extra cleaning fee for long term reservation ?

[Martina252]

Hi guys, 

I am contemplating to add a compulsory cleaning service for stays longer than 7 days. Hence, one cleaning / bedding change, towels etc, per week. 

A) Would you think it is advisable to do so? ( Other then only telling my guests that they MAY ask for a cleaning service ?)

B) I cannot seem to find a way where to possibly add those extra charges for 7 + days reservations ???   

Thanks in advance for your advise 🙂

[Emiel1]

@Martina252,

Long stay guest are different then the ones for a short stay. Mostly they are happy to change the bed themself, if the stuff is provided. Shared spaces can be cleaned as useal by yourself. You can add a price for bedlinnen under "pricing >other standard fees >  choose bedlinnen from menu", but it is considered as a one off price for every reservation and will be added to cleaning fee..So not specifically for long term stay guests.

I host regurarly long term stay guests (up to 10 weeks) . They keep the room clean themself, change the bedlinnen (provided  by me) themself, mostly after every 10 days. Please note most guest do not like the host to enter their room, like in a hotel !

Best regards,

Emiel

[Jessica-and-Henry0 · Accepted solution]

@Martina252

If you try to charge extra for weekly cleaning, the guests will almost always refuse and say they will handle cleaning themselves. My personal opinion is that this weekly clean should be built into the price, and while the day/time will be discussed and agreed with the guest, i think it's best to say this "light" weekly clean consisting of sheet/towel changes, vaccum of certain areas, quick check and wipe down of kitchen/bath, provide additional TP, empty trash which will take about 1hr (max 2hr) is mandatory and non-negotiable. This is also a good way to make sure guests are following house rules and problems do not fester leading to permanent damage. 

https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/Hosting/Long-term-guests-cleaning-and-fees/m-p/883105

https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/Hosting/Bathtub-room-was-flooded-mold-in-the-walls-due-to-reason...

https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/Hosting/Guest-from-Hell/m-p/864054

[John2178]

Great info, Thanks.

Airbnb needs to address areas like these so as to make it fair (and life easier). Adding cleaning fees as a percentage of the nightly cost is a simple and effective solution (and is well received and expected by Guests).

[Natalie524]

I am a new host and confused as to how I can add the cleaning fee or increase it for long term stays. As my listing is now, there the same cleaning fee for 1 night as there is for a 60 night reservation. Which obviously does not make good financial sense. Please help. Thanks in advance. 

[John2178]

Best you inform the Guest via your profile as well as when they book. They can pay you each week cash.

[Leslie714]

Yes, it is difficult. I am a new host. I have someone staying for several months. She is complaining because there is a monthly cleaning fee, but as it is longer stay, there tends to be more "ground-in" dirt in these cases. Should I refund her all but one fee? I can't see where the fee schedule is. Could someone please enlighten me so I can see what she was charged? She now wants to stay another 3 months. Thank you.

[Sarah977]

@Leslie714  There is no "fee schedule". Each host sets their own rules, policies and fees for such things.

If you are going to charge for monthly cleaning, that needs to be stated in your listing info, and worked out with the guest before you accept their booking. You can't just spring extra fees on guests after they book.

As a new host, you shouldn't be taking long term bookings anyway, until you at least have some experience and know how things work. A guest who stays over a month isn't a guest, they are a tenant. 

I would not accept another 3 months on this booking and you really should just eat thhe cost of the monthly cleaning, as this wasn't made clear to the guest when she booked.

[Eric4809]

We always get our unit cleaned weekly, even for guests who stay for a one month reservation.  We used to offer a 25% discount for monthly reservations, but dropped it to 15% to make up for the low cleaning fee, which cannot be adjusted for a reservation lasting one month.

[Karol22]

I would host mid-term stays quite frequently. Guests treat the place differently when they are staying on longer terms, we will clean before and after the stay and are sure to charge enough in accommodation fare to handle any extra costs of cleaning for longer terms. I don't direct any cleaners to clean a listing while a guest is occupying the listing (even if the guest requests it) as it poses liability issues.