How Old Do You Have to Be to Rent an Airbnb? A Guide for Hosts

How old do you have to be to rent an Airbnb? For Airbnb hosts, this common question reveals a critical policy that directly impacts booking safety, guest eligibility, and your property’s protection. In short, guests must be at least 18 years old to book a listing. But simply knowing the rule isn’t enough—hosts need a strategy to enforce it without crossing Airbnb’s nondiscrimination guidelines.

In this guide, you’ll learn how Airbnb’s age policy works, how to screen guests responsibly, and what to do when underage bookings slip through. Plus, we’ll share tools and tips to optimize your hosting game.

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Airbnb Guest Age Requirement: What Hosts Need to Know

According to Airbnb’s official help article, all users must be at least 18 years old to:

• Create an Airbnb account
• Book a stay
• Host other users

This applies globally. However, enforcing this rule falls partially on hosts—especially in cases where guests under 18 may attempt to book using a parent’s or friend’s account.

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How Old Do You Have to Be to Rent an Airbnb? 18—and Here’s Why It Matters

Hosting guests under 18 is against Airbnb policy, and can result in:

• Party risks or unauthorized gatherings
• Legal exposure if property damage occurs
• Poor reviews if rules aren’t communicated

For Airbnb hosts, the “how old do you have to be to rent an Airbnb” rule is less about the number—and more about risk mitigation and preparation.

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7 Host-Proven Tips to Avoid Underage Airbnb Guests

1. Require Verified Government ID

Go to Airbnb > Booking Settings and turn on “Require verified ID.” This reduces fake profiles and ensures guest accountability.

2. Watch for Booking Red Flags

Be cautious if you see:

• Brand new accounts with no reviews
• Short one-night bookings on weekends
• Local guests who give vague travel reasons

Ask questions like:

“Hey! Are you coming into town for an event or visiting family?”

3. Enable Airbnb’s Reservation Screening

In the U.S. and Canada, Airbnb blocks users under 25 from booking entire homes near where they live—especially if they have no reviews. Make sure your listing qualifies for this by enabling Instant Book and Smart Pricing.

Learn more here: Airbnb anti-party measures

4. Update Your House Rules Clearly

You can’t deny a booking based solely on age, but you can require:

• No parties or events
• Quiet hours (e.g., 10 PM–8 AM)
• Registered guests only

Include this in your listing, pre-stay messages, and your digital house manual.

5. Decline Suspicious Bookings Politely

It’s okay to say no. If a reservation feels off, message the guest and then contact Airbnb support through your host dashboard.

Use this script:

“Thanks for your interest! At this time, I’m prioritizing guests with more booking history and verified ID. Hope you understand!”

6. Prepare for Edge Cases

Sometimes, a 19-year-old books a place with four friends. Legally allowed? Yes. Ideal for your space? Maybe not.

This is where pre-booking questions and strong house rules help. You can’t filter by age, but you can set behavioral expectations.

7. Keep Communication Inside Airbnb

Always use Airbnb’s messaging system to ask questions and confirm policies. This keeps your interactions protected in case of disputes.

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Final Thoughts: Protecting Your Airbnb While Staying Compliant

So, how old do you have to be to rent an Airbnb? The answer is 18—but for hosts, the real answer is proactive preparation. While you can’t deny bookings based on age, you can and should take smart steps to verify, screen, and communicate with guests to avoid unnecessary issues.

By enabling ID verification, staying alert for red flags, and using Airbnb’s built-in tools, you’ll stay compliant and stay protected.