Pittsburgh, PA

We’ve put together this article to help Hosts on Airbnb become familiar with hosting responsibilities, and to provide a general overview of different laws, regulations, and best practices that may affect Hosts. You’re required to follow our guidelines, like our Hosting Standards, and to make sure that you follow the laws and other rules that apply to your specific circumstances and locale.

We recommend that you do your own research, as this article isn’t fully comprehensive and doesn’t constitute legal or tax advice. Also, as we don’t update this article in real time, please check each source and make sure that the information provided hasn’t recently changed.

Taxes

Tax is a complex topic. Your tax obligations vary based on your particular circumstances. For this reason we recommend that you research your tax obligations or consult a tax consultant for more specific information. You can see what you have earned in your Host earnings summary.

General regulations and permissions

It’s important to make sure you’re allowed to host guests in your property. Your ability to host may be restricted by contracts, laws, and community rules.

Check with a legal expert or local authority to learn more about regulations, restrictions, and obligations specific to your circumstances and locale. You can use the general info in this article as a starting point.

Contractual agreements and permits

Sometimes leases, contracts, building regulations, and community rules have restrictions on subletting or hosting. Review any contracts you’ve signed and contact whoever is responsible for your building and property to understand what rules might affect your ability to host. This could be your landlord, community council, or building manager.

If everyone agrees, you might be able to amend agreements that restrict your ability to host.

Mortgage restrictions

If your property has a mortgage (or any form of loan), check with the lender to make sure that there aren’t restrictions on subletting or hosting.

Housemates

If you share your home with others, consider making a formal agreement with your housemates. Housemate agreements can include how often you plan to host, guest etiquette, whether you'll share revenue, and more.

Misuse

We’ll take appropriate action if anyone notifies us of potential misuse. We have guidelines to help local authorities report housing misuse.

Cleanliness and hygiene

Global information about Airbnb’s 5-step enhanced cleaning process can be found in general info about hosting places to stay.

Safety

We care about the safety of Hosts and their guests. You can improve your guests’ peace of mind by providing a few simple preparations like emergency instructions and noting any potential hazards.

Emergency contact information

Include a contact list with the following phone numbers:

• Local emergency numbers
• The number for the nearest hospital
• Your contact number
• A number for a backup contact (in case guests can’t reach you)

It’s also a good idea to make sure guests know the best way to contact you in case of an emergency. You can also communicate with guests using messages on Airbnb as a safe alternative.

Medical supplies

Keep a first aid kit and tell your guests where it is. Check it regularly so you can restock supplies if they run out.

Gas appliances

If you have gas appliances, follow any applicable gas safety regulations and make sure you have a functioning carbon monoxide detector.

Fire prevention

Provide a fire extinguisher, fire alarm and carbon monoxide detector and remember to maintain each device regularly.

Exits

Ensure you have a clearly marked fire escape route. Post a map of the route so it’s easy for guests to see.

Hazard prevention

Here are some ways you can help prevent potential hazards:

• Inspect your home to identify any areas where guests might trip or fall
• Remove the hazards you identify or mark them clearly
• Fix any exposed wires
• Make sure your stairs are safe and have railings
• Remove or lock up any objects that may be dangerous to your guests

Child safety

Some guests travel with young family members and need to understand if your home is right for them. You can use the Additional notes section of Listing details in your Airbnb account to indicate potential hazards or indicate that your home isn’t suitable for children and infants.

Climate control

Working appliances, like furnaces and air conditioners, can greatly affect your guests’ comfort during their stay. There are lots of ways you can make sure your guests stay comfortable:

• Make sure your home is properly ventilated
• Provide instructions on how to safely use the heater and air conditioning
• Check that the thermostat is working correctly and make sure that guests know where to find it
• Service the appliances regularly

Occupancy limits

Establish safe occupancy limits. Your local government may have guidelines.

Courtesy

Part of being a responsible Host is helping your guests understand best practices for interacting with your community. When you communicate local rules and customs with your guests, you’re helping to create a great experience for everyone.

Building rules

If your building has common spaces or shared amenities, let guests know the rules for those places.

House rules

You can include your house rules on the Additional notes section of Listing details in your Airbnb account. Guests usually appreciate it when you share your expectations with them upfront.

Neighbors

It’s usually a good idea to let your neighbors know if you’re planning to host. This gives them the chance to let you know if they have any concerns or considerations.

Noise

Guests book through Airbnb for lots of reasons, including vacations and celebrations. Let your guests know how noise impacts neighbors early on for a smoother experience.

If you’re concerned about disturbances to your community, there are different ways you can help limit excessive noise:

• Implement a quiet hours policy
• Don’t allow pets
• Indicate that your listing isn’t suitable for children or infants
• Prohibit parties and additional unregistered guests

If your neighbours want to raise a concern to us directly, they can submit an issue through our Neighbour Tool.

Parking

Communicate any parking rules for your building and neighborhood to your guests. Examples of possible parking rules:

• Only park in an assigned space
• Don’t park on the west side of the street on Tuesdays and Thursdays due to street cleaning
• Street parking is only available from 7pm–7am

Pets

First, check your lease or building rules to make sure there isn’t a restriction on pets. If you allow guests to bring pets, they’ll appreciate knowing good places to exercise their pet or where they should dispose of waste. Share a backup plan, like the number of a nearby pet kennel, in case a guest's pet upsets the neighbors.

Privacy

Always respect your guests' privacy. Our rules on surveillance devices clearly state what we expect from our Hosts, but some locations have additional laws and regulations that you’ll need to be aware of.

Smoking

If you don't allow smoking, we suggest posting signs to remind guests. If you do allow smoking, be sure to provide ashtrays in designated areas.

Insurance

Work with your insurance agent or carrier to determine what kind of obligations, limits, and coverage are required for your specific circumstances.

Host damage protection and Host liability insurance

AirCover for Hosts includes Host damage protection and Host liability insurance, which provide you with basic coverage for listed damages and liabilities. However, these don’t take the place of homeowner's insurance, renter's insurance, or adequate liability coverage. You might need to meet other insurance requirements as well.

We strongly encourage all Hosts to review and understand the terms of their insurance policy coverage. Not all insurance plans will cover damage or loss of property caused by a guest who books your accommodation.

Learn more about AirCover for Hosts

Liability and basic coverage

Review your homeowner's or renter's policy with your insurance agent or carrier to make sure your listing has adequate liability coverage and property protection.