Accessibility feature

[Bill-And-Sally0]

I received an email today from AirBnb wanted me to upgrade pictures of my accessibility. Giving the practice and the last few years of liability issues, I have taken off any accessibility features that I have. I have an umbrella policy that I had purchased that will help cover me in the event of accidents, but I prefer to limit my liability issues. PG&E up by the bay area in San Francisco and California found out what liability issues are. In order to limit their liability they are now shutting off electricity when conditions get bad. I would prefer to limit my liability In my own home.

[Alice595]

@Bill-And-Sally0  I received an email for one of my listing as well. I checked that listing that I don't have any accessibility feature checked. I don't understand why I received the email. 

Do you still have the accessibility feature checked? If not, their email triggering system seems to have an issue.

[Bill-And-Sally0]

Hi, I did have my accessibility feature on as I don’t have steps getting into the home. I set this up when I first started Airbnb, and after receiving that email I realize what my liability can be. I went in and turned off all my accessibility features. When I first started Airbnb I also had bought an umbrella insurance policy just in case an accident happened. I would hateTo have a problem as I enjoy doing Airbnb so much. Again, I turned off my accessibility feature.

[Marlene68]

How do I turn off the accessibility feature? I see how to edit & add photos, but my space has a raised patio with steps, a tub-shower combo, etc., and I do not want to misrepresent that. Thanks for help!

[Helen427]

hello @Bill-And-Sally0 @Marlene68 @Alice595 
It's a standardised email that's been sent out.

They are wanting photo's of the features one has ticked, some of which are already photographed so it's questionable why they need to be in the listing twice.

I get the impression ABB are doing an update of their Accessibility access perhaps with a view to make it more user friendly for people who are differently enabled.

Alas, there's all manner of reasons to include things like no stairs etc for people to decide for themselves if it's suitable.

I sometimes have guests who have medical appointments in the area for whatever reason & the no stairs is important to them including a recent guest who has dicky knees.

I'd like to still have my listing in the Accessible places so will have to include yet another photo.

@Laura_CDo you know anymore on this  and forthcoming changes?

Thanks in advance

Central To All Home & Location

Remuera, Auckland, NZ

It also is not suitable say for a person in a wheelchair yet is for others with accessibility issues

[Juliette235]

@Bill-And-Sally0 @Marlene68 @Alice595

@Helen427

My husband and I recently reserved a location in Miami, FL through Airbnb only to have the worst experience.  We reserved Zoltan's Miami location.  The description showed this beautiful place with dishwasher, washer/dryer, private entrance, and others.  When we were a few hours away from the location we were told it was a 3rd floor apartment.  I was only given this information when I inquired about a second code to enter.  There was no indication on the listing that it was an apartment on the 3rd floor with no elevator.  

My husband is 69 and I am 66.  We both have arthritis in our legs.  Can you imagine how we felt finding out only when we were on the way that the place we had reserved for 5 days was on the 3rd floor with no elevator?  After climbing the stairs the first time, we contacted Airbnb and Zoltan, the host, to please find us another location.  After being given the run around for 3 days with promises of a "quick" resolution,  we packed our bags and moved to a hotel. 

The place had too many issues for us to tolerate.  The dishwasher was broken, the dryer was broken, the toilet made a horrifying noise for over 2 minutes.  I had to use a tea kettle in the middle of the night to fill the toilet so I would not have to disturb my husband while he slept.  There were several boxes in the hallway, the view was of an alley with trashcans and the side of the next door building.  There was only a partial roll of toilet paper, the floors were dirty and there was no mop. I  blame Airbnb for listing Zoltan as a super host.  He should be listed as a slumlord.  This is just a partial list of the problems with the stairs being the 1st.

So, if you are wondering why you should list accessibility, it may be that people like me that are disabled will not have to find out the location is not senior citizen, disability, and handicap accessible.  I will be filing a complaint with the ADA, Department of Justice Civil Rights Division Disability Rights, the Better Business Bureau, TripAdvisor, YELP,  Booking.com. and site reviews and any other place I can think of. 

If you are a host, it should be your obligation to inform people in advance that the location is not accessible for senior citizens, handicapped, or disabled..  If you are a super host, please make your location super host standards.  Have some integrity.

Rev. Fred ** and Juliette **

[*personal details hidden]

[Sarah977]

@Juliette235  I'm sorry to hear of your bad experience.  I hope you wrote an appropriate review. Superhost status is based upon a host's ratings and a few other criteria- no one actually physically inspects Airbnb properties, so it's a process that relies to a great extent on user ratings and reports. 

As far as accessibility is concerned, there really isn't any responsibility, as far as Airbnb policy, on the host's part, to inform of accessibility issues. It's the contrary- the host can say the place is disabled- friendly and the guest can filter for disabled-friendly properties, and that's what you should do to ensure that you don't end up at a property that presents issues for you. (I realize you may not consider your age and arthritis as "disabled", I'm just explaining how to book something appropriate) Also, it's a good idea to for guests to communicate with the host before completing a booking, to make sure it will be suitable for you. Just like if someone has allergies to cats or dogs, they shouldn't just assume that there won't be any present- when one's health and ease of mobility is on the line, it's always best to check first.

You can also get a sense of the host from exchanging a message or two. If the host is slow to respond, or doesn't fully answer your questions, or is curt or dismissive, those would be red flags.

All that said, most hosts will mention, as well as show in photos, things like a long flight of stairs, or anything else that could present issues for guests. I certainly do in my listing. But from the sounds of it, this is a terrible host who runs a terrible property. There are some bad hosts, just as there are some bad guests, and occasionally one has the bad luck to end up with them.