Long stay

[Giselle216]

Hi everyone! I have a question about long-term stays on Airbnb. If a guest books for a month or more, how do you usually charge them for electricity and water bills? Do you include it in the total Airbnb rate, or do you ask them to pay separately? Would love to hear how you handle this. Thanks in advance!

[Joelle43 · Accepted solution]

Hello @Giselle216 

You should have received the new guidelines from Airbnb that explicitly says that ALL fees must be included when the guest makes their payment:

https://www.airbnb.co.uk/help/article/2799

Electricity costs are not easy to evaluate I grant you especially if it's during the warm or cold season as costs can vary greatly between guests.  You cannot charge the guest for electricity or water consumption AFTER their stay so you 'll need to factor this in your nightly/monthly cost.

All the best
Joëlle

[Helen3]

I factor my utility costs into my long term rates @Giselle216 

It really depends on how you have your listing set up. 

Some hosts have a fair use policy or charge for utilities in addition.

[Joelle43]

Hello @Helen3 

Yes me too but according to the new guidelines received last week, hosts can no longer charge for the use of utilities separately as of May 10th. Did you receive these too?  It's their new off site policy requiring hosts to be more transparent on the final cost of a stay - with no add ons possible (except for one or two exceptions)

[Helen3]

I believe you can still charge a cleaning fee .

i wasn't sure if the new guidance applied to listings in all countries ? 

@Joelle43 

[Joelle43]

Hi @Helen3 

Yes cleaning fees are still allowed, same as pet fees etc as long as they are added into the Additional fees section under our calendar.  

Airbnb are going on the war path for those hosts that charge undisclosed fees and ask guests to pay them separately from the main booking and off platform.

No change for the vast majority of us as we've always done this! 

Pretty sure that these new guidelines will be enforced everywhere.