Actual bed and breakfast listings removed because of property type

[Susan1852]

We have an actual Bed and Breakfast that has been in business longer than Airbnb. Some of our room listings are removed because of property type, however we are listing them as a Bed and Breakfast.

[Solveig0]

Hi Susan, have you contacted customer service about it? Are all your listing listed as same property type, but they were still removed?  

[Fiona107]

Susan,  

Airbnb are now worried about b&b's in the EU conforming to commercial law see below.  I got an email last week saying that if I didn't change my property type (from B&B) they would either change it or remove my listing, I have simply added business infomation ((my name, address (same as my hosting address) and email address, stated I am sole trader renting out one bedroom in my home the rest I have said is not applicable : registered no, VAT no, legal rep etc) - I am not a business but it sorts out the conforming to EU legislation and stops me being removed.  Hope this helps if not are you in a large city? 

If you are in London or another large city in the UK (and Europe) there are now restrictions on not renting out for more than 90 days and airbnb simply remove listings when they reach that limit. 

Legal obligations of EU business hosts offering accommodation for rent or other services to consumers on Airbnb

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Note: This page is for informational purposes only. The information provided below isn't intended to be legal advice. If you're unclear about how any of these laws apply to you, seek advice from a lawyer or other legal advisor.

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When do I act as a business host on Airbnb?

According to the law you’re acting as a business host if your hosting activities on Airbnb relate to your trade, business, craft or profession. If you rent accommodations or offer other services as a company or sole proprietor in the offline world, then your hosting activities on Airbnb will most likely also constitute as a commercial activity. If you share your home or offer other services on Airbnb next to your normal business or profession, the qualification of your activity on Airbnb depends on a number of factors. You typically act as a business if you regularly rent your primary or secondary home or offer other services over a longer period of time in order to make a profit. This list is not exhaustive and other activities may mean that you are operating as a business.

If any of the above applies, then you have a legal obligation to declare yourself as a business host on Airbnb.

[Susan17]

@Fiona107 

It's not an EU specific thing. A lot of US hosts reporting similar issues with this too. And it's turning into a right sh*tshow... 

[Fiona107]

In the UK airbnb are saying it is a EU commercial law as I quoted from their website above, I thought that Susan resides in the UK. 

[Trudi15]

I rent out two rooms in my private home where I live as a certified BNB in Switzerland. All legal. I can no longer select strangely as a bnb. Both listings should be as a bed and breakfast - most like my place = house; Property type = bed & breakfast ; listing type = private room. But the new system does not let me select that. strange for one room it did , but not for the other. They are telling me I need to be , house, house, private room, but it does not let me do that either, and I do not want to because then people who are looking for property bed and breakfast will not find me.

Customer support so far after three calls are  USELESS. 

There must be other bnbs our there like me having this issue? is ABNB disrupting on purpose their entire bnb business for some reason to focus more on hotels? 

[Fiona107]

All you have to do is add business information.  Go into your profile > account > professional hosting tools > manage > and business details.  All you then need to do is put in your name, address and an email address, the email address I used is one I set up with an automatic reply stating 

"This email address has been created to comply with airbnb who have insisted that anyone who has a property type of 'Bed & Breakfast' has to enter business details to conform to EU laws.  As they publish email addresses under business information this address is for that purpose and is not used.

If you want to book my accommodation please do so through airbnb.

thanks "

You can put not applicable to all the other fields.

In the uk you only have to register as a bed and breakfast if you rent out more than 3 rooms, you would need to check your own regulations/laws but the above will fix the problem on airbnb to allow you to keep property type of bed and breakfast. 

[Fiona107]

I should add that once you add business details they place this listing is hosted by a business on the front page and then people can view your details - so your address and and email address. 

[Fiona107]

one last thing it takes 24 hours before you see the business details on your listing so they use batch processing to update.

[Fiona107]

CORRECTION  re UK - have just spoken to the environment dept of my local council - Richmondshire, all bed and breakfasts are required by UK law to register with their local authority.  Yes even if you only offer 1 bedroom and put a croissant on a plate, that is considered food handling and they will want to inspect.  I am applying for mine right now so will have a registration number. 

The 3 bedroom is for requiring a fire certificate - any accommodation that is letting out rooms and has more than'6 bed places' in a property requires a certificate all others need to do a Fire risk assessment. 

So looks like Airbnb have got it right for the UK they need our registration numbers if we are giving breakfasts, so for all those who don't want to register stop giving breakfasts.

For all those with more than 6 bed places if you don't have a fire certificate then airbnb's insurance won't cover you and if there was a problem and a court case you could be in trouble .