What is an Airbnb cohost? An Airbnb co-host is a person who assists Airbnb property owners in managing and renting out their accommodation on the platform. They play a crucial role in helping hosts run their Airbnb listings efficiently and providing an enhanced experience for their guests. Usually, they are a friend, family member, neighbour, or someone hired specifically to take on the role.
The responsibilities of an Airbnb co-host can vary depending on the agreement with the property owner. Typically, and Airbnb co host will handle tasks such as responding to guest enquiries, managing reservations and bookings, coordinating check-ins and check-outs, and ensuring the property is clean and well-maintained. They may also address any issues that arise during a guest's stay, and act as a local point of contact.
An Airbnb cohost can be particularly valuable for property owners who lack the time, expertise, or local presence required to effectively manage their listing. By sharing responsibilities with a co-host, the primary host can focus on other aspects of their lives while still benefiting from the income generated by their Airbnb property.
In this guide from UpperKey, we will look at why you might need help from a co-host, what is involved with making someone a co-host for your Airbnb, what the Airbnb co-host responsibilities are, and the advantages and disadvantages of running an Airbnb cohosting business.
Why Might You Need a Cohost Airbnb?
There are several reasons why you might need a co-host for your Airbnb listing. For example:
Time management: Managing an Airbnb property can be time-consuming, especially if you have multiple listings or a busy schedule. A co-host can help handle most of the tasks that take you away from your other responsibilities.
Expertise and experience: If you choose a co-host with experience in the short-term rental market, they can bring valuable knowledge and insights that you might not have. An experienced co-host like UpperKey will understand the best pricing strategies, marketing techniques, and guest management practices to optimise your listing.
Local presence: If you don't live close to your Airbnb property, having a co-host who resides locally can be a great advantage. They can personally attend to guests and address any urgent issues that may arise, such as no hot water or internet. This will ultimately enhance the guests’ experience and ensure they leave a positive review.
Multilingual skills: If your listing attracts guests from different countries, a co-host who speaks multiple languages can be beneficial for effective communication and ensuring guests feel comfortable during their stay. You can usually find multilingual experts through property management companies like UpperKey.
Scaling your operations: If you plan to expand your Airbnb business, or you manage multiple properties, a co-host can help you scale your operations without it becoming too overwhelming.
Compliance and legal regulations: A knowledgeable co-host can assist you with navigating any regulations and ensuring your property complies with all applicable laws related to short-term rentals.
What Are the Disadvantages of Cohosting Airbnb UK?
Although there are many different reasons why you may want to find a co-host, and many advantages that come with this, there are also a few disadvantages that you will need to consider. For example, you will need to agree on an Airbnb co-host payment plan, meaning your co-host will be sharing your earnings. This may mean you generate less income than if you were to manage the property on your own.
As well as this, if you have chosen a friend or family member as your co-host, you need to be realistic about the possibility of conflict arising. You will need to liaise closely with one another and keep an up-to-date schedule that you can both check to avoid any clashes when it comes to professional and personal commitments. If juggling your Airbnb host responsibilities begin to cause regular issues, you may want to look into a professional management company instead.
Who Can Become a Cohost Airbnb?
As mentioned, Airbnb co-hosts are usually family members, friends, or you can even use Airbnb property management companies. It's important to choose a co-host whom you trust and can communicate with clearly so that they fully understand their responsibilities and expectations.
That said, anyone who meets Airbnb's requirements and guidelines can become a co-host on the platform. Here are the general criteria for someone to become a co-host:
Age and Legal Requirements: Co-hosts must be of legal age in their respective jurisdictions. In many places, this is typically 18 years old or older.
Trust and Responsibility: By choosing a co-host, you are putting them in a position of trust, as they will have access to manage your listing(s) and interact with guests. As the primary host, you should feel confident in the co-host's abilities and reliability.
Knowledge and Experience: While this isn’t a requirement, having prior experience in hospitality, property management, or customer service can be beneficial for a co-host to provide an excellent guest experience.
Communication Skills: Effective communication is essential for a co-host, as they will be interacting with your guests and keeping you up to date. Fluency in the local language and potentially other languages, depending on the guests’ demographics, can be advantageous.
Airbnb Account: The co-host must also have an active Airbnb account. If they don't have one, they can create an account on the Airbnb website or app, and this is both free and easy to do.
Invitation from the Host: A person can become a co-host only if a current Airbnb host invites them to co-host their listing. As the host, you will need to send an invitation to your chosen co-host's email address or Airbnb username, and they will need to accept the invitation.
Remember that Airbnb may have specific policies or regulations in different regions, so it's essential to review their guidelines and terms of service to ensure compliance. Additionally, as a host and co-host, you must both have a clear understanding of your respective roles and responsibilities to ensure a successful collaboration.
How Do I Add a Cohost?
Now that you have decided who will be your co-host Airbnb, you are probably wondering, how do I make someone a co-host on Airbnb? Well, there are a few simple steps you will need to take and all you will need is your login details for your Airbnb account. From here, you can access the Airbnb co-hosting feature. Next, here is what you will need to do:
Open Airbnb Dashboard: Log in to your Airbnb account and access the host dashboard.
Navigate to Listings: Click on the ‘Listings’ tab to view all your listed properties.
Select the Listing: Choose the specific property you want to add a co-host to.
Click on Co-hosts: Within the listing details page, find and click on the ‘Co-hosts’ option, usually located under the ‘Listing settings’ or ‘Manage listing’ section.
Invite a Co-host: On the co-host page, click on ‘Invite someone to co-host’. You'll be prompted to enter the co-host's email address or Airbnb username.
Set Co-host Permissions: Airbnb allows you to assign specific permissions to your co-host. You can choose what actions they can perform, such as messaging guests, handling bookings, or managing the calendar.
Send Invitation: After selecting the permissions, send the Airbnb co-host invitation. The person you invite will receive an email with the invitation and they can accept it through their Airbnb account.
Confirmation and Collaboration: Once the co-host accepts the invitation, they will have access to help you manage the listing. You can now collaborate with your co-host on various aspects of the property, and they will be able to assist with guest communication, bookings, and other designated tasks.
As you can see, there are many more pros than cons to finding an Airbnb co-host, and it is easy enough to add one to your account. If you choose a reliable and knowledgeable partner, they will contribute to the success of your Airbnb listing by providing an excellent guest experience and supporting you in various operational aspects of your short-term rentals.
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