Arabic version: رسوم المضيفين الجديدة من Airbnb تعيد تشكيل اقتصاديات الإيجارات

According to Cnbc, Airbnb will move all U.S. hosts to a new fee structure by Sept. 15, shifting a larger share of the platform’s service charge to property owners. Under the previous system, hosts generally paid a 3% fee on the booking subtotal while guests paid a separate 14.1% to 16.5% service fee at checkout. The new model charges hosts a single 15.5% service fee and removes the separate guest service fee.

The change could lead hosts to increase listed prices to protect their earnings. AirDNA found that when Airbnb moved an earlier group of hosts to the structure last year, about 30% raised prices enough to fully offset the higher fee and another 30% partially offset it. Some commenters on Airbnb host forums said they were considering leaving the platform or moving to long-term rentals.

Chris Dickey, who has rented out a single-family home in Moab, Utah, since 2021, said he raised his listed rates while keeping the total price paid by guests roughly unchanged. He called the 15.5% fee more transparent, though he said bookings were slowing and the market had not yet normalized the change. Airbnb told CNBC Make It that clearer upfront pricing for guests could help drive demand and benefit hosts.

Hosts said fee policies are only one part of operating a short-term rental. They must manage competition, seasonal demand, nightly pricing, cleaning, maintenance, utilities, insurance and guest needs. Sébastien Long, founder and CEO of furnished-rental operator Lodgeur, said hosting is a serious undertaking rather than an easy way to make money. Jason Baxter, founder of short-term rental revenue management firm Marketics, said people seeking passive rather than active income should avoid it.

Local rules can also shape a rental’s prospects through permitting, licensing and tax costs, and regulations may change after an owner begins operating. New York City started enforcing registration requirements in 2023 that further restricted rentals of entire homes or apartments for stays under 30 days. Prospective owners should examine current rules and a market’s regulatory history before entering the short-term rental business.