Last updated on June 21st, 2023
Airbnb Smoking Fee
Key Takeaways
- Airbnb’s host damage protection covers every host’s claim for any damages, cleaning costs, or income lost. Particularly when guests damage certain belongings or leave a permanent stain. However, this excludes loss due to natural disasters, injury, and wear & tear items among others.
- Learn how you can claim a smoking fee issue, Airbnb’s reimbursement process, and a free text template sample that you can use to send to Airbnb. We also threw out expert tips on how to avoid smoking issues in your listing.
Introduction
Getting rid of smoke odor can be a difficult task for hosts, especially if you have upcoming guests right after the stubborn guests checked out. The majority of hosts who have experienced the same issues have trouble claiming and understanding Airbnb’s process.
So how can Airbnb hosts claim smoking fees? How does Airbnb’s reimbursement process work and what are the requirements that you can provide?
This article will guide you through. If you have a strict no-smoking policy in your listing but still encounter such issues, then you’ve come to the right article.
We’ll feature Airbnb’s host damage protection and its exclusions, requirements to claim smoking fees, and more. Bonus: We also added a FREE text template sample that all Airbnb hosts can use. Continue reading and be knowledgeable about this process!
Requirements to Claim Smoking Fees on Airbnb:
While Airbnb does not specifically have any “smoking fees”, they can reimburse for cleaning costs. Before filing a complaint, your house rules must insist that smoking is prohibited.
It’s also important to notify Airbnb right away during the guest’s stay as much as possible. If you asked the guests to stop smoking and they insist anyway, then Airbnb will allow charges.
Here are some of the requirements that you’ll need to claim the Airbnb smoking fee:
- Photos of cigarette packs, ashtrays, stains, or burns on surfaces
- Video footage from security cameras (if applicable) showing guests smoking in or outside of your property
- Receipt for professional cleaning service
- Warning messages from smoke detectors (if applicable)
Note: Airbnb allows hosts to make a claim within 14 days of the guest’s checkout date. The earlier you report, the better! Airbnb smoking fines can vary from $100 – $500, depending on the damages.
What does Airbnb Cleaning Fee Cover?
According to Airbnb Host Damage Protection, the following covers the host’s claims:
- Damage to your property, furnishings, valuables, or belongings caused by guests
- Damage to parked cars, boats, or other vehicles caused by guests
- Unexpected or extra cleaning costs are necessary due to the behavior of a guest during an Airbnb stay. This includes professional carpet cleaning.
- Income loss if you need to cancel confirmed Airbnb bookings due to damage caused by a guest.
On a side note, some of the exclusions of Airbnb cleaning fee includes wear and tear items, loss due to natural disasters, and injury or property damage to guests as seen on Airbnb Host Liability Insurance. There are also certain exclusions that are on a case-to-case basis, so it’s always best to reach out to Airbnb support with sufficient documentation.
How to Claim Smoking Fees: Reimbursement Process of Airbnb
Whether the guests who violated your no-smoking policy on Airbnb are still on your property or have already checked out, here’s what you can do. All the evidence that you have which shows any proof of damage, photos, and video footage, should be submitted within 30 days.
- Request for money on the Resolution Center and file an AirCover for Hosts (within 14 days of the responsible guest’s checkout).
- After you submit your AirCover for Hosts request, your guest will have 24 hours to pay. If they decline to pay the full amount or don’t respond, you’ll be able to involve Airbnb Support.
FREE Airbnb Text Template Sample: Claiming Smoking Fees
Here’s a text template that you can use to report guests and request for cleaning costs to be covered:
“Hi there!
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I would like to report the following guest (name/s) who checked in on (date and time) and checked out on (date and time).
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These guests have clearly violated my house rules against smoking. I gave them a warning, had a couple of “no smoking signs” on my property, and a strict policy against smoking – but they refused to cooperate.
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For this reason, I had to hire a professional cleaning service for intensive cleaning on my property as it’s difficult to remove the odor from (damaged furniture, linens, curtains, or soft furniture).
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Please see the following receipt(s), photos, and video footage which serve as evidence of this claim. I look forward to your immediate help and assistance in this matter.
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Kind regards,
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(Your name)”
Expert Tips: How to Prevent Smoking Fee Issues
Airbnb hosts who tried to claim extra cleaning fees (due to smoking guests) from Airbnb and failed to do so depend on a case-to-case basis. Therefore, to prevent smoking fee issues, here are some expert tips that you can follow:
1. Set out strict house rules against smokers
Let’s face it – there are still stubborn guests out there who violate rules despite clearly indicating them on your listing. You can set a couple of stickers or signs stating “no smoking allowed” on your property. Once your guests have confirmed their booking, you can also send a sample message as a reminder to Airbnb no smoking policy:
“Thank you for taking interest in our humble abode, (guest’s name)!
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Just wanted to confirm the dates of your stay – (number of people) on (date). Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. I’d also like to remind you that our home is a non-smoking property and we look forward to your cooperation.
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Looking forward to welcoming you!
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(Host’s name)”
2. Install an outdoor security camera
While other hosts prefer not to install an outdoor security camera, it’s highly recommended. Not only for catching guests who violate certain house rules but also for utmost safety. There are several options for outdoor security cameras that you can take advantage of.
3. Utilize smoke sensors/detectors
Smoke sensors are not only beneficial for Airbnb properties but all properties in general. Aside from fire safety, cigarette smoke detector for Airbnb are important to use for hosts as they can warn you beforehand. The major perk is that you can report violators to Airbnb right away. Once installed, you can also add a “carbon monoxide detector” feature to your Airbnb listing.
Takeaway
Airbnb supports all hosts and has set certain standards for claiming reports such as additional pet cleaning costs, or in this case, smoking fees.
In summary, if you’re wondering, “Does Airbnb refund cleaning fees”? The answer depends on the situation, but they usually refund it with sufficient documentation.
While it can certainly become a hassle for most hosts, you can follow our expert tips for prevention and avoid it from happening again. If you’re wondering whether your competitors within the area have a smoking policy, you can manually search through them on Airbnb, or use an Airbnb analytics tool like Airbtics.
This tool will not only help you determine that – but also leverage your game in the industry by looking at emerging markets. It is also built to determine your profitability using an Airbnb income calculator and make the best investment decisions moving forward!
