Age limit

[Suzanne374]

I used to be an airbnb host and am considering setting up a listing again. The biggest issue I had in years past was renting to young people. I had zero issues with renters generally over 25, but literally every time I tried to rent someone younger, despite all my warnings in the ad that this was not a party house, etc etc, they threw a party or were otherwise loud, broke things, etc. So I started rejecting renters that looked young (and a few that had weird super sexualized/escort-like photos as their profiles). But now there are no photos and frankly my rating went down because I started rejecting too many people. I saw somewhere that you CAN restrict by age. Is that correct? 

[Alicia753 · Accepted solution]

Hello @Suzanne374 !!!

I help manage properties in multiple states. In many areas there are set restrictions for the minimum age limits. If you are in an area that doesn't have a set policy you can still post the age limit in your listing (also check your insurance policy as many policies put a minimum age restriction).

Here are some guidelines and suggestions regarding age and bookings on Airbnb:

1. Minimum Age Requirement:

   • Ensure that your house rules clearly state that guests must be at least "XX" years old. 

2. Additional Requirements:

   • You can also specify in your house rules if you expect the primary guest (the person who books the listing) to be a certain age or older, especially if your property is not suitable for younger guests or if it's located in an area with age restrictions (like a retirement community).

3. Verification:

   • Airbnb does have verification processes in place for guests, which may include providing a government ID. You can state in your listing that you require guests to have completed Airbnb's verification process before booking.

4. Direct Communication:

   • Once a booking is requested, you can communicate directly with potential guests. This can be an opportunity to confirm that they meet any specific requirements you have outlined in your house rules.
   • We send our guests an automated message immediatly after booking that looks like this (it has drastically reduced the number of "problem" guests)-
   • "Hey!
     
     Thanks for deciding to stay with us!
     
     We understand folks make plans for all sorts of reasons, but our home and neighborhood is just not suited for parties or gatherings of any kind more than a quiet weekend at the beach.
     
     We would be more than happy to offer you a free cancellation if this does not seem like a good fit. Just request to cancel and we will provide free cancellation.
     
     If you are just looking to enjoy a quiet family get away - then all is well and our home is ready to welcome you! If not or it's just not the right fit, please request to cancel within 24 hours of making your reservation through Airbnb and we will accept free of charge!"

5. Instant Book Settings:

   • If you are using Instant Book, you can set requirements for guests, such as requiring that they have a verified government ID, recommendations from other hosts, and no negative reviews. While this doesn't set an age limit, it can help ensure that guests have a track record of responsible behavior on Airbnb.

6. Discretion in Accepting Bookings:

   • You do have the discretion to accept or decline booking requests, provided that your reasons for doing so are not discriminatory as per Airbnb’s Anti-Discrimination Policy. If you’re ever unsure about a guest's age, you can always ask them to confirm that they meet the minimum age requirement for booking your property.

I hope that this helps!!!

[Suzanne374]

Thank you so much!! Very helpful!

[Simon3615]

I just had the most inappropraite call from airbnb support staff. 
i have two listings i have clearly mentioned guests must be 25 or older to book.

i have been getting many guests 23-24 years of age asking to stay who dont bother reading the house rules at all- it seems to be something younger people do- they are lazy and cant even make the effort to read a hosts listings requirements. Its not a hotel.

i had a guest who was 18 who left my front door wide open when he checked out and my dogs escaped. Another under 25 that nearly burnt the house down leaving the gas burner on. Property damage. I decided to go to 25+ as i would never live with anyone under 25 because of the above and as a live in host i dont want risk of harm to myself or my pets through carelessness and lack of responsibility

not all young people are like this but a much higher proportion of them are compared to older people.

airbnb staff called and when i asked for help on how to make it more clear on my listing of the 25 age limit the staff member started asking very targeted compliance questions making lewd comments that i am not allowed to discriminate on age but also saying i have the right to put on my listing i only accept 25+

[Quincy]

Hello @Simon3615, Thank you for sharing your experience here. I just want to share Airbnb's Nondiscrimination Policy with you. This should clarify what is and isn't allowed when it comes to guest restrictions.

[Jim448]

Our house rules include the following:

- No guests under 25 unless accompanied by a parent.

- We do not rent to groups of unrelated young people.

- No parties or events are allowed.

Our description includes the following:

- Ours  is a place for swimming, boating, reading, conversation, hiking, family meals on the deck, and early bedtime. It is not a place for loud music, television, video games, fast driving, or late-night parties.

We do not allow instant booking. I message and talk with every potential guest personally and frequently to assess the suitability of our place for their purposes. I ask them howled they are and what they are visiting. I decline many of them.

We've been doing this for 40 years, thousands of guests. It works.

[Andy4066]

Just had our apartment left in a mess by two girls who are around 20 / 21. Also lost the battery cover on the air-con remote, broker a drawer, got nail varnish and glue all over the place... ugh... And they dont care when you speak to them about it!
"I paid for cleaning so why would I keep it clean?"

So yeah - I am going to implement this immediately! Lesson learned - no kids 🙂

Also going to look into a deposit service - in case anything like this happens again.