Perhaps, you tried booking a guest house for next weekend to go hiking with friends but got restricted. Fortunately, this publication explains the ways to get around Airbnb restrictions, including party, age and nights.
While trying to book the rental, Airbnb would not let you and probably provided you with a message like:
We have implemented restrictions that prevent guests from making reservations of entire homes when a pattern of factors suggests that the booking may present higher safety risks such as parties. You still have options. These restrictions don’t apply to hotels or private rooms.
You have no idea why your account would be flagged for partying but we do. Airbnb restricts for reasons, including age, season (such as Halloween), and distance. You’ll understand as you read on.
How to get around Airbnb party restrictions
Below are the Airbnb restrictions and how to get around them:
1. Under 25 restriction
If you’re a guest under the age of 25, Airbnb does not allow you to rent an entire property near your own home until you’ve received at least 3 positive reviews and no negative reviews from Airbnb hosts.
Nonetheless, Airbnb users younger than 25 can book private rooms and hotel rooms.
Airbnb thinks you may be trying to find ways to throw a party. As such, this measure is necessary for trust and safety protections. Airbnb also knows that people over the age of 24 are capable of booking for the wrong reasons.
What to do
a. Have an older person book
If any of your friends is over 25 and not residing in your location, have them book the Airbnb in their account to get around Airbnb restrictions.
b. Location change
Change your location on your Airbnb profile (or just delete it). Now, use a VPN to hide your IP address—it works, even if you’re 20 and experiencing this issue.
Read also: telling big lies: how to come clean
To change location on Airbnb:
- Click your profile photo
- Click Account
- Go to Profile and tap Edit
- Add or change your Location
- Hit Save
c. Change your date of birth
Unfortunately, you may not be able to change your date of birth. Usually, this does not work with browsers but Airbnb app only. If the edit button for birthdate is greyed out, you may just have to create a new account.
d. Wait out the season
If you’re booking for one night only, and it is on Halloween weekend, Airbnb may restrict you. To get around the restrictions, book on a different night.
2. Under 18 restriction
Airbnb does not allow anyone under the age of 18 to open a guest or host account.
What to do
a. Have an adult book for you
You don’t have a lot of choices, so have someone who is over 25 and not residing in the booking location book for you.
b. Change your date of birth
Just go to settings and change your year of birth to make you older than 18. Unfortunately, if your edit button is greyed out, you may need to open a new account. If the browser does not work, use the Airbnb app to try to change your birth year.
3. Booking entire place restriction
Airbnb has 4 types of places to stay, including entire place, private rooms, hotel rooms, and shared rooms. Usually, you may receive an Airbnb restriction message like:
Choose another place to stay. Airbnb prevents reservations for entirely homes when a pattern of factors (like location or reservation time) suggests the booking may be unsafe. Please try a private room or hotel room instead.
You’re receiving this message because you’re under 25 years old and trying to book property listed as “entire place”. Airbnb also thinks you want to party.
What to do
a. Book a private room
Suppose you want to throw a party and get around Airbnb party restrictions. Airbnb thinks you want to book to throw a party since you’re under 25 years old. The first solution is to book a private room or a hotel room.
b. Ask the host to temporarily change the place type
If you find a host that agrees to book you, there’s a workaround. However, you and the host have to be online at the same time.
The host will simply change their listing from “entire place” to “private room” for you to complete your booking as a “private room”.
Read also: tricks I use to know host’s review before they appear
If you’re younger than 25, most hosts will not be willing to accept your booking though. Note that this is not a shady thing to do—it’s legal and we had Airbnb suggest it.
c. Change your date of birth
Another way to get around this Airbnb restriction is to change your year of birth. If the browser Airbnb does not work, use the Airbnb app. Just go to settings and profile to edit the year of birth.
d. Wait out the season
Are you booking for one night only? Also, if it is on Halloween weekend, Airbnb may keep restricting you.
4. One or two-night reservation restrictions
- One-night reservations. If you’re an Airbnb guest without a history of positive reviews, Airbnb will prohibit you from making one-night reservations in entire home listings.
Solution: Choose a private room to be able to book on Airbnb. If you want to get around the booking restriction, contact the host to temporarily change their booking to a “private room” for you to book them.
- Two-night reservations. Airbnb typically deploys more stringent restrictions on specific 2-night reservations. For instance, Airbnb will restrict certain local or last-minute bookings if you have no history of positive reviews on Airbnb.
Solution: Just build a history of positive Airbnb reviews to get around this restriction. Alternatively, you can have a friend complete the booking for you. If you need a friend to do the booking on your behalf, make sure to discuss it with the host. You also want to be a good guest so that the host does not give your friend a bad review.
5. City Airbnb restrictions
Regarding how to get around city Airbnb restrictions, go to a landlord or seller and rent or buy the property in the business name to circumvent property laws in your city. Note that you’d have to notify your relevant, local authorities of your presence in the flat. If you add any attachments, like mother inlaw suite, make sure it conforms with your city’s building laws. Also, let’s say the apartment was registered as a single family home, any changes you make could make it a multifamily home, so you want your state to be aware. Also, endeavor to get the relevant operation license in your local community.
How do I get around Airbnb subletting restrictions?
You can get around Airbnb subletting restrictions by signing in as an LLC. Signing in as an LLC means you don’t specify an individual who will use the property, which allows you to sublet the property to others without making changes in the initial rent or lease agreement.
