Guide
What a co-host does, and what stays with you
A co-host can run the whole booking side of your rental. That means prices, calendar, guest messages, booking requests, reviews and the listing itself. Everything at the property stays with you or your cleaner, including turnovers, repairs and emergencies.
Examples on this page use made-up homes and numbers to show the method. They are not client results.
The six co-host jobs, and which need someone on site
Airbnb describes co-hosting as six services. Four are done through the platform. Two need someone at the door.
| Service | Needs someone on site? |
|---|---|
| Listing setup | No |
| Pricing and availability | No |
| Booking requests | No |
| Guest messaging | No |
| On-site guest support | Yes |
| Cleaning | Yes, though your co-host can schedule it |
A co-host like HostTuneUp takes the first four. You keep the last two, with your own cleaner and local contact.
What the work looks like day to day
- Prices and calendar: adjusting nightly rates, minimum stays and gap nights, and pricing local events by hand.
- Guests: answering questions before booking, accepting or declining requests, sending check-in details, handling mid-stay questions.
- After the stay: reviewing the guest and replying to the review you receive.
- The listing: keeping the text, photo order and settings current on each platform.
- Reporting: a monthly summary of what was booked, what changed and why.
What stays with you
- Turnovers and laundry, through your own cleaner.
- Repairs, supplies and anything else on site.
- A local contact who can act in an emergency.
- Your payouts. The platform keeps paying you directly.
- Decisions about refunds, house rules and price limits.
- Licences, taxes and insurance.
The access a co-host needs
On Airbnb you add a co-host to a listing and choose a level:
- Full access: can change prices, the calendar and the listing, and handle reservations.
- Calendar and messaging: can message guests and see the calendar, but not change it.
- Calendar only: can see the calendar.
A co-host who manages pricing needs full access. You can lower or remove it at any time. Vrbo has no co-host feature of its own; the equivalent is property manager access on your owner account.
Who it suits
- You have one to five listings and turnovers are already handled.
- You live far from the property, or simply do not want to be on call for messages.
- You want to keep control of the home and the money.
Who it does not suit
- You have nobody near the property. A co-host who is not on site cannot let a locked-out guest in.
- You want someone to take the whole thing over, repairs included. That is a full-service manager.
Questions to ask before you hire one
- Which hours do you answer guests, and what counts as urgent?
- What do you do when something breaks at the property?
- Who approves refunds?
- How do I see what you changed?
- How do we end the arrangement, and what happens to my listing?
For the last one, see how to write a co-host agreement. For what it should cost, see flat fee or percentage.
Sources
- Airbnb Help Centre: What co-hosts can do
- Airbnb Help Centre: How co-host payouts work
Want this done for you?
With Co-Hosting, we run the booking side of your listing and are paid through Airbnb, only when you are booked. Or start with a free listing check.
More guides
Rather have someone check it for you?
Send us your listing and get a written co-hosting proposal. Nothing to pay upfront: Airbnb pays our share only when you are booked.