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.

[Madeleine20]

The co-hosting payment is mainly used for cleaning fees but you have not provided an option to set an amount only a percentage in the pyament preferences. This is super inconvenient not to metion a future tax nightmare.  Please address this bad decision.

[Lucy-and-Nancy0]

We agree, we have brought 4 luxury properties to Airbnb that would have never joined if we hadn't offered to co-host for them.  They did not want the hassle of short-term rentals and the co-host split was a great selling point. 

 One of these owners is an investor who just bought a 4-plex and another house for us to host for him.  

We no longer feel safe with Airbnb and will be looking at VRBO, TRIPADVISOR AND BOOKING.COM.  How could they have no sense of duty/loyalty to co-hosts.  Most co-hosts are also hosts and this is terrible business!  

This terrible change left us with no real viable solution.  We contacted Airbnb about this change to figure out the % and the cleaning fee. There is no solution. The owners are freaking out because it will require them to do more work.  They bought into this idea because it was seamless. 

I suggest other owners keep calling Airbnb and also look outside Airbnb for other vacation rental sites that treat their partners better.  We were so loyal but not anymore.  The rollout of this was unprofessional!  A short vague email with no alternative solution.  

[Celine153]

This makes it so much harder to use a co-host. Could you address the cleaning fee?

[John1811]

Hello, this really does not work well for me. I rely on my co-host. Payments are not being made to her and I can no longer send the cleaning fee directly to my do-host. I am saddened that Airbnb chose to end this program as it was what made the difference from other platforms. 

Could you please address this issue?

[James1033]

Your decision to discontinue this option is lame, and that's being kind! I have tried and tried to reach someone, anyone, at AirBnB who can discuss this with me, but all I get is a message from someone with less than poor gramatical skill who can tell me nothing and refuses to forward my requests to a person of authority. Just look up my messages to you and see for yourself.

Frankly, if I felt that I had a good option for another service I would leave AirBnB over this decision to discontinue direct pay to co-hosts. You had a good system and totally threw it away. If you are striving to constantly improve then you have missed the ball on this one.

[Frank305]

I agree with many of the concerned hosts in this thread.  Making this change is not good.  Has anyone tried to add a "Payout Routing Rule"?  This is the option given by Airbnb.  That feature is not even present.  What a catastrophe for Airbnb!!!!

[Patricia965]

I agree with many of the points made here including the cleaning fee issues. Co-hosting is a great feature on thing that make AirBnB a good platform to work with. Please rethink this change. 

[Vimari0]

This is all very disappointing. I agree with what many are saying. It makes no sense that you would get rid of a feature that has helped grow the community. As a host and a co-host, I am extremely disappointed in how this has been handled. It was a seamless process that helped many of us. I truly hope that Airbnb finds a way to get us back to the process ASAP. Thank you.

[Anuj11]

Huge mistake

[Liz439]

We need a fixed payment option added, so we can pay a percentage to a co-host but the fixed amount for cleaning fees. Unfortunatley with percentage only, to pay the cleaners to get the proper amount to both co-host and host, we would each have to pay out to the cleaners and that's a ridiculous hassle. 

[Logan24]

We will be switching to a new platform.  Nice job guys - you've lost one of your greatest features.

[Susan--HostyMosty-0]

BAD DECISION!!!!!

[Susan--HostyMosty-0]

IF YOU DO NOT PUT THIS BACK IN PLACE I WILL BE TAKING MY BUSINESS TO ANOTHER PLATFORM

[Elisabeth351]

Is it possible to pay my housekeeper the cleaning fee like I could before?

[Lynn163]

By offering to cohost, and introducing the Airbnb website, I had persuaded two people to sign on and list their properties. One of them was ambitious enough to do it on her own.
The other relied upon me for setting up his listing with photos, descriptions, rates, etc. It was fun!
I was able to coach him and his wife to navigate and engage through Airbnb, and I believe he can do it on his own IF he would. His wife works irregular and full-time hours. He had asked me to remain signed on as a cohost to support them, because he also works a full-time job during the day and prefers not to be interrupted.
He never indicated that he had a problem with any amount I ever asked to be paid, and let me know he appreciated my initiatives to have his place listed. By listing him, I could easily make referrals to his place, especially when mine were booked! 
Since the feature to pay me as cohost is being stopped, we discussed options. The last I spoke with him, he indicated that he has lost interest in having his property rented through Airbnb after August 25th, when his current tenant is scheduled to leave. He sounded upset and he said it is not worth the bother and trouble. I can relate. I think much of his frustration relates to his unwillingness to remain responsive to requests without my assistance. I would pop in and chat if I saw that he hadn't yet, and if I could not reach him on the cell phone. (That would clue me in that he was either too busy, or in an area that did not have a wi-fi signal, and he had not gotten notice yet.)
It is no longer a simple thing to be paid for cohosting. I am unlikely to be sharing my PayPal information and sign-in information others. The only incentive I have to promote Airbnb to other potential hosts is the $100.00 payment I might be awarded if somebody does sign on with the indication that I referred them. (It used to be $200.00 ??)
I reckon I will just stick to helping myself...do what I intend to do...the best I can. I will be investigating other online booking software, even though I have heavily invested my time and creative energies into my own listings here.
I appreciate what Airbnb has done for exposing my properties to potential visitors.  Demand has gone up, and I have been able to increase my rates. I do my own property management and cleaning for now, and hope I continue to get reviews from appreciative guests. 
So, thank you for now. My life is simpler, but I wonder if Airbnb owners/management will determine a better way to support the homeowners and property managers and cleaning staff that used to rely upon being paid as we used to be. It was simple, safe, and effective. Oh well...