My listing clearly shows no pets of any type due to Allergies. Apparently, Airbnb now has a policy that states Service Animals are not pets, etc. as the message copied and pasted below shows. Furthermore, if I do not accept the booking, I will be fined $410.00 for refusing.
I have allergies where I get migraines due to scents of any kind, including pets, yet I am being forced to accept a booking that will make me sick or pay $410.00. This lady booked last night and then prior to showing up told me about her bringing her Service Animal. That is when I found out that I would be fined if I did not accept that animal. PLUS, I am not allowed to charge a Cleaning Fee to have that animal's scent removed.
I thought this was my home and my life, apparently Airbnb and now some potential guests do not agree. NOW I must schedule a doctor's appointment to prove I have allergies which is going to cost a lot of money and then let Airbnb know about those allergies and provide proof in order to keep myself and my household safe. How is this fair?
Frustrated.
Below is the message I got when I told Airbnb that I was going to charge a deep carpet and cleaning fee.
Priscilla
You cannot request the guest for the cleaning fee
Here is a help centre article of Accessibility Policy;
https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/1869
A Service Animal is generally a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with disabilities. A Service Animal is not a pet. Guests can generally be accompanied by a Service Animal during a home, service, or experience reservation on Airbnb, regardless of rules that prohibit a pet (for example, “no pets” policy at a home). See below for more details on specific rules for homes and for services and experiences.
Accommodating guests with Service Animals or Emotional Support Animals
Service Animals
During a home reservation, when a guest is accompanied by a Service Animal, hosts are not allowed to do the following because of the guest’s Service Animal:
Refuse a reservation (unless an Airbnb-granted Exemption applies).
Charge the guest additional fees related to the reservation, such as pet fees or cleaning fees for animal hair or dander.
Treat the guest differently than they would another guest (such as by imposing different house rules).
For services and experiences, when a guest requests to be accompanied by a Service Animal during an experience or service, hosts are required to accommodate the request unless doing so would violate applicable law or restrictions outside the host’s control set by the location of the service or experience, or would be unreasonable in the specific circumstances of the service or experience.
Guests with a Service Animal are required to follow these basic rules. The Service Animal must not be:
Outside the guest's control.
Unhousebroken.
Left alone at the listing without prior approval.
Allowed into areas that the host has indicated are off-limits to the guest.
Allowed in shared spaces (ex: spaces shared with people who are not in the guest’s traveling party) without being harnessed, leashed, or tethered (ex: inside of a restaurant, hallways in an apartment building, or a shared kitchen or backyard in private room listings).
Please let me know if you need further assistance apart from this
Regards,
Airbnb Support
