Use Airbnb co‑hosting tools

A key element of being a successful experienced Co‑Host is deciding how you and a Host will divide the work of managing a listing. 

Will you and the Host both message with guests, or will one of you take charge? Will you manage the entire listing and only contact the Host for specific issues, like reimbursement requests? Whatever you decide, Airbnb offers tools to help make co‑hosting easier.

When a Host invites you to co‑host their listing, they’ll be asked to choose what you can access. Options include:

• Full access
• Calendar and inbox access 
• Calendar access only

With full access, you can: 

• Create a new listing
• Message with guests and receive notifications
• Update the calendar
• View transaction history
• Manage a listing, including pricing and other details
• Manage reservations, including accepting and declining trip requests, cancellations, and Resolution Center requests
• Submit a reimbursement request
• Add or remove other Co‑Hosts, edit permissions, and designate yourself or another Co‑Host as the listing’s primary Host

Please note that even with full access, you can’t:

• Set up or edit other Co‑Hosts’ payouts

• Manage reimbursement requests once they are submitted  

• View or change a listing owner’s or other Co‑Host’s payout method or taxpayer info

It’s a good idea to create a plan with Hosts so you know who will be in charge of responding to guests and taking care of other communication. Hosts may want you to take care of it all, or they may prefer to divide the work. 

Elements of communication to consider include:

• Day-to-day messaging, answering questions, and providing solutions to any issues that arise

• Responding to booking requests if a listing doesn’t use Instant Book

• Submitting reimbursement requests (though only listing owners can manage these once submitted)

• Contacting Community Support for help

• Managing other Co‑Hosts

Sabrina, an experienced Co‑Host in Denver, Colorado, finds it helpful to keep guest communication to one person, “so it’s always consistent in regard to policies like discounting, refunds, and guest issues,” she says. 

Problems can arise if there’s not a clear plan. “When there are two people dividing this type of work, things can get confusing,” says Dominic, an experienced Co‑Host in Cornwall, England. “That’s exactly when things get missed, cleaners aren’t lined up, all that sort of stuff.”

Hosts can use optional co‑hosting payout tools to share a percentage or fixed amount per booking with you on Airbnb. They can choose one of four payout options: 

• Share the cleaning fee 

• Share the cleaning fee plus a percentage of the booking amount

• Share a percentage of each payout

• Share a fixed amount of each payout

Only listing owners can set up payouts. Some limitations may apply based on a Host and Co‑Host’s location.

When a Host sets up a co‑hosting payout, you have 14 days to confirm or decline it. Generally you’ll discuss and agree upon your payout amount and method with a Host before they send their request, but if you decline a payout setup, a Host will need to send a new proposal. 

Once you confirm a payout, you’ll start getting paid for bookings about 24 hours after check-in. If a listing owner makes an update to an existing payout, it’ll only apply to bookings that start after you confirm the update.

Information contained in this article may have changed since publication.