Airbnb fee change frustrates hosts-what to know before listing
Airbnb is transitioning all U.S. hosts to a new fee structure that replaces separate guest service fees with a single 15.5% host service fee. While the company claims this increases transparency, many hosts are concerned about the impact on their earnings and are raising prices to compensate.
Why it matters
This change significantly alters the business model for short-term rental operators and affects the final pricing structure for consumers.
Renting out a home on Airbnb can be a good way to earn some extra cash — but a new fee policy shows how quickly the economics of running a short-term rental can change.
By Sept. 15, Airbnb is moving all U.S. hosts to a new fee structure, the company says . Under the old system , hosts generally paid a service fee equal to 3% of the booking subtotal while guests paid a separate 14.1% to 16.5% service fee on top of that price at checkout. Under the new system, hosts will instead pay a single 15.5% service fee, with no separate service fee added for guests at checkout.
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