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AMA
Original poster

I'm an AirBnB host, AMA

80 replies

SlightlySleepy · 26/04/2019 10:11

If you ever thought of using it but are unsure, or thought about becoming a host. Or, in fact, anything else, ask away.

OP posts:
leghairdontcare · 26/04/2019 10:17

Do you have a separate property to rent out? Did you buy it with the intention of renting it on air BnB? How much profit do you make per annum?

Original poster
SlightlySleepy · 26/04/2019 10:21

It's not a separate property, it's some rooms in my house. When we bought the house we had no thoughts of renting out rooms. We make between £400 and £1000 per month. Most of it is profit because things like heating we would need to do anyway because we live there. The water, electricity and gas bill is a bit higher because of showers and the endless washing machine. Some people eat cereal and toast that we provide, but only about half of guests.

OP posts:
Whatsallthisaboutthen · 26/04/2019 10:22

Do you prefer it when guests strip the beds before they leave, or not? I am a bed stripper but my gf is not and we always argue about it 😆

madcatladyforever · 26/04/2019 10:25

Yes please this has popped up at just the right time. Came I rent my box room while I'm still living there? I live in a national park so people should be interested.

Original poster
SlightlySleepy · 26/04/2019 10:27

I don't like it when they strip the beds. I only make the beds a few hours before guests arrive but i don't have guests every day. So if the guests step the beds before they leave, I then have to look at bare beds for a few days. I think hosts who have a constant stream of guests would probably appreciate it. Making and stepping beds is quite boring, so i think most people would appreciate the help.

OP posts:
Original poster
SlightlySleepy · 26/04/2019 10:29

Madcatlady Yes you can rent out a box room, especially in an interesting location, so long as you don't pretend it's a huge luxury room. If people know what they're getting, then they're usually happy.

OP posts:
leghairdontcare · 26/04/2019 10:30

What kind of people come to stay with you? Are you near an attraction?

madcatladyforever · 26/04/2019 10:31

Oh great!!! I have a key safe and I'd be very honest.

Original poster
SlightlySleepy · 26/04/2019 11:20

We aren't near anything fun, particularly. But we are near a busy route, so people usually stay here to break up their journey en route to somewhere else.

OP posts:
HollowTalk · 29/04/2019 21:27

How can you be sure someone won't steal something of yours? Do you have a lock on your bedroom?

Whoopstheregomyinsides · 29/04/2019 21:31

How clean do people leave your rooms?

StealthPolarBear · 29/04/2019 21:33

Me too op, just started since April. I've been amazed at how clean people leave the place!

StealthPolarBear · 29/04/2019 21:34

We also get the journey breaking up crowd plus people who travel from the other end of the country for, say, a duathlon in our little town. Plus people visiting family. We can't believe how much business we've had.

Aprilladvised · 29/04/2019 21:42

I am also an Airbnb host and this is my fifth year hosting. I have mostly amazing guests who are very clean and lovely. It is a fantastic facility from my pov.

Do you find that some guests want to spend more time with you than you are comfortable with? I've had a few guests of late who are miffed that they don't spend more time with us (my let is a granny flat so part of my house but independent access - most of the time I don't even meet the guests - it's up to them whether they want to call on us). They want to join us for a drink I think so my offer of interaction: a chat at my front door or in my kitchen or in the garden standing not sitting is coming across as unfriendly but as I am usually cooking dinner or supervising kids is the most I can bear manage

Also, do you use Airbnb yourself as a guest? And If so do you find you are ultra picky?

Lastly do you think the seemingly constant picking on Airbnb by the media is justified or unfair?

HollowTalk · 29/04/2019 21:47

April, my sister had the opposite experience recently where the host wanted to socialise and they just wanted her to go away!

Original poster
SlightlySleepy · 30/04/2019 14:58

How can you be sure someone won't steal something of yours? Do you have a lock on your bedroom?

We don't have much to steal. I don't have a lock on my bedroom door. If they went downstairs at night, it would wake me up. I suppose they could take my phone when I've put it down. But so far that's not happened, thankfully. You can request money off them through AirBnB if they've taken anything. I don't know how successful that would be though.

OP posts:
Original poster
SlightlySleepy · 30/04/2019 15:24

How clean do people leave your rooms?

They don't Hoover or clean, but equally, they don't leave it dirty.

We can't believe how much business we've had

Me neither! I wasn't sure we'd get anyone.

Do you find that some guests want to spend more time with you than you are comfortable with?

It's rare but some do. One family spent 2 weeks with us and seemed to think that our company was part of the deal and would spend hours hanging around the house and their kids would endlessly come to me asking for snacks and entertainment. Mostly, though, they hang around for a brief chat and get on with their day.

OP posts:
wobbleinprogress · 30/04/2019 15:33

Do you declare the income for tax? And do you have insurance?

Original poster
SlightlySleepy · 30/04/2019 15:38

Also, do you use Airbnb yourself as a guest?

I never have. Every time I have looked, hotels have been cheaper.

Lastly do you think the seemingly constant picking on Airbnb by the media is justified or unfair?

Sometimes I think they have just run out of real news.
But I do think there is a problem in areas where there aren't enough affordable places to rent, and landlords no longer rent their houses to local people and instead rent them on AirBnB. Obviously they get more money renting it by the day than by the month. My area is not a desirable place to live, so it's not an issue around here!

OP posts:
Original poster
SlightlySleepy · 30/04/2019 15:55

Do you declare the income for tax? And do you have insurance?

Because we are renting out a room in our main residence, we can earn up to £7,500 tax free. We are currently under that threshold. If we get close, I think we will stop until April. I can't be bothered with tax returns. AirBnB provide insurance. I don't know how good it is in practice or if it's in name only.

OP posts:
Newnyham · 30/04/2019 16:03

Do you have DC's in the house? I worry a bit about how safe it is for hosts with children.

Newnyham · 30/04/2019 16:04

Or rather how safe it is for the children themselves

StealthPolarBear · 30/04/2019 17:18

We are renting out a whole house and do yes we'll need to pay tax on earnings over £2k. This is our first year.

PostNotInHaste · 30/04/2019 17:23

Any tips you’ve picked up along the way for it running as smoothly as possible ?

Fantasisa · 30/04/2019 17:30

Why did you start? Did you have a particular financial need?

We have a spare room we could use and I’m v tempted. The extra money would be able to be a holiday fund which would be so nice. But DH isn’t keen, he is concerned about security and lack of privacy for us. How do you manage those things?

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