Should you allow pets in your Airbnb?

May 20, 2024

Aussies today are treating their fur babies as family members more than ever. COVID spiked this trend, and although this spike has evened, the demand for pet-friendly community spaces, shops, restaurants and accommodations continues to grow.

This begs the question: Should you make it pet-friendly if you have an Airbnb? It’s a subjective decision, and there are pros and cons either way. We break down the primary considerations here.

Pet-friendly pros

More bookings

Declaring your abode ‘pet-friendly’ can attract more guests, giving you a fuller calendar and more profits. It’s a basic equation: more Aussies insist on travelling with their pets, so not allowing them means missing out. Statistically, last-minute bookings are usually high for pet-friendly homes. Typically, last-minute bookers have not had the time to find a pet sitter and must bring their pup along for the ride.

More income

As mentioned above, more bookings equals more money. Not only that, you can charge a premium for the service and put a little extra cash in your pocket.

Repeat guests

Once pet-loving families stay with you and enjoy the pet-friendly amenities you provide, they’re likely to return. Once again, this increases your chances of bookings. And there’s nothing like the assurance of a repeat guest you can trust with your home.

Greater market appeal

Allowing guests to bring their fur babies into your home sends a message that you care about their family and understand the vital role their pets play in their family. It also gives you a point of difference, adding to your appeal.

Pet-friendly Airbnb cons

Noise

It’s no news that some dogs bark. And depending on where your property is located, this can be a problem. So you may want to reth’s ink this idea if you’re sharing dividing walls or on a small property. Alternatively, screen your guests closely and ask the appropriate questions, such as how often the dog barks or if they’ll be taking their dog with them on their daily adventures.

Pet odours

Pet odours can be surprisingly difficult to remove, so while a pet-friendly listing can be attractive, you can put off future guests with a doggy smell. But allowing dogs in your home doesn’t necessarily mean your house will smell. Once again, you can navigate this problem with the following questions/instructions.

Ask yourself: how often will I attract guests with pets? A pet-friendly listing doesn’t mean all guests will have one. You may find it’s only 25% of the time and doesn’t cause much of an issue.
Instruct guests to use rugs (that you provide) on every couch, bed or floor rugs.
Instruct guests that their dogs must be washed before arriving at your home.
Ask guests to take the dog with them when they can.
Ask guests to confirm that their dog is 100% house-trained.

Damage

If you invite pets into your home, you must expect that there may be some damage. This is a nuanced topic, with several factors involved. If you have precious furniture and possessions, it’s obvious the pet-friendly option will not be wise. (You can hardly complain if you’ve invited dogs into your home with a $10,000 white couch.) Likewise, an open, unfenced garden could be an open invitation for trouble. Expensive carpets? We’ll let you decide.

However, the good news regarding pet damage is that with clear communication, many pet-friendly property owners don’t have much of a problem. Why so? Most pet owners are incredibly grateful to have been allowed to bring their pooch with them. And they reflect this appreciation by respecting the home, going out of their way to care for the property and avoiding nasty accidents.

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