What a host provides for a stay at their Airbnb listing is very much down to them. There is a significant difference between what hosts have to offer and what a host may want to provide. Of course, on a heavily review-led platform like Airbnb, VRBO or Booking.com, we can't ignore that what a host may wish to provide is very heavily intertwined with what guests have come to expect.
For clarity, in this article, we will discuss what a host provides in terms of products and supplies rather than any legal obligations, compliance, regulations or good practice.
To create a listing, a host offers their accommodation, whether their entire place or a private room, which includes sleeping arrangements and bath/shower facilities, whether ensuite or shared with others. Beyond this, you may be surprised that everything else is optional, and even supplies you will be convinced are compulsory, like linen and towels.
So to answer the question of what a host must provide in an Airbnb? The answer is - they must supply what they have said they will in their listing. The listing should be accurate, not forgetting the photographs form part of the listing, and should honestly represent what a guest will find upon arrival.
On to the more important question, what may a host want to offer? We're not going to break down those things that you might consider essential, like linen and towels, or how to equip your kitchen in detail. You can find a complete Airbnb checklist here, but here is more about some of the niceties. Many Airbnb hosts consider their supplies a Welcome Pack - making the first night or two more comfortable for your guest. It is not unreasonable that beyond this your guest should provide for themselves in what is ultimately self-catering accommodation. So what might be in your starter pack
Host Welcome Pack
Bedroom
- Bed Linen
Kitchen
- Tea & Coffee
- Milk
- Individually Packaged Biscuit
- Kitchen Roll
- Washing Up Liquid
- Cleaning Supplies
- Washing Machine Pod
- Dishwasher Capsule
- Bin Bags
Bathroom
- Towels
- Shampoo
- Body Wash
- Soap
- Toilet Roll
This is by no means an extensive list, and it's not meant to be, but it will mean your guest isn't going to the store as soon as they arrive, needless to say this is something that will go in your favour come review time. Remember that your Airbnb is a commercial venture, so you must balance your costs with your income.
Finally, it's important to acknowledge your competition, and we don't mean other Airbnb hosts. Chances are your guest may have chosen to stay with you rather than a hotel, and rightly or wrongly, this is the barr they may measure you by.