Airbnb noise complaints can be disastrous to your hosting career…potentially ending it.
Airbnb Noise violations can impact your Airbnb Income
Let’s walk through an all-too-common scenario that many hosts face…
So you’ve handed the keys to a friendly couple checking in for a 3-day weekend at your Airbnb property. (No red flags)
You shared hidden gems for them to eat and drink, as well as all the local attractions they can walk to from your place.
All is well…you’re headed out of town for the weekend and they’re happy; Success!
That is until…
The moment you walk in the door to clean your space up, you find that your place is TRASHED. (WTF?!)
Oh and a friendly note from your HOA was slipped under the door letting you know that you now face major fines because your neighbors feel unsafe with you as a neighbor because you host parties on Airbnb.
But you’re a SuperHost with dozens of glowing reviews and, until now, not a single complaint from neighbors.
What the hell happened?
One time, that’s all it takes
It only takes one bad guest to throw a huge wrench into your Airbnb operation. Trust me, it’s happened to us and many of the hosts we mentor.
I mean, you didn’t put those fun labels on items in your house or guides on how to use the TV for fun, right?
You put them there because somewhere along the way a guest gave you a bad review or complained about how complicated your TV or coffee maker was. By implementing your guests feedback, you are taking your business seriously…and a potential Airbnb noise violation is no different.
Remember, it only takes one stay of guests that go wild and destroy your best investment.
Wait, what happened to that nice couple from the check-in; did they make this mess?
No, they didn’t.
Instead, they pulled the old switch-aroo on you and booked your space on their account for their friends. SURPRISE!
Their friends happened to be a 10-person bachelor party who took over your 2 bedroom condo to make it their “mini-Coachella” party for the weekend.
Now you’re left with keeping their security deposit and reaching out to Airbnb. Even worse, you’re in a battle with your HOA, neighbors, and the guest.
This is a headache you don’t have time for…and something you can prevent!
The Fight Over Airbnb Noise
What you might not realize is this battle isn’t just in your backyard, rather it is a national problem with Airbnb lawsuits, city regulation and a headache that lots of Airbnb hosts are tackling.
It’s no secret that there are regulatory battles over short-term rentals about legitimate concerns over issues such as tax compliance, occupancy, trash and parking.
But the complaints that are the most prominent are those surrounding Airbnb noise…your loud guests.
Some of these complaints made by neighbors are anecdotal and there is a lack of evidence or data to substantiate if the guests are in fact loud.
I’m sure some of you have encountered that “overly sensitive neighbor” who calls when the wind blows at your property.
So, when a neighbor is actually fed up, legitimately or not, with the Airbnb rental next door, things go south from here.
The complaint turns emotional, gets escalated and now here you are watching the city push hard regulation or outright ban short term rentals.
What are your options?
As an Airbnb host, there are a limited set of options you have.
Typical solutions include:
- Driving by after guest are there to ensure they’re not being loud,
- Installing and monitoring outdoor cameras,
- Building a wall between you and your neighbors house, or
- Hoping your guests don’t disturb the neighbors and respect your House rules. (Good luck)
Many hosts put in their House Rules – No Parties as a starting point to ward off the party crowd.
Other hosts elaborate a bit with some pretty simple and friendly, but firm language can help let guests know that you don’t tolerate this behavior. This is a great step, but it probably won’t stop much of anything.
New Technology: Remote Airbnb Noise Monitoring
Real Time Noise Alerts for Airbnb Hosts
With an app or device for everything nowadays, consider this…
What if you were able to monitor your listing’s noise level in real-time?
Something easy to use so you can quickly know that guests aren’t disturbing your neighbors or throwing that “mini-Coachella” party in your Airbnb rental?
In steps NoiseAware.
With NoiseAware you can proactively monitor the noise level at your Airbnb rental from anywhere you have an Internet connection.
The device you put in your home is small (about the size of your palm), and matches well with many different styles.
Best of all, it looks inconspicuous to guests so they usually leave it alone and will never know you are monitoring the sound level.
Now the NoiseAware device respects your guests privacy rights. The device is NOT able to record the actual sounds or conversations, rather it simply listens to the noise level (measured in decibels).
If the device detects excessive noise in your rental, then you will be automatically notified via text message by the NoiseAware software.
It’s very convenient and can help you avoid one of those costly noise violations from the city or your HOA.
Special Offer for LearnAirbnb Readers
This is a MUST-HAVE for all Airbnb hosts because it will help prevent your worst nightmare from turning into a reality. A mad neighbor or huge fine is enough to stop your Airbnb business right in its tracks.
The NoiseAware team takes pride in the fact that they ensure you’re the FIRST to know about noise problems at your property, not the last.
Don’t walk into your property to find an epic disaster. Don’t make your neighbors become your “noise monitor”. And don’t let a few bad guest ruin it for everyone.
Buy a set of NoiseAware devices for your Airbnb property today!
NoiseAware device that will reduce Airbnb noise issues
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This free training is brought to you by James Svetec an Airbnb Expert who has managed over $1M in bookings & Symon He, the founder of LearnBNB, the #1 Airbnb hosting education blog.
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Great article Jim! I always knew noise could be an issue but never knew how to combat it. Is the special offer for readers that you mentioned the hyperlink to the noiseaware site or is there a code we use at checkout?
Whoops, looks like we missed you! Yes, just go through the hyperlink directly to their site. Cheers!
Airbnb has taken over our small, rural, quiet area. Literally…Guests now have taken to shooting guns 24/7, the loudest music known to man. We are in a desert community where fire dangers are high…oh yes..bonfires. They are headed for a range war. What is our recourse? Airbnb owners are not on premise and they just do not care. Well, we have been here 30 years, living a quiet life. These city people are rude, loud and in time, will kill someone or our livestock. Noise travels for miles in our canyons. Why can’t these people just come out and enjoy the quiet? Why do they have to destroy everything in their paths? They leave bags and bags of trash at the road for the coyotes to tear up and we all have to clean up after them. Its a nightmare. If the airbnb owner doesn’t take care of it, we are already looking at our options.
Airbnb hosts should respect local regulation AND be considerate neighbors. If they’re not, as is the case you’re highlighting, then they will face appropriate recourse. Sorry you have to deal with inconsiderate hosts.
Im sick of Airbnb blaming the hosts Its the renters!!!!! start charging them alot of money and maybe they will start respecting people and places. and stop blaming the hosts. Charge $2000 for bait and switch and destruction. period!!! Its getting worse and its millennials.
“Airbnb HOSTS?? should respect local regulations…” ??? Are you sure you didn’t mean “GUESTS”??? I hope this is a typographical mistake.
As the owner or renter of the unit you’re renting, it’s ultimately on you if the guests you’re bringing are creating noise issues. You’re profiting by renting it out and if your guests are creating issues for your neighbors, it’s your responsibility to address it. Else, we’d have many more bad neighbor hosts.
Well, what is the “appropriate recourse?” I had guests that had me receive several threats of lawsuits, even from neighbors that lived as far as a block away. I managed to get them out of my house, but Airbnb made me return their money, even though my house rules clearly stated the neighborhood’s strict noise rules after 10PM. So I was the one who was penalized. I lost thousands of dollars and, in addition, Airbnb allowed the guests to write a review about my house. Until then I only had 5 star reviews, but since they were unhappy about having to move, they left a review filled with lies (which Airbnb says is not against their policies) and only 1-star. I have tried everything, but apparently there is no recourse I can take that’s “appropriate.” Honestly, I don’t know how NoiseAware can be of any help if there is very little I can do if I find out about excessive noise (except for kicking the guests out and losing a ton of money)
You should try to talk to Airbnb again. You can have them look at the whole situation and petition for the review to be taken down up to 4 times
This is the kind of issue that will shut down Air BNB. I use Air BnB and think it is a good service, my profile on Air BnB shows that I have been a respectful guest. However next door has set up a 12 Bed Hotel version. When in quiet neighbourhoods less than 4 beds does not make for a party house. But 12 Beds !! That encourages noisy groups by the very fact that there is up to 12 people in one house.. This kind of large dorm style Air bnb in quiet streets is just the kind of issue that will force the local govt to draft new laws to shut down your service.
Hi there,
I have a neighbour running an Airbnb. We have lived here for years and now all of a sudden they complain about everything.
If the TV is loud, listening to music etc
I understand sometimes such as vacuuming too late however I don’t do that often, he was mad because we were playing music and having drinks on a Saturday, at 9pm? We live in the city where it is noisy?
I am getting sick of not being comfortable in my own space just so his guests feel better!
Wtf??? Is there anything I can do about this issue? We don’t have parties or anything like that and live right by the trains they are extremely loud and yet they keep complaining.
It is extremely annoying especially since he is constantly talking loud, especially to guest at 7/8am in the morning,
What can I do?
Once you detect noise in your property with this device what do you do?
Call your guest to quiet down. This is a notification that comes to you as it happens so you can address it asap before it has a chance to piss off your neighbors.
I am about to call my Channel 9 news and find out about the Air B&B in my neighborhood. One party on a Thursday evening until 12:30 in the morning and I have to work the next day. Honking horns and yelling. One person even parked “on” my grass. Need to check my sprinkler system. I thought the owner had to live on the premises and evidently, they do not have an owner-just the person who cleans the house. Even typing this I am going to call my news and report them. What kind of rental taxes do they pay? How does their homeowners cover the house?
We live in Scotland Inverness riverside gardens. The flat above us run like hotel probably with Airbnb. Our home is no home anymore. The constant move in and out the fight for car park as often more then one car comes its unreal. I barely have a good night sleep nowadays and when the guest leaves the cleaner arrives. More noise more hovering. This is not a life anymore. So tired. Airbnb in residential area should be band. It doesn’t feel right at all.
I agree…It should be illegal to have something commercial in a residential neighborhood.
This is the same for me. I found the listing for airbnb above my apartment and I get anxiety when I know someone is checking in. Will they be noisy? Will their kids be running around like maniacs until 12am? Or will they actually be quiet? I shouldn’t have to be buying sleeping pills to help me sleep because the stomping above me goes all night. You’re not alone in your frustrations.
There is an Airbnb party house in our neighborhood with a pool and deck in the front yard (I repeat…a pool and deck in the FRONT YARD). The house sleeps 20, and is nestled by a mountain (so any yelling, screaming, or/and loud music, can be heard for miles). The renters are usually young, intoxicated, and have no respect for the neighborhood, partying loud from sunup to sundown (and thru sundown). The owner is IGNORANT as hell, blowing off all complaints (all to put money in his pocket), while us neighbors have been suffering from this for 6+ years. If the renters would be more respectful and considerate of the neighborhood and neighbors (who are all hard working individuals who need their beauty sleep)no one would mind! Airbnb needs to be more aware of these party houses, and put an end to those who abuse neighborhoods (period).
Link doesn’t work. You’re definately right about a bad guest. I rented out to 3 young girls who proceeded to through a party at my house, when my listing specifically prohibits it. And then they trashed me in a review for every little thing wrong they found. Millennials–don’t rent to them. Stick with families