Pets

[Traci253]

How do you or can you charge a guest for having a dog when you have a no pet policy after they check in?

[Deb216]

@Traci253

It is YOUR property. 

If you clearly stated your NO PET POLICY in your House Rules, which the guest had to agree to in order to book your property, then the guest is in violation of your house rules, in which case you can call Airbnb and ask them to contact the guest, or you could send a polite message via the Airbnb message inbox asking why the dog is on your property.  Be careful though, if you have undisclosed cameras, you would be in violation yourself.

You cannot charge a pet fee if you have a NO PET POLICY.

I've heard some hosts charge a pet fee only to discover that there may not be a limit on the number of pets.  (Example: $50 pet fee....but not PER PET).

I believe you have the right to request the guest and his/her group (including the pet) vacate your property immediately.  You would have to refund all remaining nights fees, but not the night(s) they stayed, nor the cleaning fee.

If the guest brought a service animal.  That's an entirely different situation. 

Do your research. 

Be careful what you say/ask. 

Good luck.

[Kitty-and-Creek0]

@Deb216 

This is tough. 

I have issues with the idea of charging for a pet when there is a no pets policy. It seems to me that this house rule is therefore not a rule, but a suggestion. Along the same lines, a No Smoking rule that can be broken with a monetary fee or fine, is not a rule. 

I agree with @Traci253 's opinion.

I hope I never have to enforce my own house rules, and I have not had to. It would be difficult and against my nature to do so, but I'd have to do it immediately and as compassionately as I could manage. 

Best of luck to you in this awkward situation!

[Lorina14]

@Traci253 

I would contact Airbnb support and state that you are concerned as a guest checked in with a pet when you have a no pet policy.

Like the others said you need to be careful about how you ask about pets as service animals are not considered pets and therefore one cannot charge a pet fee and you also could get in trouble for how you ask questions about the service animal.

Many people also claim that the “pet” actually is an emotional support animal (ESA) and some even pay $75 online to get a signed certificate from a company stating it is an ESA. You can charge for an ESA but not a service animal. Please read the resource section on this policy for more details as there are only certain questions you can ask legally for service animals. The guest also cannot leave a service animal in your space unaccompanied and you can only ask if it is a service animal and what it supports them with. 

You have the right to enforce your house rules if someone in your family has a severe allergy to animals and one can decline service animals then (otherwise it is illegal to decline a service animal due to discrimination). Please read up more on this policy as well. 

[Paula]

Hello @Traci253, welcome to the community.

I've just come across your post and noticed the suggestions from our Hosts. Please let us know when you have the opportunity to read them.

Regards,