Pets

[Lisa1396]

What is a fair pet fee? Is 100.00 flat

( regardless of the size, breed, or how many pets) reasonable? When guests have pets and dont tell you about it what steps can be taken to prevent this?? Ring doorbell? Other than requesting money for the pet(s) and getting Airbnb involved when they are in the wrong & refuse to pay it what stipulations can I add to avoid this? It's so disrespectful and frustrating when a clean takes you longer due to pets you were NOT told about. 

[Anonymous]

@Lisa1396  When considering an appropriate rate for pets, one thing to bear in mind is that Airbnb's terms specifically stipulate that damage caused by animals/pets is not covered by the Host Guarantee. So if dogs scratch up your hardwood floors, rip your carpets, or tear your upholstery, the amount you charged for your pet fee is the only compensation you're going to get.

With that in mind, if you'd like to accept guests with pets I'd recommend having a separate listing on a platform that allows you to hold the deposit rather than delegate it to their staff.

If you have a strict no-pets rule, you can refuse entry to a guest who arrives with a pet or terminate the booking if you discover it mid-stay. Any other measures you can take will really depend on how hands-on of a host you are and how much you monitor your property. Airbnb facilitates the booking and payment process but of course it's up to you as the host to be the gatekeeper and security guard.

[Fabian642]

@Anonymous , I'm considering accepting pets for my AirBnB listing. I like your suggestion to duplicate my property listing on another site specific for the pet.

[Wendy114]

Is it possible to have the charge for pets added to the rent?

[Leah120]

I believe it only fair to the host. If we are gracious yo allow pets we sc should be compensated for it. I have had do many horror stories,  I  have clicked the no pets button.  Sorry to the good pet owner who managed theirs, but others have ruined it for you. 

[Bob68]

How do you charge a pet fee?  I don't see a place for it under "Extra charges".  We are, and want to stay, pet friendly but we had a guest bring a dog and a cat without telling us up front and now we have a guest with 2 dogs and a 1 cat and they didn't tell us about any of them and just said your listing said "pet friendly" so they thought it was okay.

Suggestions on how to handle would be very much appreciated.

[Stephanie946]

Bob, If you're still looking for an answer to this question, I'll offer some tips.

Airbnb does not have a way to charge up front for the pet fee. They will not answer the question "why" and have promised to add the feature for years, but have not added it. You have to add the pet fee to your house rules page so the guest is made aware of it prior to booking. Then, EVERY TIME someone books your property, you have to ask if they are bringing any pets. IF they are honest and say they are bringing pets, you then inform them that you will be sending a request for money to cover the pet fee. The guest has to agree to the fee AND pay the fee separately from the reservation. You receive that money when you get your payout. As other have noted, the fee you collect is the only compensation you will get if the pet causes damage and/or extra cleanup.

We have been hosting pets at our property for just over a year, and the worst we've experienced is extra cleanup - lots of hair, cat litter tracked under the bed and furniture, and slobber on the couches. Just recently a guest balked at the pet fee, and became very disrespectful over it. I ended up canceling the reservation because the guest was showing signs that he would use this fee to disrespect our property. If Airbnb would add the pet fee to the reservation up front, the issue with that guest would never have happened.

I think it's a real disservice to guests AND hosts that Airbnb doesn't give us the ability to charge the pet fee up front. Better communication is better business.

I would love to know what solutions you've found and how your pet-hosting experiences have gone.

[Keith6]

AIRBNB MANAGEMENT REGARDING PETS:  YOU BIG HEADED BIG SHOTS THAT ARE TRYING TO PROTECT GUESTS ARE ACTUALLY HURTING THEM, MAKING THEM SICK AND THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON TO NOT PUT IN A RADIO BUTTON TO INDICATE IF GUESTS HAVE PETS.   

I do allow pets in one of my listings, and I put in the info that there is a $10 pet fee, which 3 out of 5 do not tell me in advance if they have pets... well that is making the next guests that check in SICK...Yes, and you are the one doing it, you are making guests sick.  The next guest may be allergic to cats or dogs, and often they do state this, and if I know the guest checking out had a pet, then I can advise the next guests of this, but No, you do not have anything for a guest to indicate they have pets up front when booking... THAT NEEDS TO BE COMMUNICATED TO HOSTS.   When a guest advises they have a pet, I put out pet pads, water/eating bowls, a very nice touch, then I have to make sure I have another cleaning person come in instead of one of my girls whom is allergic to cats.   And if a male dog, then I have to have walls specifically wiped down 3', OR DO YOU WANT THE NEXT GUEST COMING IN WITH DOG PEE ON THE WALLS?   I WOULD HOPE NOT..  If guests do not indicate they have pets, then hosts don't know to prepare for them checking in and for the extra clean up needed after....  SO WHO EVER FROM AIRBNB READS THIS,  SEND IT UP THE CHAIN TO AT LEAST THREE HIGHER, BECAUSE TWO OF THEM WILL BE TO LAZY TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.   YOUR IT DEPARTMENT CAN PUT A RADIO BUTTON IN FOR GUESTS TO INDICATE THEY HAVE PETS IN LESS THAN A MINUTE, SO WHY YOU DON'T HAVE THIS IS IDIOTIC.  IT NEEDS TO BE DONE YESTERDAY TO PROTECT HOSTS AND GUESTS.  PERIOD.  A how often is it that hosts that do not allow pets have guests with pets show up, especially being sneaky about it and not saying anything.  Many times the host does catch them and have to turn them away, why are you helping guests be sneaky and deceiving hosts about pets... Put in a button for guests to indicate they have pets and many issues will be resolved before they are even an issue... It is just too simple to fix and help protect everyone, SO GO DO IT RIGHT NOW. PERIOD

[Kim901]

I had an unauthorized cat arrive ( I’m allergic) and when I confronted the guest and contacted AIRBNB, the guest was allowed to cancel and received a FULL REFUND. AIRBNB did not remove the payment from me, but I believe this policy only encourages bad behavior by AIRBNB guests who knowingly break house rules.