Airbnb to Make Fees More Transparent

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Complaints of hidden fees have Airbnb running damage control.

As leisure travel rises in popularity again, room rental services like Airbnb have maintained a healthy userbase. However, as many travelers and vacationers have also been attempting to save money in the face of inflation, complaints have begun rising of Airbnb rentals inflicting renters with hidden fees.

To address these concerns, Airbnb has announced a new policy change starting in December. Going forward, the Airbnb app will feature an option when browsing potential rentals to display the full cost of a rental instead of just the nightly rate. This includes added fees like upkeep and services, presented before taxes. This will prove beneficial to those who complained that they were not made aware of the full scope of cost until the booking was already complete. Search results will also receive an overall, arranging results by total cost instead of nightly rates.

“I’ve heard you loud and clear—you feel like prices aren’t transparent,” Airbnb CEO Brain Chesky tweeted Monday.

“We started as an affordable alternative to hotels, and affordability is especially important today,” Chesky wrote. “During this difficult economic time, we need to help our Hosts provide great value to you.”

According to Chesky, Airbnb will also be issuing new guidance and rules to Airbnb hosts to determine fair pricing for things like upkeep and cleaning. “You shouldn’t have to do unreasonable checkout tasks, such as stripping the beds, doing the laundry, or vacuuming,” he said. “But we think it’s reasonable to turn off the lights, throw food in the trash, and lock the doors—just as you would when leaving your own home.”

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