Tips on listing your property on Airbnb

Opening your home to others can be exciting and a good way to earn extra income, but you must go about it in an open-minded way and pay attention to the regulations that apply, warns Bruce Swain of the Leapfrog Property Group:

Do your (legal) homework
Currently, South African cities don’t have Airbnb-specific by-laws like cities such as Berlin and Paris, but it’s still advisable to contact the relevant bodies to ensure it’s above board.

Familiarise yourself with local zoning regulations or consult the Home Owners Association, if you belong to one.

For most people the goal with Airbnb is to make money, but remember that income earned is income taxed. The amount of tax payable will depend on how much you’ve earned from Airbnb. Ask your accountant or tax adviser about the most efficient way to declare Airbnb income and pay the associated tax.


Airbnb has useful advice and guidelines for setting house rules, which are worth incorporating into your own policies. House rules are especially important if you live in the home you’re sharing. Be clear about the spaces and amenities guests are allowed to use, when the quiet hours are, and how you expect them to behave in your home.

Your neighbours didn’t choose to live next to a hotel or guest house, so as an Airbnb host, you need to ensure that they are also considered and respected. One way to do this is putting house rules in place like setting guidelines around playing loud music, or not allowing pets, for example. At the end of the day you need to ensure that your guests are safe and your neighbours are happy.

Inform your neighbours of your Airbnb arrangements as a common courtesy, and assure them that you won’t tolerate unruly behaviour from guests.

Beyond making money, the ultimate objective with Airbnb is to offer guests an interesting and enriching experience.

Simple things like a brochure on what to see and do in your area, or a little treat from the local chocolatier on their pillow, goes a long towards making guests feel welcome.

It also goes without saying that everything should be neat and clean. While the idea is very much to open your home to others, a respectable level of hygiene and order should be maintained at all times.

Great reviews are the currency of the sharing economy, which is why you need to ensure you get as many five-star reviews by guests as possible. This will keep the guests coming to make it worth the effort.

Want to give being an Airbnb host a bash? It’s a great way to earn extra money, provided you do your homework and get the basics right.

Insuring your home content is especially important when you consider joining the Airbnb movement. Old Mutual iWYZE offers reliable, affordable and comprehensive home insurance to protect the possessions you hold dear. Make the wise insurance choice and get a home insurance quote today!

Old Mutual iWYZE is underwritten by Old Mutual Insure Limited. Reg. No: 1970/006619/06. VAT No: 4460101019. Authorised Financial Services Provider (FSP 12).

Source: bizcommunity.com