If a host asks you to pay outside Airbnb
The full cost of your reservation is collected by Airbnb, with few exceptions.
In some cases, hosts may collect additional payments outside of the Airbnb platform, but all mandatory charges must be included in the listing’s price breakdown at checkout.
Fees a host can collect from guests directly
On occasion, a host may collect certain fees and taxes directly from guests using a payment method outside Airbnb. These fees can only be collected by certain authorized hosts. Such fees are usually charged before the stay, at check-in, or within 48 hours of checkout.
In some areas, hosts are legally required to collect local taxes in person. These taxes must be detailed in the listing description or house rules if they aren’t included in the price breakdown at checkout. Find out more about how taxes work for guests.
Additionally, some hosts also offer additional optional amenities to enhance their guest's stays. Any payment for optional amenities should be sent on Airbnb using the Resolution Center.
Learn more about what fees hosts can collect outside Airbnb.
What to do if a host asks you to pay outside Airbnb
Your host can request payments outside of the Airbnb platform for a fee detailed in the listing’s price breakdown at checkout or a tax that’s allowed to be collected outside Airbnb and was included in the listing description (or house rules). In either case, you can pay your host in person, using a payment app, or using the Resolution Center.
Hotels may also collect payment off of the Airbnb platform for optional fees where it is in the course of normal business practices (ex: parking).
Other hosts must collect payment for optional fees using the Resolution Center.
Payments for optional fees (ex: parking, amenity upgrades) must be collected on our platform using the Resolution Center.
When to report payment requests to Airbnb
If you're asked on Airbnb, via email, or through another method of communication to make a payment outside Airbnb without prior notice, it may be fraudulent. If any of the following occur in connection with any such payment requests, please report it to us immediately:
- You suspect fraud
- You are caught off-guard by an unfamiliar request to pay outside Airbnb
- You would like to dispute a host’s payment request
- You receive an email requesting an unauthorized payment offsite, which includes payments requests from anyone claiming to represent Airbnb
- You believe a host is attempting to collect a mandatory fee that was not included in the listing’s price breakdown at checkout (ex: pet fees, utilities, security deposit) or the host should not be attempting to collect the fee outside Airbnb.
Please note that signs of fraud may include wire or bank transfer requests, cashier’s check, money order, and PDF or paper invoices.
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- Click Messages and select the conversation you want to report
- In the message, click the three dots
- Click
Report this message - Select the reason you're reporting the message and click OK
- Give further details (if required), and then click Submit
Note: All reservations must be made on Airbnb. Any reservations that are made through a third-party service outside Airbnb violate our Terms of Service. If we identify that a reservation was made through a third-party service, we may cancel the reservation and deactivate the accounts of the person who made the reservation and the guest.
Related articles
- How-to
Collecting fees outside Airbnb
Hosts may not collect any additional fees or charges outside the Airbnb platform unless expressly authorized by Airbnb. - How-to • Guest
If a host asks for more money
All pricing information is included when you book a home, service, or experience—but there are a few situations where you may owe more after paying. - Community policy
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To help ensure safe home stays, services, experiences, and interactions, certain activities and behaviors are not allowed in our community.