News about the co-hosting split payout feature

[Airbnb]

We recently shared that as of August 1, 2018 we’ll no longer offer the co-hosting split payout feature. Many of you use and appreciate this feature, and we understand that this change has implications for the way that you do business as hosts. It’s always our intention to improve your experience in any way we can, and we’re sorry for the inconvenience this change will pose for you. We’d like to give you some background on why we’re making it and offer some alternatives for paying your co-hosts.

It’s important to note that we are not removing co-hosting. We’re invested in helping you succeed, and co-hosting overall has been a valuable tool for many of you. So why are we removing the split payout feature? When we added the ability to pay co-hosts through this special feature, the number of co-hosts was rather small and we built a system that handled the volume well. But in order for this feature to meet the needs of a much larger community of hosts and work seamlessly with Airbnb’s evolving platform, we would need to completely rebuild the feature so that it grows with your needs and meets our internal reliability standards. We’re not building a feature to replace this one yet, but we know it’s important to certain hosts and co-hosts and will continue to evaluate ways we can improve and grow the co-hosting program.

The good news is we’re exploring the best way to introduce a new and improved feature. We can’t give you a date yet, but will keep you informed. In the meantime, you can still pay co-hosts through the Airbnb platform by changing your Payout Preferences to split your payment with your co-host. To do this, with your co-host’s permission, enter their payout information in your Payout Preferences tab, and set the percentage you would like to share. If your co-host is not comfortable sharing their account details or ever withdraws their authorization, you can pay them outside of Airbnb through secure online payment apps, bank deposits, cash, or checks.

We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience, and we’re grateful for each and every one of you who host and co-host—and support local businesses while you’re at it! We look forward to building a feature that will be useful to you and better meet the needs of this growing community.

[Gregory91]

What kind of asinine explanation was that?   I dont know the ACTUAL reasoning behind the removal of an integral componant of the curently-successful pay-out sequestering system but this move is unequivocally a step in the WRONG  direction. 

[Tauly0]

Very bad move!!!!

This was the best thing wit Airbnb and now you are just as the rest. 

I have a great co host, but now why should he work if he can’t be secure with his share??? It was a clear system and now main host will be in power. I hope you didn’t do so to save bank fee, truly don’t understand why you cancel this feature

[Jonathan426]

When i spoke with the support team yesterday (I believe the agents name was Marquis?), he said that the company did not intend to add a cleaning fee to the split payment system and that this was done because Airbnb wanted hosts to handle cohost payments themselves. He also assured me that Airbnb had no intention to lower the host fee, even though they are basically taking their job and making it our job.

I was then asked to fill out another feedback form, presumably because he didnt want to talk to me anymore.

[Angela969]

Why change what was already working so well?  The lady I was co-hosting with who was 100% booked has blocked all of her future calendar dates.  She appreciated how easy everything was before and, that was part of the allure of trusting and working with me as a co-host.  She's not wanting to move forward now, so thanks AirBnB for reducing my income.  We all lose in this new arrangement, including you!

[Lee100]

I see it is so inconvenience when Airbnb stops offer the co-hosting split payout feature. I do not think it is good for Host and Co-host.

co-host wil not assist so much to Host, because they are not interested in doing with Host. co-host fee is not clear.

[Thandie-Daniella0]

I am no longer getting enquiries on any of the listings I cohost on. As a result, my host has actually lost out on bookings because no one responded. Is this happening to anyone else?

[Thandie-Daniella0]

I can't seem to comment on Rebecca's post about the cleaning fee, so going to leave it here with hopes she'll see it or someone else will comment it in on her post for me.

"A work around is for the host to adjust the % to include the cleaning fee. So if a booking is $1000 and cleaning fee is $25, and you pay your cohost say 15%...that would be $150 + $25 = $175. So the host would have to adjust the % to 17.5%. They'd have to do it at least 24hrs before the booking starts for it to take effect - 48hrs would be safer though. It's extra admin, unfortunately..."

[Venus4]

Hi Thandie, been trying to reply to your message but AirBnB keeps crashing.....conspiracy theories abound!  🙂  

Here's my original reply.

Hi Thandie,  haven't seen any on our side (UK), but if that is the case that co hosts now do not receive messages / queries, then AirBnB has completely fd up!   My friend/host is really busy and cannot check airbnb messages at short notice.....  I thought it was just the payment system they are changing???  So frustrating. 

[Stephanie532]

I see others are having the same dilemma I am regarding cleaning fees. Airbnb, Please, Please, Please add a way for us to route the cleaning fee to a specified account, separate from the percent split feature. I have a situation where the cohost manages cleaning in addition to regular hosting duties and needs to get that entire fee as promptly as possible in order to pay the celaning staff in addition to receiveing their % payout for co-hosting. The % split should not include the cleanign fee in this situation. 

[Susan--HostyMosty-0]

they are not going to do it...they have decided that they no longer want to be a part of cohost and hosting agreements. According to the people I have spoken to at @Airbnb2 there were many, many peope that werent happy with syst,em I have yet to read one comment that is happy that they removed this option...

[Susan--HostyMosty-0]

If anyone wants to see how messed up their system has now become...this is what I just received from @Airbnb2 customer service 

Hi Susan, 

My name is Randolph, I'm the case manager with Trip Experience presiding over your case. I appreciate you taking the time to speak with me today. This is a follow-up to o

After our converastion I know you had questions about the expected payout for this reservations that are upcoming. I have provided a list with a breakdown of the total nightly cost, your co-host percentage and the cleaning fee with your total at the end. As I had mentined previously, you may want to have these figures checked by a professional as I cannot confirm the exact totals. In some places you will see a number in parenthesis that is your payout amount in USD instead of the currency your guest paid. 

Guest Nightly Cost Co-host (18%) Cleaning Fee Total
B Moses 170 30.6 $90.00 $120.60
Marlous 180 32.4 $90.00 $122.40
Danielle 454 81.72 $90.00 $171.72
Dario €308.08 €55.45 €77.02 €132.47 ($113)
Mark €375.00 $90.00 $90.00 $180.00
Alexandria 315 $56.70 $90.00 $146.70
Natalia 270 $48.60 $95.00 $143.60
Shvai 470 $84.60 $95.00 $179.60
Ashley 110 $19.80 $65.00 $84.80
Trevor 470.75 $84.74 $60.00 $144.74
Hannah 522.5 $94.05 $65.00 $159.05
Ashely 110 $19.80 $65.00 $84.80
Hannah 522.5 $94.05 $65.00 $159.05
Julian €303.93 €54.71 $52.00 €106.71
Vera 240 43.2 $75.00 $118.20
Isabelle 467 84.06 $75.00 $159.06
Edena €359.10 €64.64 €64.12 €128.76
Daro 600 $108.00 $120.00 $228.00
Devin 300 $54.00 $120.00 $174.00
Tracie 900 $162.00 $120.00 $282.00
Laura 360 $64.80 $120.00 $184.80
Gian 863353 155403.54 74966 230369.54 ($368)
Rashad 600 $108.00 $120.00 $228.00
Katie 531 $95.58 $120.00 $215.58
Jefferson 2082.24 $374.80 $416.45 $791.25
BiPan 603.48 108.6264 87.46 196.0864 ($150)
Rubina 828.37 149.1066 159.81 308.9166 ($237)
Alex O 1042.5 $187.65 $65.00 $252.65
elodie 214.82 38.6676 55.19 93.8576 ($80)
Laura 751.08 135.1944 54.46 189.6544 ($163)
Elizabeth 421 $75.78 $70.00 $145.78
Sara 251 $45.18 $70.00 $115.18
Patrice 349 $62.82 $70.00 $132.82
Jeremy 602 $108.36 $70.00 $178.36

I hope this helps clarify some of your concerns. Please feel free to reply to this message to reach me directly should you have any further questions. I'm always happy to help!

[Jamie206]

Need an option for fixed payment and precentage. Cleaning fees are an integral part of this whole endevour, airbnb seems to have comepletly forgotten this... bad decision

[Francis92]

This is ridiculous. I co-host 2 properties for someone that does NOT have the time or knowledge to do it. He is happy just paying me my 15%
Now he is mad he is going to be bother by doing math for each booking, transfer money himself, Keep track, etc.

He is a pilot and does not have the time. 

He wants to cancel his booking. 

[Thomas594]

I have been out of the country for over a month. I am just finding this out today. The day after it goes into effect.

Three Comments for the decision makers: 

1. Grandfathering is the best way to handle such an event. Grandfathering says, "we are doing the best we can to not disrupt your business. " Ending the practice outright with this short notice, is saying the opposite.
2. Customer service folks at Airbnb are really good on the front lines in my opinion.  This action,  however, provides a lens into the bigger organization and technology leaders. One that shows a wholly different picture of the company. This has been a great community, but this action really spoils it.
3. One month is not enough advance warning when this business model affects the first community that chooses you, the hosts. No homes and properties, no guests. 

The pain I feel is equally derived from the decision itself and the way it was delivered. I will now consider looking elsewhere for the first time.

[Slaven4]

has anybody had issues having the payments delayed for over a week now?