New requirement to provide linens and towels

[Nicole-And-John0]

We have been Airbnb hosts for less than a year and until this new requirement have had guests provide their own linens and towels. 

We have many guests who booked for the summer prior to this new requirement and I wonder if we need to change our policy for these guests or strictly for the guests who book after this officially comes into effect (July I believe). The additional costs to provide linens cannot be added to the existing bookings ... or can it? 

Feeling a bit unsure how to proceed.

Any thoughts would be welcome!

Nicole

[Julie288]

I'm with you Ned and Laura

I would always expect Towels and sheets at least. I supply all of this and so much more including Continental Breakfast included in the price and laundry washed (if they ask). Some people arrive with washing which I frown apon but don't know what I can do about that.

[Jennifer416]

In NC it’s never a problem to be optional to bring your own linens. Charging for a linen Service pushes my fees outside of what folks want to pay. Growing up .. we always brought our own.  I do have a linen service optional but even getting that one time payment is hard with how AirBB sets up their billing system

[Rich76]

I am also frustrated with how airbnb continues to add  required items.  The beauty of airbnb is that each host has some control of what they offer guests. We are not hotels, for the most part we are single operators.  Where  I host it is expected for guests to bring there own bed sheets and towels, there are linen services if they choose not to bring there own.  It is a summer beach resort that most owners live 2 -5 hours away.  I have not been offering sheets or towels for almost 2 years. Have had 1 complaint, a guest coming from CA to east coast for a wedding.  We plainly post that the items are not supplied.  Another host noted that there is no way to do an add charge for a linen/sheet/towel package. I am a repeat super host with 35, 5 star ratings, nothing but 5's.  Micro-managing is not always a good thing.

[Rob469]

Make or advertise your listing with a new company then if you don't like their new requirements. It's their company they make the rules 

[Susan17]

Actually @Rob469 , just because a corporation "makes the rules", doesn't mean that those rules are smart, logical or workable. In this case, they weren't, and pushback from thousands of hosts worldwide forced Airbnb into doing a u-turn on this policy. 

It may be "their company", but without good hosts, they have nothing at all. 

[Teresa409]

Hi Guys,

Requiring linens may be a change for some but I believe it will be good in the long run. We don’t go on vacation with bringing sheets in mind. 

Cost of linens can can be covered in the cleaning fees and for myself, I use a linen service company that takes care of my linen needs and they come to me weekly ironed and without stains. For a queen set it cost me less than $5 which is easily covered in the $10 cleaning fee I charge my guests. 

Good luck!

[Claudiu-Nicolae0]

There are many unique listings, such as campings, mountain cabins, tree houses, small islands, rural hostels etc., that can't provide linen, towels and other additional supplies due to their location or other circumstancies. But AirBnb requires everyone provide Essentials without exception. Basically, AirBnb is the only OTA, that forces the hosts to provide additional amenities. In my opinion, OTAs are just intermediaries, it is not up to them decide, how the hosts should run their businesses and what services they should offer.

[Elena874]

Every place and area are different. What is easy in some areas is not suitable in others. 

Our place has very small washer and drier as there is no place to put a normal one. The laundromat is 20 minutes drive one way. We provide linens, but there is not enough time between guests to do towels. Besides it’s very hard to find quality help in this area, those additional experiences will

push the rental prices beyond the competitive rates. Never mind using the rates that the website suggests.  If I’ll offer the prices that Airbnb suggests I’ll

need to pay the difference.

For example. I don’t offer towels and I don’t offer cable TV. Guests who book this place are ok with it. Between only cleaning service, the community gate fee and utilities it costs me at least $125 to host the guest. That’s besides of the rest of the costs. The Airbnb suggested price per night at times is $60 per night. Now add the new costs.

There is a saying:  “ Ifs it’s not broken don’t fix it.”

[Stay-Asheville0]

If you think providing linens and towels isn't mandatory without Airbnb forcing you to do so, no matter what kind of place you're hosting... you probably shouldn't be in the hospitality business.

[Meaghan12]

I manage 5 hotels, host my own camper on Airbnb and travel often.  No matter what, I always READ the description of where I am staying, as I know never to "expect" anything (unless it is a brand centered expectation).  Everything else is up for personal interpretation for the owner of said property.  

I have a camper to which I drive 1 hour each way to clean twice a week, work a 48 hour work week at one job and a 12 hour work week at a second job, along with raising two children. If I choose NOT to provide linens and towels, it does not mean I should not be in the hospitality business.  It means, I should make it extremely clear in my listing, so my potential guest can make their OWN decision.  

When I know that a guest is arriving by plane, I always offer linen/towel free of charge as a courtesty.  The standard person driving an hour or two to stay with me, can bring their own.  

[Daniel2057]

Sorry but running any business requires work Meaghan. Get a third party to do it. 

[Nicole-And-John0]

Our hope is to offer families an affordable getaway. Given that there are no laundry facilities at our cottage, cleaning help is difficult to find and we live almost 3 hours away we can only offer what we can and make it clear in our listing. It is not a reflection on what kind of hosts we are and definitely should not be considered a marker to our hosting ability. I find your comment unfortunate.

[Daniel2057]

I am sorry but I am just commenting because as a guest this makes me a bit angry how hosts on this forum are so lazy to even provide basic amenities like linen and towels. Towels and linen are not the same thing as a TV. They are fundamental products needed for basic hygeine. I am 100% sure you are making more than enough to cover the cost of linen and cleaning. You definitely aren't hotels, but you love charging like you were one. 

[Letti0]

@Daniel2057  I think you have the wrong idea here. The accommodations that do not offer them are drive to areas that are remote with few if any stores, laundries, etc around them. Usually do not have washers or driers in the homes which are for the most part very large 5-9 bedrooms. The guests booking these places do not want the linens and towels provided for them as the costs would increase dramatically for the host to provide them. They usually rent out for 7 days and only over summer. It's families and freinds that are within a 2 to 3 hour drive from the place. If it's going to save them big bucks to bring their own linens and towels they do not object. This has been going on since the 1920's to the 1950's in some areas. These are homes that for most part have been in the family for over 100+ years. They rent them out over the summer to help with the maintence and costs related to keeping the places in the family at a reasonable price. The people that rent these places are for the most part return guests and just find with the way they are run.

[Daniel2057]

Apologies but that is just an excuse. Many people here do not host in 'remote' areas that are far and few in between. It is just an excuse for laziness in order to take peoples money without providing a good service. What next? You'll make an excuse not to provide toilet paper? Honestly not to offend, but if you cannot provide these basic amenities then do not be a host. I am not asking for hi definition TV or even internet, just basic hygenic standards.