Residz Team 3 min read
Are you thinking of renting out your house on Airbnb? Australian hosts are earning an average $3000 per month according to 2021 Airbnb data, so it’s a good way to supplement your income. However, as someone who lives next to an Airbnb-listed property knows, there are a few things you need to consider first.
You may not change your own sheets for a few months, but your guests will expect freshly made beds and a spotless house. Changeovers after every guest take hours of your time or cost more than $100 to outsource the job to others. Have backups for your cleaning company in case they cancel. Expect to troubleshoot any number of issues, like difficulties getting into the property, broken dishwashers, roof leaks, wifi glitches, and guests who haven’t checked out on time. I’ve had to take over a mop and bucket next door to help clean up a flood from a bathroom tap. It’s all part of the joys of being an Airbnb host or neighbour.
Generally Airbnb guests are on their best behaviour, else they risk being blacklisted via the strictly-controlled ratings system. However, houses in popular urban areas are close together and most Airbnb guests are in a holiday mood. Put the two together and you have loud laughter and animated conversation from even the tamest guests. Occasionally guests will bark at their children, swear loudly, squeal as they jump in the pool, or enjoy some noisy canoodling in the backyard. All of these fall outside of your “no parties” rule, but they might annoy neighbours (who are not on holiday) all the same.
In NSW, the Code of Conduct does require that you let your neighbours or body corporate know if you plan to let your place as a short-stay rental.
Your pre-letting vetting is supposed to give you an insight into how responsible guests are going to be, and again, the rating system will make re-booking tough for guests who deliberately trash a home or don’t leave it in good order. That does not mean wear and tear is rare. Spilled wine on furniture and carpets, scratches on floors, broken crockery and glassware, and coffee stains on linen are par for the course. Each booking must be followed by an inspection to make sure there is adequate cutlery, crockery and glassware, and items like chairs and televisions are in working order.
I remember arriving at an Airbnb on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria and finding no linen on any of the beds and bare minimum supplies of it in a cupboard. It was such a small thing, but for parents paying to have a holiday making up all the beds seems so unfair. You get to decide what level of service you are going to provide your guests, but do spell it out clearly on your host listing. Our next door neighbours have an arrangement with a laundromat, which now gets so much business washing local bedding for Airbnb clients they stopped clothes dry cleaning altogether.
Airbnb and other short-term stay providers do provide host cover. According to Airbnb’s Responsible Hosting in Australia page, host liability insurance and host damage protection offers basic coverage for listed damages and liabilities. However, says Airbnb, these don’t take the place of homeowner's insurance, renter's insurance or adequate liability coverage.
Overall, renting out your house on Airbnb or other short-stay platforms can be a great way to make some extra money, but it’s important to weigh the pros and cons carefully before making a decision. If you decide that trying Airbnb is right for you, you may want to employ a professional management company to help make the process as smooth as possible.
Image: Jorge Royan, A couple relaxing in their home on a Sunday. Amsterdam. Wilkipedia Commons