Do I, the host, have to pay for my guests wifi upgrades?

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Do I, the host, have to pay for my guests wifi upgrades?

Hi, I have a potential booking, the potential guest wanted a wifi upgrade so I agreed but they say that I, the host, has to pay for the upgrade, not them, the potential guests.  Is that correct?   If so where can I find this info on Airbnb, thanks.

Top Answer
Mike-And-Jane0
Top Contributor
England, United Kingdom

@Mike-And-Chantal0 If better wifi was a condition of them booking then yes you do have to pay for it. It won't appear in Airbnb's info as it is really just common sense.

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7 Replies 7
Mike-And-Jane0
Top Contributor
England, United Kingdom

@Mike-And-Chantal0 If better wifi was a condition of them booking then yes you do have to pay for it. It won't appear in Airbnb's info as it is really just common sense.

@Mike-And-Jane0   My understanding was that it's a potential  booking, not a confirmed one. If this is correct, no conditions have been agreed to yet. It's astounding what some people try to pull when they catch a whiff of fresh blood.

Thank you for your reply, it was very helpful.

@Mike-And-Chantal0   No, it is not correct.

 

What you most likely have here is a high-maintenance guest looking to take advantage of the fact that you're a new host. We all know the type. If you accept the booking, they'll start demanding more and more unadvertised features after check-in, at your own expense, and if you don't yield, they use spurious complaints in pursuit of a deeply discounted or even free stay. The cherry on top will be a whiny review that makes it hard to attract further bookings.

 

A sensible guest would choose a listing that suits their needs in its present state, not demand upgrades before they've even shown up. This request should go directly into the garbage.

 

Your listing offers Wi-Fi with continuous access throughout the building, so as long is this is accurate, it's all you're obliged to provide. If guests ask, you may disclose the connection speed as a reference point, or mention how often your area experiences service interruptions (if any). Guests with concerns about limitations may, of course, supply their own mobile hotspots. 

 

It's rare for a home to be fully formed on its first booking, so you will probably find yourself making some upgrades based on guest feedback. But I only recommend doing this when you're confident that they are worthwhile long-term investments, and never on command.

Mark116
Level 10
Jersey City, NJ

@Mike-And-Chantal0   It's up to you, but I would try to get these people to cancel.  Demanding that the host upgrade the wifi, which will be an ongoing expense, in order to book is a sign of a high maintenance guest who won't be happy.  However, if you  have decided to upgrade the wifi going forward, then you should pay for it yourself. 

Sarah977
Level 10
Sayulita, Mexico

@Mike-And-Chantal0  The prospective guest is telling you that you have to  pay for a wifi upgrade because he wants one?

 

Major red flag- decline.

Emilia42
Level 10
Orono, ME

@Mike-And-Chantal0 

Get as far away from this booking as you can.