How to rent your home on Airbnb

Abu Dhabi recently signed an agreement with Airbnb promote the sector of second homes in the capital, following the request of the tourism service to owners of second homes to register on its new online licensing system to help regulate and improve the Abu Dhabi market.

But how can landlords sign up to rent out their property or rooms? And what will encourage tenants to choose their property over others?

The National Explain.

Rules to follow when renting your house in Abu Dhabi

It is important to first know the rules for becoming an Airbnb host. A law passed in 2020 on the provision and use of vacation homes in Abu Dhabi requires guests to register for a rental permit for their accommodations. Visit the Abu Dhabi Ministry of Culture and Tourism page for more details.

Also, VAT is a consideration for anyone interested in renting their home in the UAE. Hosts who receive more than Dh375,000 per year are required to register and charge VAT on their services. There is also a voluntary threshold of 187,500 Dh. Airbnb is legally required to provide information about transactions that take place on the platform upon request.

Remember that you must legally own the property in order to rent it out.

How to list your listing on Airbnb

Creating an ad on the site is quick and easy. It shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes. The same process applies whether you are listing your entire house or just one room.

To begin, visit Airbnb and select the “become a host” option in the upper right corner of the page and follow all the steps, answering questions about the property and its amenities.

Then upload photos, at least five, and create a title for your place. Select highlights, such as whether it’s peaceful, elegant, or family-friendly. After creating a description, you select a price, using a suggestion. Airbnb is giving you the option to extend a 20% discount to your first three guests to get your listing booked faster.

After that, you are ready. Now all you have to do is review the list and then publish it.

It will be visible to guests 24 hours after you post, and you can add more information or make changes at any time.

How much can you charge

According to Airbnb website, hosting your entire home for four in Abu Dhabi could earn you over Dh3,400 per month.

The registration of a private room counts as two people and for a shared room, one person. To calculate your earning potential, Airbnb takes the median price per night, before expenses, fees, and taxes, based on bookings in the area over the past 12 months. It then multiplies the number by the total number of nights occupied to arrive at the monthly revenue estimate.

“To estimate how many nights you could host, we look at how often other people in your area are hosting,” Airbnb says on its website.

According to the site, a three-bedroom house for six people can fetch between Dh450 and Dh757 per night.

When things are damaged or broken

Air Coverwhich is free for every host on the platform and applied each time someone stays, covers expenses if anything is damaged or broken.

It offers $1 million in liability insurance, as well as $1 million in damages protection; protection against harm to pets; protection against deep cleaning; a 14-day deposit window and loss of income protection. Hosts receive refunds in an average of nine days.

Tips from Airbnb hosts

Leave a note and local treat for new guests. It’s a nice touch that will make them feel welcome and encourage great reviews.

Choose your photos carefully. “Photos are super important because they’re what guests see first,” a host called Ely says in an Airbnb video. He rents Hunter Green House in the Catskills, USA, with Danielle. “Your first shot is what shows up in the search results, so be sure to direct your best. The secret to a good shot is good lighting, and you should have a mix of wide shots and details to show how special your place is, she said.

Perfect your title, description and amenities. “Descriptions not only help sell your space, but tell the story of your space. Don’t feel pressured to come up with the perfect description,” says Ray, who rents a cabin in Paupack, Pennsylvania, USA. Be brief and highlight what makes it unique.

Set the right price to attract more bookings. “When you’re just starting out and don’t have the luxury of all those great reviews, the best thing to do is take a look at other properties in the area, similar listings, and see what price they are. And then price yours a little lower,” says Marco, who rents a home on Smith Lane in upstate New York on the platform with Lisa. You can raise the price later or add a fee and change it depending on the season, she says.

Using your calendar and booking settings will help you attract more customers. “Being a host means hosting when you want and how you want, so plan your schedule accordingly,” says Danielle. Using the Instant Book feature allows people to automatically book without approval, via a set of criteria. “For example, only allowing guests to book with government ID and positive reviews to book your home,” Ely says.

Six key things that can help you improve your search rankings. “Enable instant booking; maintain a high acceptance rate; getting lots of positive reviews; competetive price; avoid cancellations where possible and respond to customer inquiries as soon as possible,” says Lisa.

Updated: February 21, 2022, 10:04 a.m.