Airbnb has quietly rolled out changes to its Payment Terms that could significantly affect short-term rental hosts, especially those managing multiple properties. While the update doesn’t come with much fanfare, the implications are serious—and for many hosts, financially risky.
Let’s break down what’s changed, what it means, and what you can do about it.
Guests Can Now Book Without Paying in Full
Airbnb now allows guests to reserve a property using “Buy Now, Pay Later” services like Klarna and Pay Over Time. This means a guest can secure a booking with only a partial payment.
From a guest’s point of view, this offers flexibility. From a host’s point of view, it opens the door to problems like calendar blocking without commitment. Here’s what can happen:
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A guest books a high-demand weekend using partial payment.
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They cancel three days before arrival.
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You’re left with an empty calendar and no payout, depending on your cancellation policy and payment status.
Because Airbnb does not always collect the full amount upfront, you could lose out on other potential guests without receiving compensation.
Chargebacks Can Now Happen Long After Checkout
This is the biggest concern for most hosts. The new terms clearly state that Airbnb can reverse a payout if a guest disputes the charge with their bank—even after the stay is completed.
Airbnb is not obligated to defend the host in these cases, nor are they required to reimburse you. To make matters worse, Airbnb will keep their service fee, regardless of the outcome.
There is no specified time limit. It could be two weeks or two months after the guest checks out, and suddenly you find thousands withdrawn from your Airbnb balance or even your connected bank account.
Airbnb May Delay or Withhold Payouts
The new terms also give Airbnb broad discretion to delay or adjust your payouts. They may hold funds due to risk concerns, account activity, or if they need additional documentation from you.
These holds come without warning and without a timeline for release. Airbnb is not required to pay interest on any withheld funds.
Off-Platform Fees and Guest Communication Are No Longer Allowed
Airbnb is cracking down on any mention of off-platform charges. All required fees—cleaning, pet, resort, taxes—must be included directly within Airbnb’s pricing setup. You cannot list them in your description or mention them in messages.
Attempts to collect guest emails or redirect to third-party booking sites are also being flagged by Airbnb’s AI systems. These changes are part of a larger shift to prevent direct bookings and control the entire guest experience.
What Hosts Should Do Next
The deadline to comply with these new terms is September 8, 2025. Here are a few steps to take right away:
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Audit your listings to ensure all fees are listed inside Airbnb’s built-in pricing fields.
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Review your cancellation policy and consider tightening it to reduce the risk of last-minute losses.
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Budget for unexpected chargebacks—even months after a stay.
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Use a property management system (PMS) to track and monitor guest behavior and protect against calendar abuse.
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Diversify your platform strategy. If Airbnb is your only source of bookings, you’re exposed. Building direct booking funnels or listing on Vrbo and Booking.com helps reduce reliance.
Final Thoughts
Airbnb’s new terms shift more financial risk to hosts while maintaining all the benefits for guests and the platform itself. While none of these changes automatically mean disaster, hosts should pay close attention and adapt now before they’re caught off guard.
For those operating at scale or depending on Airbnb for a major portion of income, this is your signal to get systems in place and explore backup options before September.
