Collecting fees outside Airbnb - Airbnb Help Center (2024)

FAQs

Can Airbnb hosts request money outside of Airbnb? ›

For the most part, Hosts can't collect any additional fees or charges outside our platform unless expressly authorized by us. Here are the exceptions.

Hosts aren't allowed to charge guests a security deposit through our Resolution Center or outside the Airbnb platform.

The service fee is refundable if you cancel before your reservation's free cancellation period ends or if your Host decides to refund you in full after you cancel.

With few exceptions, the full cost of your reservation is collected by Airbnb. If you've paid for any part of your reservation outside Airbnb, it may be fraudulent. If you suspect fraud, let us know immediately.

Money-related issues

You can use our Resolution Center within 60 days of your reservation's checkout date to request or send money for things related to your Airbnb trip. It helps to have any photos or other relevant evidence ready when you submit a Resolution Center request.

You may be asked to pay

If you don't submit a timely payment or appeal, or your appeal is unsuccessful, your payment method will be charged. (This doesn't apply to stays in China, Japan, or India.) You'll never be charged without advance notice or a chance to appeal before and after you've been charged.

What we allow: Unless the reservation is a stay in New York or California (USA) or another location where applicable law prohibits it: Hosts may charge pet fees for a guest who is traveling with an emotional support animal. Hosts are allowed to decline the presence of emotional support animals from a stay or Experience.

Yes, it's quite normal to pay a security deposit on Airbnb, although not all listings require one. The deposit is there to protect hosts against potential damages during a guest's stay. The decision to require a deposit is up to each host. Some ask for it, while others don't.

Hosts aren't allowed to charge guests a security deposit through our Resolution Centre or outside the Airbnb platform. Instead, we inform guests at the time of booking that their payment method may be charged if they cause damage during a stay.

How to avoid Airbnb service fee as a host? ›

It could be beneficial to encourage direct bookings if you already have a website for your rental property. You would be able to avoid paying the Airbnb service fee by doing this. You should be aware, though, that this also implies that you will not be using Airbnb's administrative or customer service.

Airbnb will waive its service fees for eligible experience bookings received by eligible hosts within an 8-week waiver period, up to a total of $1,000 USD per host.

Airbnb offers Host Damage Protection as a contractual guarantee from Airbnb for the benefit of Hosts that is triggered only after a Responsible Guest, as primary obligor, defaults on their primary performance obligation to pay Hosts under the Airbnb Terms of Service (“Terms”) for Damage Claims that they are responsible ...

Don't worry: All pricing information is included when you book—but there are a few situations where you may owe more after paying: You change your reservation (ex: You add another guest) Your Host files an AirCover for Hosts request for damage that occurred during your Airbnb stay.

Hosts and guests can both use the Resolution Center to send or request money from one another after check-in.

Don't worry: All pricing information is included when you book—but there are a few situations where you may owe more after paying: You change your reservation (ex: You add another guest) Your Host files an AirCover for Hosts request for damage that occurred during your Airbnb stay.

Note: Any reservations that are made outside Airbnb violate our Terms of Service. If we identify that a reservation was made through a third-party service, we may cancel the reservation and deactivate the accounts of the person who made the reservation and the guest.

Communicating or paying outside of Airbnb can put you at risk, so one of the main reasons we analyze messages is to help protect against online fraud. That's why it's so important that you communicate only through the Airbnb message thread until you have a confirmed Airbnb reservation.