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.

[Jeanne198]

During all this time that I have co-hosted, the person who was suppose to receive the cleaning fees has not received them at all.  We just started this year and we have had over 10 sets of people stay with us.  What do we do?  This is the first time that I have found the community place to ask such questions.

[Ruhi1]

As many Co-hosts have already expressed, this sort of announcement is just completely unprofessional. First, it is very poorly written then it goes on to make a statement and then negates the statement it has made . It is very confusing and frankly I feel as a co-host that I have been blind sided. I think we should all contact our attorneys and see if this sort of bait and switch is actually legal.

I made a decision based on the co-host split payment  that allowed my partner to act as the host and hence I would be the co-host as #AIRB&B stipulated that we could split the payment with our private account details. Now they are asking the hosts to play accountant and split the payments ?  This is ridiculous and highly inconvenient. To add insult to injury they give us short notice about the change and now I came to find out for those guests that are already booked.. we are SOL.. not cool..

I encourage all hosts and co-hosts to strongly voice their opinion.

[Jacqui95]

I've been on the phone with Airbnb several times today trying to get resolution to the fact that we can't change the routing rules [to send 20% to a 2nd account, the cohosts] for reservations made prior to March 7th, 2018. It's very frustrating, as MOST of our upcoming reservations were made before that date. Arg. 

[NaKina0]

As a co-host I have to tell you Airbnb....I’m not feeling the love. I think you are going to find this turns out to be a very bad business decision. 

[Joy193]

Some suggestions.   Can you add 'pet fees' and  'additional linen fees'.  Thanks

[Rob251]

Count me in as NOT HAPPY with this change or the way it was made with short notice at the peak of my high season.

This change will add several hours of bookkeeping to my month, and make me less likely to assist future owners who would like to host.

Although you state that the split payment option is an alternative, implementing it has been very confusing for my Owners, and it leaves me with a Cleaning Fee reconciliation and cash flow issue.

Please help me expand my business and your host business by quickly implementing a new solution.  I would be very happy to be one of your beta testers.

Thank you,

Rob [Surname hidden] - Currently cohosting 5 properties, and an owner/host of 5 others

[Chika3]

HI ALL , I AM AVAILABLE FOR CO-HOSTING IN JOHANNESBURG SA

[Rebekah41]

@Airbnb

This doesn't seem to be a well thought out solution for the hosts and cohosts of Airbnb. The payout feature does not allow specific cleaning fees to be applied, and if you have different cohosts for multiple properties, then the percentage payout becomes much more complicated. It seems as though the original cohost payout method worked wonderfully for the host and cohost. I don't see the logic in taking something away that your users found helpful. 

[Joceline-Anna0]

I prefer the way it is NOW....Why are you fixing something that is not broken...Since you have so much time on your hands....Why dont you focus on facilitating payment of referral bonus for which is a bigger problem...Its frustrating to refer a friend to co-host when you cannot even fixed it....there ..I said my piece...

[Amanda626]

This change really makes no sense to me.  If you can still split the percentage using two payment methods (which isn't that the same as before?) but the host now needs to input our (co-host) account info on their side of the account.  How does this benefit the AirBnB portal?  Now the cleaning fee which I assume many co-hosts get has to be transfered, kept up with (another step/thing to do by the host) and settled up at an agreed time between two parties.  I was in the midst of creating a new business as a coach/mentor to others on how to create a lucrative business as a co-host but now that this change has happended I don't feel as comfortable suggesting people work with 'strangers' and hope they are honest in paying what is due.  As Pete states above, the percentage is now including the cleaning fee so this adds another step in determing an accurate payout for the cleaning fee.  SMH please reconsider why we can't keep things as they were!

[Susan548]

This unilateral decision by AirBnB has been a real problem for my hosting.  I've spoken with customer support on a few occasions about my underlying issue and though certain individuals have tried valiently to be helpful, the software system seems to be brittle and there has never been any solution they can offer.  While I appreciate the AirBnB service in general, the host support is really not up to standards. 

[Chris1265]

WHAAAT THE HECK IS GOING ON OVER THERE AIRBNB?! Please give us a quick solution for the cleaning fees!! As the main host, am I now responsible for handling the tax burden of the money that used to go straight to my cohost? I am now getting emails for the payments I get and the payments my cohost gets, this is so incredibly annoying. Why have you forsaken us?

[Sarah1575]

This is not a good move Airbnb !! Many people are upset and righfuly so. 

It is a shame to change a system where evryone was happy.

[Paul325]

We've established that this was a disastrous move and Airbnb has no intention of making it any better, as many CSRs have confirmed.

The only solution I can see right now for co-hosts is to simply sign on as the primary host so we can have access to all the financials.   Then you can just keep a spreadsheet of all bookings that will automatically figure out cleaning fees and co-host percentages, and invoice the host as needed.

Most co-hosts manage the listings 100%, and it's the only way to take back control over payouts.  This is actually the way it used to be, before the introduction of co-hosts -- Airbnb ADDED co-hosts because it was a desperately needed feature, so this decision to reduce co-hosts to a messaging only feature in effect just gets rid of the co-hosting feature.   They'll need to bring it back if they want to compete, but I think a lot of people are looking at alternative platforms now. 

[Bryan170]

Rediculous to stop the cohost payout method with just the slim chance in some unknown future date of a fix up.

The accounting nightmare we now face is untenable.