How do I add an Extra linen/towels charge?

[Mark16]

Here in New Zealand, our baches (holiday homes) don't normally include linen/towels in the quote - there is usually an extra charge for this. I can't see how to add that on the site listing.

Can anyone help?

[Mihaly0]

Hello Mark,

There is no option for charging extra for bedlinen. You can tick off 'essentials' among the amenities that is the category that includes bed sheets and towels and so indicate that you do not supply them. 

However it is actually expected by most guests and so probably many of them would be disappointed not getting supplied towels and bed-linen so my advise is to supply them and incur the extra washing cost etc. in the cleaning fee. 

Best,

Mike

[Isabelle3]

I agree - I think AirBnB guests do expect bed linen and towels 🙂

[Margaret0]

I think this depends on your market. If you are going to hit the market you usually get  of native Kiwis who dont expect sheets and towels then just dont give them. You can put a note in your listing that you can provide them at an extra charge. 

If you are trying to expand your market and hit other people then include the linen and up your prices to cover the costs. Then put a note in your listing that you will give a discount (name the amount explicitly) if people want to bring their own

[Chris-and-Britt0]

We had the same issue, in Europe it varries.

In Austria, normally the towels are not included in the appartment.

But we got many complaints from AirBnB guests, and even coments in reviews, so we decided to include them.

[Ash-and-Dasha0]

As an airbnb guest, I would be stunned to arrive to a short-term rental to find out that it had no bed linens and towels. If you are not renting an appartment for a month-long term, then then you are doing a short-term rental and these are essentials which are expected.

Up your cleaning fee if necessary to cover the cost of the linens and towels. 

[William-and-Lily0]

We charge a flat 'fee' for open/close/linen/towels in the fee box for AirBNB - that covers the cleaning, laundry, pickup, and supply of linens/towels.   We still require the tenant to 'leave it as you found it', but don't tear down the beds, leave the towels that you used on the bathroom floor, and no need to vacuum.   Everything checks out, trash is removed, dishes are dun, floors are clean (except for carpets) furniture is back where it belongs .. full refund of deposit.   But fee covers linens and laundry and general housecleaning between tenants. 

[Matt26]

What's the fee box? Where do you find it?

[Susan7]

Hi Matt
Traditionally in Oz, too, linen and towels were not supplied in holiday houses. Airbnb is changing this because our market has widened. After losing four bookings in a two week period because of this, we've just been through a moderately expensive exercise to supply linen, have our cleaner strip and remake beds, and line up the local laundromat to pick up l, do a bag wash and deliver.
The only way to cover the increased cost is by increasing the cleaning fee. I do wish we could describe that in another way, as a large cleaning fee seems to be encouraging people to leave the house in a worse condition. The other option of increasing the rental has its own obvious drawbacks!
Let us know how you work it out.
Cheers
Susan

[Susan7]

The fee box is in your pricing screen

[Matt26]

@Susan7

My property isn't a vacation home, rather it's a 1 bed downtown in Toronto, Canada. In this market guests expect towels and linens, so I have no choice. 

My recommendation to cover your increased costs would be to do both: increase your cleaning fee and slightly increase your nightly rate to cover the costs. Then I would detail in your house rules that guests must pick up after themselves and leave the home in a generally clean state -- that excessive messes will result in an additional clean fee charged after the guests leave (also make sure you have a damage deposit on your listing!)  I don't think this is unreasonable givent that some hosts require guests to launder their own linens and towels and replace them. 

Good luck!

(If you found my response useful, give it thumbs up!)

[Rose11]

IS there any way of contacting airbnb? Is there any reason they couldn't update the website so that linen can be charged as extra when it is appropriate?

[Kerry-Phil0]

There is an additional fee button that is activated through the resolution centre. You could state in your listing that guests requiring linen need to request this and it will be provided at an additional cost. Then once the booking is confirmed you make a request for an additional fee through the resolution centre and the guest has 48 hours to accept or decline. If they decline you can refer to Airbnb for arbitration so it is important to have a clear paper trail through the app about your conversation. If they don't pay the extra for the linen prior to their stay, you don't have to provide it.

Hope that helps 

[Darren39]

Yes I wish AirBnb would do that too. I have exactly the same problem, how to charge for linen. Many of the replies where not helpful, telling us to just supply it and charge more! Well, I don't want to and most of our clients don't want it either, but some, especially traveller from OS, do and I can't find an easy way of charging them. PLEASE AirBnb add a spot so we can add this fee as an extra cost that clients can choose or not.

[Meg18]

Hi Susan,

I agree with you, in order to provide sheets and towels the cleaners charge an extra $40 per bed ( x 6 beds) as my place is in a Jervis Bay ( in Australia) there isn't an abundance of these services like there would be in a city. We market our place as a holiday house for families so this cost would price a lot of families out of staying at our place.  Most people would prefer to bring their own linen to keep costs down. We clearly state that linen is not included but we are happy to refer them to someone who can provide this service if they require it. If I lived close by this would be easy but as I don't it becomes too expensive for guests and it's not a cost I am willing to absorb as it is a business.

Cheers

Meg