Airbnb rules are frequently infuriating. You pay a cleaning fee and still have to clean. Just stick it in the rate, right? And the list of chores can be maddening. I’ve been told to carry trash to a community dumpster several blocks away, and I’ve encountered condos with lock boxes over the thermostat to prevent use of the air conditioner. Others have been told to wait on property to manage repair services, and to mow the lawn.
Here’s a reported notice to guests, though, that contains some items I haven’t seen before:
- No more than two checked bag-style suitcases per guest
- No use of the kitchen unless you’re staying at least 4 days
- No use of the washing machine unless you’re staying at least 4 days, and then you’re only permitted one load every four days
- Towels aren’t automatically provided (but can be requested)
Notice to AirBnb guests
by u/peachydonut69 in mildlyinfuriating
I’ve seen some of the crazier rules listed inside a property on arrival, but not included in the Airbnb booking. The guest doesn’t know what they’re getting themselves into. In theory, then, they aren’t enforceable through Airbnb. But who wants the argument?
This undermines the Airbnb platform because guests can’t have confidence in what they’re booking, and it means more work for those who do want to make a booking. You have to read through all the reviews, always, and assume it’s a huge risk to book a property without a number of great reviews. Someone will, presumably, list the negatives. Of course some hosts might goose their reviews through manufactured bookings as well.
You’d expect that hotels would benefit from shady homesharing practices, but hotels have been actively gutting the things that make them different and better like included daily housekeeping. And while Marriott now will show resort and other add-on fees when booking rooms (through their own platform only), other chains haven’t matched. So hotels will frequently charge more than the price they’ll originally show you, too. What a way to undermine a competitive advantage against a threat which brings more rooms into the market to compete.
(HT: Hans)
I am so done with Airbnb. After the last attempted stay in an illegal unit in Orange County California and Airbnb providing no support or willingness to cancel I am done. They won’t even allow a review warning people the unit was illegal and would do nothing to take down the listing with written proof from property manager that airbnb units were not allowed.
You forgot “No working or studying.” This is presumably because they also have crappy internet, which isn’t necessarily a dealkiller (I stayed in a cabin with NO internet last year. Intentionally. So my clients couldn’t find me).
But it’s also like…so poorly worded it would be against their rules to crack open a non-fiction book on the property.
Based on the font, this printout is just a copy of what should have been posted on the Airbnb listing. So it’s enforceable, to the extent that working and studying from home are distinct from merely reading for leisure.
What I find a fascinating part of human psychology is who even comes up with these rules? It actually takes creative effort to think up a rule like no WFH or studying.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) doesn’t allow airlines to count CPAP machines as carry-ons, so if it’s packed in its case, you can bring it in addition to your regular carry-on without paying an extra baggage fee.
This Airbnb has a guest restriction rule of up to two checked bag-style suitcases per guest. I’m curious if Airbnb allows you to bring a medical device like a CPAP connected by Wi-Fi, and will Airbnb count medical devices as checked baggage which further limits you to only one other bag?
Stayed in a AirBnB in Katy, Texas. Found out after the first night that the AirBnB was not allowed by the rental complex. Being told to wait and follow another car through the gate was a eye opener. Done with AirBnB, the founders have no interest in keeping it legit.
The recent changes from Airbnb took care of all of these issues. All rules and chores now need to be on the listing. Also, and this is a great rule, guests can rate their satisfaction with cleaning, chores, and rules like this in their review, and if a host gets a certain number of people dissatisfied with chores or rules, the listing gets removed until the hosts improve.
One reason why I will NEVER use AirBnB.
Just a curiousity: The cleaning would have to be done whether you stay one night or 90 nights, so how would you propose it be included in the rate?
Maybe it is a bit tight so no more than two checked suitcases. That could be reasonable in some cases. I am actually surprised when I can use the kitchen and have never used the washing machine. A few kitchen things are usually in hotel rooms, but not much and washing clothes is a service. Those restrictions are not deal breakers for me. Maybe I am not entitled acting enough. I have only done Airbnb a few times but all were great. I would be more worried about not having clean towels available as I often travel without them.
Lol at this point if you still use airbnb you deserve it. Garbage company.
If your Airbnb stay is less than four days and you don’t use the kitchen, you are permitted to wash your clothes in the dishwasher or the toilet.
On my last Airbnb stay, I was given specific instructions:
– put all dirty dishes in the dishwasher (which the unit did not have)
– place all dirty towels in the tub (had a shower stall)
– empty out garbage cans in bath, bedroom, and kitchen (trash cans in front of complex overflowing)
– leave dirty linen on bed (don’t look too clean when it got there)
Prior to leaving, was requested to provide a positive review. The requests continued for several weeks, with a future discount of 15% on future visits. I feel if I had provided less that a positive review, I would have been hit with a mysterious “supplemental cleaning charge”. Thats why I took pictures prior to leaving the unit to cover my arse.
Stayed at an Airbnb 2x just to give it a chance the 2nd time around and NOPE! Never again. I’d rather not travel to the location, than book an airbnb, if the hotels are booked.
Slimy business practices with littleweing done to fix it, other than adding more charges to an already hotel like stay.
As a Airbnb owner We charge a 100.00 dollar cleaning fee don’t ask for any chores just be respectful. Clean up after your pet let us know about any issues and enjoy your stay. Help us keep cost down.
While not a big fan of Airbnb, on the rare occasions where I have used it, I was satisfied and the descriptions in the listing were accurate. Every owner is unique, as is their level of honesty and greed.
One has to know that there are also quite a few renters that do their fair share of damage and cause neighbors to be subject to excessive noise or partying. Despite my home being empty much of the year, I would never entertain the thought of renting it out via Airbnb or VRBO. The risk/reward ratio is just not attractive to me.
This looks like a room and while the rules for a “guest” seem overbearing, I can understand if not agree. That’s why I book the whole place and never a room, when I do book A BnB. And as a funny counter point, I stayed in an ABnB in central London and my host reviewed me as being so thoughtful to take out the garbage before I left which was not required. 😉
If it’s on the internet, it must be true, right ? No one EVER makes up stuff on polarizing topics of proven historical web interest just to get attention or clicks. I bet this is fake news.
You can be assured that these rules were only created in response to prior (likely homeless ) guests, who tried bringing a whole life’s worth of luggage, damaged the washing machine or damaged the stove. These rules were simply reactionary after being burned by prior guests.
I have 5 cabins on Airbnb. All I can say, is I have been 4.99 stars for 7 years. Read everything before you decide to book a stay. Read the reviews and you will seldom be surprised. Motels follow a general scheme and it can meet most of your expectations. Airbnb should be offering a new experience. But, ask questions from your host and read up on what you want to rent or quit complaining and go to a hotel/ motel. Believe me when I say, most rules are derived, because of a bad guest! Do not compare your experience at a hotel or motel with an Airbnb experience. Open up your mind and let a guest know what you didn’t enjoy and what you did enjoy. That way, the host has an opportunity to improve. But, remember, some hosts suck at being a host. That will show up in their reviews.
I ran an AirBnb for the last several years. It’s not worth it. My fees were lower than everyone else’s and I allowed pets and didn’t charge extra. Guests had full use of the property including a nice patio and garden. I constantly had to replace towels, broken dishes, ripped blinds, stolen items and this year the bed got broken. The bed was being held up with a suitcase. The morons left their luggage tag it; AirBnB basically did nothing. I only rented to 55 plus for at least a month. No thanks, I’m selling before they burn it down. I don’t allow smoking, but there were several butts in the backyard anyway.
Regarding Airbnb’s, guests need to read the reviews which I always do before booking a hotel or Airbnb. Obviously, some people don’t know how to operate an Airbnb. I have one and constantly get 5 star ratings!!! No, I don’t have a list of chores for my guests, and I provide them with everything they could possibly need while on vacation. Can you find an Airbnb cheaper in my area? Sure but you get what you paid for!!! Guests need to do their research before booking anything. I, for instance, only fly Delta because they provide a better product than say Spirit or Frontier.
Airbnb will pull bad reviews with the claim it doesn’t adhere to their policies. I have one of those in regards to an illegal unit.
Never book new listings, always read reviews before booking and all the nonsense described in this article will never be a problem…
I’ve had great success with Airbnb and similar rentals. Read the fine print. Book elsewhere if you don’t like it.
My big pet peeve is the early checkouts. If I can’t negotiate at least 11am, I’ll book elsewhere
We have not had any problems with our Airbnb stays because 1) I read ALL info available- house rules and reviews, host profiles, etc., and ONLY book stays it looks like where it works for us, and 2) we are respectful of other people’s property and would never consider leaving without cleaning up after ourselves. No, we are not mopping the floors or dusting the ceiling fans, but I don’t think it’s too much trouble to take out the trash, strip the bed and load the dishwasher (regardless of whether it is required). Jeez, it only takes 15 minutes! Since we would have just stayed maybe 10 days or two weeks in a fully furnished, reasonably priced unit (usually with many extras like fresh fruit or chocolate upon arrival), I feel it’s the least we can do. Also, it’s the way we were brought up. I think many issues could be avoided by actually reading all the available information. I agree with other posters that some rules that are in place are because of previous events with other guests.
I love it when people like @jns call people who want to use something they have paid for entitled, as if that’s wrong. Yes, I’m entitled to use the kitchen that was listed as an amenity in the Airbnb I paid for. Paying for something entitles you to it. That’s how commerce works.
With that said, I’ve stayed in over 50 Airbnb’s and have very few issues at all.
The hell with that. I’m Not staying somewhere where I feel I am being watched by the police.
Why are people stressing over this. If the chores, restrictions, etc aren’t listed upon payment, then they don’t exist. Also, don’t rent budget places.
Why wouldn’t you be allowed to study from this home? What if you bring a book and accidentally learn something while reading? This host is DELULU as Charlotte Dobre would say
Done with airbnb after the last one asked me to leave a tip for their cleaners on the counter when you check out
Some people become absolute slobs when they leave their home. It is as it is a badge of honor to see how wasteful or destructive they can be. I am speaking about people that I know well.
I had a friend who booked a week and the day before the host contacted and said the rental was not yet ready for occupancy and had been listed by mistake. Ok, she booked somewhere else, but AirB&B said she could not get a refund for two weeks! …. WTF is that? The host canceled! I myself gave up on AirB&B years ago after booking a place in New Orleans and having multiple neighbors tell me my stay was illegal and then after commenting having the host tell me it was my fault for carrying my luggage in before dark. I am back to professional hotels.