10/26/2026
THE BIG AIRBNB CONTROVERSY… LET'S CLEAR UP A FEW THINGS!
I usually don't do rant posts on my business page, but with all the fuss surrounding Airbnb and vacation rental owners lately, I feel there's another side of the story that isn't being told!
I'm actually listed on Airbnb, although I think I've only had ONE booking through them since joining… LOL! 😂 So I debated whether I should even say anything.
But seeing how this controversy is being portrayed, I feel the need to speak up.
FIRST, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CLEANING ISSUE!
The media seems to be focusing on owners being upset because they can no longer ask guests to clean before leaving.
But for many of us, cleaning isn't the REAL issue!
At Hidden Treasure III, all I ask is that guests load and start the dishwasher and take out the trash. You know… the little things you would normally do when leaving your own home.
I never really considered that "cleaning," but maybe I'm wrong… LOL! 😅
I don't ask guests to wash linens. Actually, I DON'T WANT THEM TO! Our cleaning company uses a commercial laundry service for sanitation purposes.
I don't ask guests to mop floors, clean bathrooms, or even strip the beds!
My only concern with the dishwasher is timing. Our cleaners don't always arrive right at the 10 AM checkout, depending on their schedule. Since a dishwasher cycle takes time, starting it before leaving helps ensure everything is ready for our next guests. Otherwise, it could potentially delay check-in.
Is that really such an unreasonable request?
AND WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CLEANING FEES… 😉
Here's something many people don't realize.
Hotels have cleaning costs too! They simply build those expenses into their nightly rates instead of charging a separate cleaning fee.
Hotels also operate very differently from individually owned vacation rentals. They typically employ housekeeping staff who are paid hourly and clean multiple rooms during their shifts.
Most vacation rental owners, on the other hand, hire independent cleaning companies that charge a set price per turnover, whether guests stay 2 nights or 7 nights!
And remember, we're not just cleaning a hotel room. We're preparing an entire home, including the kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, laundry, and all those extra little touches that make your stay special.
Hotels also benefit from economies of scale that individual owners simply don't have.
So while a separate cleaning fee may seem frustrating, the cost of cleaning exists whether you see it as a separate charge or it's included in the nightly rate!
At the end of the day, what matters is the TOTAL price you pay and the experience you receive. 😊
NOW… LET'S TALK ABOUT THE REAL ISSUE: ASSET PROTECTION, CORPORATE OVERREACH & LEGAL LIABILITY!
THIS is where my real concern lies!
What worries me far more are Airbnb's reported changes regarding rental agreements and guest identification.
As property owners, we have a responsibility to protect our homes, our guests, and our investments. And that responsibility comes with LEGAL obligations!
Let me give you a real example.
Here in Panama City Beach, Ordinance 1632 governs vacation rental occupancy requirements.
Under the requirements applicable to my condo, Hidden Treasure III is limited to a maximum of FIVE occupants.
Not six. Not seven. FIVE!
And as the owner, I am responsible for ensuring that limit is respected.
So here's my question:
How am I supposed to fulfill my legal responsibilities if a booking platform restricts my ability to verify who is renting my property and establish a rental agreement?
And during high-impact periods, additional local requirements may apply, making proper guest verification even more important.
Think about it…
You can't rent a car without showing identification and signing an agreement. You can't check into most hotels without showing ID.
So why should vacation rental owners be expected to hand over the keys to their homes without similar basic protections?
This isn't about making guests jump through hoops. It's about accountability, legal compliance, and protecting something we've worked incredibly hard for!
I understand that Airbnb is a business and has the right to establish policies for its platform.
BUT… those policies should also respect the legal responsibilities of the property owners who make the platform possible!
Guest convenience should never come at the expense of an owner's ability to protect their property and comply with the law.
And THAT is where I believe the conversation should be focused!
THESE AREN'T JUST RENTAL PROPERTIES TO US. THESE ARE OUR HOMES! ❤️
Many of us have invested thousands of dollars, countless hours, hard work, and a whole lot of LOVE into creating beautiful vacation experiences for our guests.
We furnish them, decorate them, maintain them, clean them, repair them, and constantly look for ways to make our guests' stays even better.
And unfortunately, not every guest treats our homes with the same care.
This summer, I had a rare third-party booking that turned into a nightmare. My condo was left in terrible condition, and a lamp was broken.
Thankfully, I had documentation and was able to obtain financial compensation for the damages.
But imagine how much more difficult that could have been without proper identification or a rental agreement!
And THAT is what worries me.
Cleaning expectations can be adjusted. Cleaning costs can be incorporated into pricing. But protecting our property and holding people accountable? That's a whole different story!
Airbnb is a booking platform. It connects travelers with properties, collects fees, and facilitates reservations.
But at the end of the day, WE are the ones who own the properties, maintain them, pay the bills, and deal with the consequences when something goes wrong.
And let's not forget… booking platforms make money because property owners provide the homes that travelers want to stay in!
I understand that guests don't want to pay cleaning fees and then be handed a long list of chores.
And I AGREE!
A vacation should feel like a VACATION!
Nobody wants to spend their last morning scrubbing bathrooms or doing laundry when they should be enjoying one last cup of coffee overlooking the ocean!
But I also believe owners deserve reasonable protections for their investments.
There needs to be a FAIR BALANCE between guest convenience and property owner protection.
I wish more of the conversation focused on that instead of making vacation rental owners look like the villains.
Most of us aren't trying to make guests clean our homes.
We're simply trying to protect the homes we've worked so hard to create, while continuing to provide the wonderful vacation experiences our guests deserve.
And for those of us who take pride in providing a personalized, boutique experience, our guests' comfort, happiness, and safety will ALWAYS be a priority!
Because at Chantale's Beach Condos, it's never been just about renting a condo.
It's about creating an EXPERIENCE!
Just sharing my two cents from the other side of the rental door!
Oh.....and one last little tip… 😉
Why pay extra third-party booking fees when you don't have to?
BOOK DIRECT with Chantale's Beach Condos and SAVE on those third-party booking fees! 💙
Same beautiful condo. Same personalized boutique experience. Just more money in YOUR pocket for vacation fun!
🌐 www.chantalesbeachcondospcb.com
— Chantale
Chantale's Beach Condos
