Place to stay vs private room

[Elisa4168]

My listing is a private room with detached bathroom and access to shared spaces. Airbnb Support confirmed they updated my listing to Room; however, when using the search page, my listing says 'a place to stay' and is removed when filtering by Room. I've spent 3 days with Support and I just keep getting passed to the next representative. This sounds like a backend error. Is this a known issue? 

[Joan2709]

@Arthur728 

Do you share the Kitchen with the guests? If so, I would add photos of the Kitchen and indicate it is a shared space on the photo and in the captions.

You also should add to the Guest Safety Section/Property Info that some spaces are shared and add to the description in this section which spaces are shared. Don't forget the driveway if you allow the guest to park in the driveway. You should add this to your other Rooms listings as well.

I do still think there is an issue with the Rooms Category though. Most likely due to the fact Airbnb removed Categories in April, but didn't seem to have a plan to connect Rooms that were added after April 2025 to the Rooms Filter in guest searches once they removed Categories from guest searches.

[Arthur728]

Ah yes I'll add that too and thank you. We're having the kitchen counter tops replaced this week so I wanted to wait until that was done to post the kitchen pics but I'll do that too. In the mean time I'll look for the "Property has shared spaces section you mentioned above".

[Joan2709]

@Elisa4168 @Bhumika 

Here is Airbnb's Help Article on what is needed in order to be in the Rooms Category:

Rooms Category

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/3400

Per their Help Article, guests must have shared access to one of these areas in order to be categorized as a "room" - kitchen, living room, bathroom. Since you have a private bathroom for guests you can't use that to qualify. You also don't show the Living Room as shared (only the Sunroom). If a guest doesn't have shared access to ONE of these rooms, the listing is categorized as "Place to Stay" - this could be the problem. 

I would add some pictures of the Kitchen to the listing and indicate on the photo that it is a shared space and access is negotiated with the Host and limitations on use of the Kitchen. I would also add to the  listing description and other details a list of ALL the shared spaces: sunroom, backyard, kitchen, etc. 

After adding the Kitchen photos and shared access to Kitchen, then contact Airbnb and ask them for assistance in placing the listing in the Rooms Category. If you don't qualify under their requirements, Airbnb will place the listing in "Place to Stay" instead.

I'm guessing this is the problem with your listing and why Airbnb denied the "Rooms" Category.

It would be helpful if Airbnb provided a reason for why a category is denied - that could have helped you (and other Hosts) to decipher the problem and either add the necessary elements to qualify, or change their property type. 

[Joan2709]

@Elisa4168 

In addition to adding kitchen photos and indicating on the photos it is a shared space....

I noticed your title says "dedicated" bathroom, but your photos say it's shared? It can't be both. It is either a dedicated bathroom exclusively for guest use, or it is a shared bathroom with the Host 

and/or other guests - it can't be both. You'll need to correct that.

[Elisa4168]

I temporarily changed it to shared to see if that would fix the categorization in some way. The logic behind a dedicated bathroom disqualifying a listing as a room is nonsensical. Meanwhile I’m prepping the kitchen to take photos to add. 

[Joan2709]

@Elisa4168 

That was a good idea...but might have been confusing for potential guests. The Ai that curates Categories also looks at photos, title and descriptions, so actually keeping the Title the same (Dedicated Bathroom) might have "confused" it as well:

After you add the Kitchen photos, you'll probably still need to contact Airbnb since you said you were denied the Rooms category twice? Not sure you can apply for it again.

[Joan2709]

@Elisa4168 

Once your listing is updated to the Rooms Category, you'll also see the "Host Passport" appear on the listing thumbnail in guest searches:

[Elisa4168]

An update bc I think it’s comical: I’m still waiting for this issue to be resolved. After 6 or so calls with Airbnb Support, I was told I have to wait an additional 30 days for the elevate Categories request to be reviewed again since it was denied. I resent on the 10/27 and am now in another pending/waiting period. Once the universe finally disintegrates, I’m sure my request will be completed.

[Joan2709]

@Elisa4168 

I think Airbnb is still trying to figure this out and don't believe they anticipated the issue when removing Categories. I don't believe there is really any structure remaining (or resources are greatly reduced) in Elevate for Categories since they were removed in April. 

There are 3 components involved:

1. Room Category

2. Room Guest Search Filter

3. Room Property Type

They will have to figure out a way to handle this without the Room Category being connected to the Room Guest Search Filter. 

The only other option is to remove the Room Search Filter until they can figure out how to fix this, since Hosts not in the room category will not appear in the room filter guest searches and are being penalized for that in guest searches.

[Joan2709]

@Elisa4168 

Your listing is now showing up when selecting the Room filter in search. It still says "Place to Stay" instead of Room though. Did you eventually get in the Room Category?

[Elisa4168]

I requested the category change on Oct 27 after a 30 day waiting period the first time they rejected. Looks like they added the listing to Rooms but not Private Rooms. The requests are still pending.  😒

[Elisa4168]

 

[Joan2709]

@Elisa4168 

Well at least you are showing up when searching for a Room now. Not sure what is the difference between Rooms and Private Rooms. You should have the Host passport photo appearing on the Listing, so maybe that is only if in the Private Rooms Category. 

Might touch base with Airbnb on that one.