Allowing Pets In Your Airbnb | Pros and Cons

For many pet owners, the thought of leaving their furry friends behind when they travel can be heartbreaking. But thanks to Airbnb, pet owners can now find comfortable and affordable housing for their pets when they hit the road. However, allowing pets in an Airbnb does come with its own set of pros and cons that must be taken into consideration.

The Pros of Allowing Pets on Airbnb

Traveling with pets today is more popular than ever, with many hotels and other accommodations allowing a variety of travel companions. And Airbnb has responded in like by allowing hosts to choose if pets are welcome in their space. There are numerous pros to opening your Airbnb up to pet owners and their furry friends, such as:

• Expand your potential guest pool to include pet owners
• Increase your rental income – because pet-friendly rentals are harder to find, many pet owners are willing to pay a premium for places that will accept them
• Guests deem allowing pets an amenity
• Guests may book longer stays if their pets are with them
• Allowing pets creates an opportunity for a unique and personalized experience that could differentiate you from other Airbnb listings

So as you can see, if you decide to allow pets in your Airbnb or other short term rental, there are many benefits. However, there of course are some cons or drawbacks. Let’s explore those now.

The Cons of Allowing Pets on Airbnb

Allowing pets in your short term rental is a big decision. Perhaps you have all new furnishings or flooring. Or, you are concerned about non pet owners who stay at your property who may have allergies. There is a lot to consider.

Here are some of the cons of allowing pets in your Airbnb:

• Additional cleaning and maintenance costs for pet-related messes
• The risk of property damage from chewing, scratching or digging
• Increased allergens that can irritate future guests
• Potential conflicts with neighboring guests, ie barking or noise from pets
• Unpleasant odors or potential flea infestations
• No guarantee that a pet will be well behaved while staying on the premises

Most traveling pet owners will say their pet is well behaved. However, even if an animal is generally well-behaved, accidents can still happen, especially when the animal is in an unfamiliar environment. To protect yourself from any potential damages or messes left behind by a pet, it’s important that you put certain policies in place such as requiring an additional pet cleaning fee or deposit from pet owners prior to their arrival. This will give you some peace of mind should anything go wrong during their stay and help ensure that the property remains safe for future guests who may not be as welcoming towards animals.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, whether or not you choose to allow pets in your Airbnb is up to you but careful consideration should be given before making this decision. While opening your doors up to pet owners may bring some extra income and provide them with more accommodation options while travelling, it also presents some risks that need to be addressed beforehand. By putting certain policies like fees or deposits in place prior to their arrival though, these risks can be reduced significantly and give both parties peace of mind throughout their stay. Pet owners should also be aware that not all hosts are open to hosting animals so research should always be done beforehand!