hosts about it as soon as possible and work with them to find a reasonable solution.

• According to Airbnb’s damage policy, guests responsible for damage, missing items, or unexpected cleaning costs are expected to pay reasonable requests for reimbursement.

• Guests must abide by the rules set by hosts for each reservation. This includes the number of guests, check-in and checkout times, smoking, approvals for pets, commercial film/photography, and other rules they agreed to follow when booking.

• Guests must respect the surrounding community and avoid disturbing neighbors with disruptive gatherings, parties, excessive noise, or other agitating behaviors and actions, such as obstructing a neighbor’s access to their homes.

Hosts are allowed to use security cameras and noise monitoring devices as a preventative measure to ensure a peaceful environment, avoid neighbor complaints, and prevent conflicts. Airbnb allows using cameras in public and common spaces, such as a front door, but requires you to disclose their presence and location in your listing description.

Remember that Airbnb prohibits installing cameras by hosts in private spaces, such as bathrooms, bedrooms, or common areas used as sleeping areas, for example, a living room with a sofa bed.

Final Thought

Airbnb wants everyone who uses its global platform to feel accepted, respected, safe, and secure. That’s why they’ve established high community standards and clear ground rules for hosts and guests that everyone must follow.

Airbnb states that they are committed to enforcing their ground rules. Not following Airbnb rules repeatedly or severe violations can lead to serious consequences. Airbnb can temporarily suspend or remove non-compliant hosts or listings from the platform, which can significantly impact your vacation rental business.

Your business success depends on creating a welcoming atmosphere for your guests where they can feel at home and providing them with a top-notch experience. Check out our top Airbnb host tips to give you a chance for a great start.