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

[Daniel2057]

And honestly I find your hosting standards unfortunate. You don't need to travel 3 hours to clean sheets. Clean them the old way if it is so difficult; just don't take the lazy route just because you don't have someone else to do it. 

'Our hope is to offer families an affordable getaway. '

And these families pay for your salary and mortgage. 

[Annie1339]

Hi Nicole and John,

I am in a similar situation. I do not have laundry in the tiny house and there is no laundromat close and I live 2 hours away so providing clean linens is a definite challenge but I have done so so far.  I think for long-stays it is acceptable to expect your guests to provide their own linens and do their own laundry but for short-stays I know I would expect linens as a guest. 

[Lizzie]

Hello @Meaghan12, @Nicole-And-John0, @Stay-Asheville0, @Elena874, @Claudiu-Nicolae0, @Toodle0, @Suzanne302, @Maria-and-Steve1, @Jennifer416, @Ned-And-Laura0, @Rich76, @Teresa409, 

Thanks for your contribution here. I just wanted to highlight a recent update we have shared on providing Essential Amenities. 

I hope you find this useful.

Thanks,

Lizzie

[For your reference Gillian – as I've already @mentioned you about this]

[Katie416]

Hi Lizzie, 

We realise that linen and towels are essential, but we are wondering if it is possible to offer linen as an option that guests can choose to avoid by bringing their own? We currently have to add it as a charge at the booking section with no way to book without paying it.

Perhaps a section in the booking process where guests can select the beds they'd like made? This wouldn't have to apply to every host as we realise that everyone is different and that's what makes Airbnb so unique, but a bit of progress would be fabulous to see. 

We operate 5 houses which accommodate up to 18 guests each - linen is a huge cost which we have no choice but to pass onto our guests. We have our whole process around to accommodate the Airbnb changes to 'essentials' and we see no advantage. 

The 'Essentials' are not even visible in the search filters. 

Since I'm paying your wage I would love to see more than a link to a site which doesn't answer my question. 

Thankyou! 

Katie

[Jeannette0]

The "1 towel per guest" requirement remains a problem for hosts along the coastal Atlantic where providing linens/towels for whole-house rentals is basically, unheard of.

[Lizzie]

Hello @Jeannette0, thanks for your additional feedback. Just to check have you seen the update I have posted above?

Thanks,

Lizzie

[Jeannette0]

 Yep, if I am reading it correctly, to check "Essential Amenities" a host has to provide 1 towel per guest, plus linens. 

So I guess the point is, a listing will not be taken down if it lacks towels/linens, but the listing cannot check "Essential Amenities," which I would imagine would hurt a lot of coastal Atlantic hosts in terms of search results, @Lizzie ?

[Anastasia77]

I am happy to provide nice linen to my guests but my question relates to what constitutes "linen" according to Airbnb.

 I have been a guest to two airbnb's and all they provided was a bottom sheet and a doona - no top sheet.

Does this consitute "linen"?

[Victoria567]

Blimey @Nicole-And-John0

Ive never stayed in a place where I’m asked to bring my own linens etc......I’m flabbergasted!

Are you basing your pricing system in the Ryanair model?

[Alexandra316]

@Victoria567 It's a very common practice here in Canada if you're renting a summer cottage. A lot of summer cottages here traditionally also expect the guests to clean at the end of their stay.

Most hosts where I have my cottage don't supply linens: I do, and I'm definitely in the minority. I feel like if you're going for a week away with your family and there are kids, you're already lugging around so much: why ask people to also lug bulky towels and linens? I also have zero interest in spending my last vacation day cleaning.

[Victoria567]

Thanks for pointing that out.

Here in the UK linens, lots and pans, tableware are expected to be provided.

Also in the UK we are expected to leave the place the same or in even better condition than we found it on arrival.

But of course here in the UK we have some chav behaviour and entitled guests too....usually the rogue guest who knows no international boundaries.

[Nicole-And-John0]

It is not uncommon where I live to be asked to bring your own bed linens. Having said that we do provide linens if asked to do so at no extra cost.

[Devin-and-Sarah0]

Hey Guys, as far as I know, Airbnb has now made it mandatory to provide "Airbnb Essentials" which includes

• Toilet paper
• Soap (for hands and body)
• One towel per guest
• One pillow per guest
• Linens for each guest bed

I'm not familiar with the other requirements, I could only find an Airbnb towel article on this blog. https://www.airbnbuniverse.com/airbnb-towels/

[Helen813]

I think this a great shame, the washing and ironing of linen, that has only been slept in for two nights  uses a vast amount of time and recourses. I would much prefer to offer our cottage for less and ask guests to bring their own linen, I feel this would be much friendlier to the environment. Those who don't want to do this can chose a different place to stay.

Helen

[Daniette0]

Airbnb does NOT require hosts to provide linens nor towels, nor pillows, no soap, nor toilet paper.  Those are defined as “essentials”, but they are only recommended by Airbnb.  I know because I am a renter and rented a house w no linens nor towels.  When I inquired if these items are required, I was told today, May 20, 2019, that they are not.

The glaring omission in Airbnb’s search field is that one cannot check a box for said essentials as one can for heat, WiFi, kitchen, etc.  so it may come as an awful surprise to guests.

Please, hosts, if you do not offer these essentials, spell it out at the beginning of your description to avoid any negativity it will inevitably bring once the renter finds out 🙂