TikTokers are calling out ‘excessive’ rules in Airbnb rentals: ‘Sounds like they shouldn’t be renting out their house’
When it comes to Airbnb rentals, some hosts are lax on cleanup rules, others are on the complete opposite end of the spectrum with exceptionally strict and detailed rental rules.
For instance, Becky Levin Navarro (@beckypearlatx), a mother of three and founder of event-planning business Pearl Events Austin, shared a TikTok that detailed the excessive amount of rules posted in the Airbnb her family had rented over a weekend.
Among the rules printed and posted all over various locations in the Airbnb Navarro and another family rented were signs that prohibited jumping on the bed, one that described a decorative object as “10,000 years old” and warned renters not to touch it or it would break and even shelves that were labeled as “owners’ use only.”
Navarro’s video provided lots of entertainment to commenters, but the excessive rules and strict nature are also reflective of some of the bigger concerns about using Airbnb for short-term rentals.
House rules gone overboard?
“Ya’ll, I don’t get it,” Navarro captioned her video. “The rules displayed all over the house killed me. It seemed like every room and surface had a note. It almost felt like we weren’t on vacation with. So.many.rules.”
A fan favorite, according to the comment section in Navarro's TikTok, was a cactus that appeared in need of watering with a note that read “DO NOT TOUCH.”
“It’s the ‘do not touch’ on the DYING cactus for me,” laughed @ashyattack.
Commenters took to Navarro’s comment section to express confusion alongside her — and pointed out that if someone feels the need to post that many detailed rules and “notes” in a short-term rental, they may want to reconsider renting their space out altogether.
“I think they are in the wrong business. Maybe they meant to open a museum,” observed @imarlee88.
“Sounds like they shouldn’t be renting out their house,” added @jennydemarcoweddings.
“I’ll just stay in a hotel, thanks,” wrote @lily_rose_v.
Other commenters pointed out that if someone is providing a short-term rental unit, it might be wise to ensure none of the items in the space are so precious that they can’t be replaced due to the unpredictable nature of renting.
“Why are all their most precious belongings not in their actual home?” asked @userg716ta9sf3.
“Why on earth would you have sentimental, priceless, rare, or fragile items in your short-term rental home?” added @userg716ta9sf3.
Are Airbnbs on the decline?
Excessive rules and fees are an ongoing issue that has some people believing that Airbnb has entered its flop era. And indeed, in May 2023, Reuters reported that Airbnb expected a decline in both bookings and profits.
Part of the problem has been the fees that hosts are able to stipulate for seemingly minor things. For instance, father of two @doveslayer89 shared a TikTok of the rules and fee list he received ahead of time from a host when he tried to reserve a rental.
The fees included being charged $50/minute for any time he was on the property past checkout, $50 per guest for wearing shoes in the house, a $100 fee if the host had to replace a cooking lid and $500/door for “door lock prohibited.” Losing a knife would have been equally expensive because she also charged a $500 knife replacement fee.
He also claimed that if you exceeded the two-trash-bag limit, you’d get charged $2,000 and if you broke a TV, the charge would be $5,000. As part of his TikTok warning others about the excessive fees some hosts try to tack on just to “make a quick buck,” @doveslayer89 also noted that potential guests should always take pictures of any fee lists they get ahead of time — because hosts can and will change the fees after booking too.
Adrielle Sigler (@veganrizz) also shared her frustrations about an Airbnb she wanted to rent with excessive rules, including one stipulation against hair dye and glitter.
“I want to know what the story is behind that,” she said. “What happened that it is a rule that there is no glitter? What could have possibly happened with glitter?”
Finance TikToker Krystal Reneé Todd (@krystaltoddcpa) also pointed out that the check-in and check-out times of Airbnbs are becoming problematic. For instance, the Airbnb she wanted to rent had a check-in time of 4 PM and a checkout of 10 AM and a friend of hers even had a check-in time of 5 PM.
“My check-in is 5 pm. No early check-in, no late check-out, or baggage drops. People so often say if you give an inch, people try to take a mile,” wrote one Airbnb owner on a forum for hosts.
Todd acknowledged that cleaning an Airbnb can take upwards of four hours, but still expressed that a check-in of 5 PM and a checkout of 10 AM was extreme — and missed the point of offering guests an enjoyable experience.
“Some hosts are losing sight of the hospitable part of hospitality,” she noted.
More than meets the eye
Part of the ongoing concerns about Airbnb also includes the advent of more hidden security cameras.
Although it’s strictly against Airbnb rules, people have found hidden cameras in their rental units, like one woman vacationing with 15 other girls for a friend’s 30th birthday party who found a hidden camera in a faux bathroom “outlet” that was pointed directly at the shower.
Airbnb does allow exterior cameras in rental units in common areas like driveways or entrances under two conditions:
All cameras or recording devices must be clearly visible or identifiable.
The hosts must disclose that there are recording devices and where they are prior to a reservation being made.
Airbnb also specifically prohibits cameras or recording devices in any area known to be private, like bedrooms, bathrooms and sleeping areas. Hidden or unidentifiable cameras are also prohibited.
Despite the rules surrounding cameras, being watched was a concern Navarro echoed in her TikTok.
“Honestly, i was hesitant to post because I thought they’re definitely watching and will see this and not refund our security deposit,” she wrote in her comments.
“It’s blowing up! I hope you already left,” replied @electricwill350.
In The Know by Yahoo is now available on Apple News — follow us here!
The post TikTokers are calling out ‘excessive’ rules in Airbnb rentals: ‘Sounds like they shouldn’t be renting out their house’ appeared first on In The Know.
More from In The Know:
Airbnb host shares the unusual things people leave behind after their stay
12 flowy pants under $50 that are hanging out at Nordstrom right now
