If a host asks you to pay outside Airbnb
With few exceptions, the full cost of your reservation is collected by Airbnb. In some cases, hosts may collect additional payments outside Airbnb, but these should be included in the price breakdown at the time of booking and disclosed in the listing description before your reservation is confirmed.
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 authorised hosts, and taxes must be detailed in the listing description or house rules if they aren’t included in the price breakdown prior to booking. These types of 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 occupancy tax in person. Find out more about how taxes work for guests.
Additionally, some hosts offer extra optional amenities to enhance their guests’ stays. Any payment for optional amenities should be sent on Airbnb using the Resolution Centre.
Learn more about what fees hosts can collect outside Airbnb.
What to do if a host asks you to pay outside Airbnb
If your host is requesting that you pay a fee or tax that’s authorised to be collected outside Airbnb and was included in the listing description (or house rules) and price breakdown when you booked, you can arrange payment with your host. Often, guests can choose to pay their host using the Resolution Centre, a payment method outside Airbnb or in person.
When to report payment requests to Airbnb
If you are 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 unauthorised payment offsite, which includes payments requests from anyone claiming to represent Airbnb
Please note that signs of fraud may include bank transfer requests and PDF or paper invoices. Stay mindful of terms like Western Union, MoneyGram, cashier’s cheque, money order or Liberty Reserve.
Report a message
Report a message on desktop
- 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
Report a message in the Airbnb app
- Tap Messages
and select the conversation you want to report - Hold the message to show the three dots
- Tap Report this message
- Select the reason you’re reporting the message and tap OK
- Give further details (if required) and then tap Submit
Report a message in the Airbnb app
- Tap Messages and select the conversation you want to report
- Hold the message to show the three dots
- Tap Report this message
- Select the reason you’re reporting the message and tap OK
- Give further details (if required) and then tap Submit
Report a message on mobile browser
- Tap Messages and select the conversation you want to report
- Tap the message to show the three dots
- Tap Report this message
- Select the reason you’re reporting the message and tap OK
- Give further details (if required) and then tap Submit
Note: Any reservations that are made outside Airbnb violate our Terms of Service. If we identify that a reservation has been made through a third-party service, we may cancel the reservation and deactivate the accounts of the person who has made the reservation and the guest.
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