Renting your property with Airbnb
Founded in 2008, Airbnb is a trusted online community marketplace for people to list and book accommodations around the world, in more than 190 countries.
Airbnb is an easy way for people to make an income whilst not using their properties or from renting out extra space in their homes.
Joining Airbnb is free for everyone, whether you are looking to list or book a property. You can either create an account with your email address or register to join by logging into a third-party social networking account such as Facebook.
Setting Up
There are different requirements for hosts and guests:
Hosts
You must add a profile picture. You can also verify your account, which helps to prove to potential guests that Airbnb have vetted your account and proven your legitimacy. You can verify your phone number via the steps provided on Airbnb’s site. You can also verify your ID, which means you have provided Airbnb with a verified email address, phone number and profile picture.
Guests
In some cases, hosts may require that guests have a verified ID. When making a last minute reservation, guests will have to get verified.
Guests and hosts can write and receive reviews, which are limited to 500 words. Hosts are able to post a reply to a review which will appear under the listing.
Renting Out Your property
Once you have an account set up you can start listing your property or space. You will be required to enter specific details, such as the home and room type, the location, the price per night, the amenities available and how many people you are able to accommodate. Photos can be added and Airbnb provide a free professional photography service if required.
Payment and Fees
Pricing at Airbnb is completely conducted by the hosts. Airbnb supports several payment methods, including major credit, debit and prepaid cards, PayPal and Google Wallet, depending on in which country the guest’s payment account is located.
To help cover the costs of processing guest payments, hosts are charged a service fee of around 3% of the reservation subtotal (before fees and taxes) every time a reservation is completed. This will be taken out of the reservation subtotal.
Hosts can receive their final payment in a variety of ways including bank transfer and PayPal.
Guests are also charged a service fee of between 6% and 12% depending on the type of reservation.
Additional Information
Airbnb has a very useful help centre, which can guide you through the process when you use the site for the first time. Visit airbnb.com for more information.
For more information on the tax obligations of non-resident landlords in Spain, visit Spanish Property Insight’s Landlord’s Taxation Guide.
It must be noted that different regions of Spain have different regulations. For example, in Catalunya a tourist licence is now required. Please check with the relevant authority before renting out your property.
