If you don't provide 'essential items' even if you disclose that you don't provide essential items, you are probably going to get routinely bad reviews. The reason is simple, someone traveling is not going to be prepared to go out a buy linens and towels on the first day of their stay. Even AirBnB says that "Every Airbnb host is expected to provide guests what we like to call the essentials: soap, toilet paper, clean sheets and towels." http://blog.airbnb.com/amenities-diy-hosting-tips/
Of course, they will let you list on AirBnB without providing essentials, but (in general) guests expect them and will review negatively if they are not provided, regardless if their unavailability is disclosed in the listing.