An exhaustive list of rules set by the owner of an Airbnb property has sparked outrage after a shocked tourist posted them online.
The visitor shared a photo of the extensive laminated ‘Booking Terms and Conditions’ of the anonymous Airbnb home in Queensland.
The long and detailed list covered everything from monitoring the number of guests with a tracking device, additional charges for laundering towels, a $30 charge for checking in guests, charges for carpet stains, firewood, fruit picking and use of water.
“So this was the list of rules at my Queensland AirBnb…” the visitor captioned the photo on Reddit.
The single A4 page of small, closely spaced instructions, threats and warnings is made up of 18 separate clauses, plus a very detailed footnote.
The list of rules sparked a scathing reaction online after it was posted, with Reddit users calling out many of the strange rules.
One commented on point two, which details in great detail the owner’s housekeeping rules and regulations.
“$120 fee for not emptying the dishwasher, dammit,” wrote one surprised poster.
The long and detailed list of 18 rules at a Queensland Airbnb, including the use of a tracking device to monitor guests, sparked outrage.
“We don’t believe in cleaning fees, but we will separately charge you cleaning fees,” another posted.
In another clause, the owners warned tenants that “any additional towels taken out of the closets will be charged an additional laundry fee of $60 per load.”
One commenter expressed outrage: ‘$60 for an extra load of towels? Imagine calling the hotel front desk asking for more towels and they tell you it will cost you $60 for a few more.’
Any stain on the carpet would incur a $75 fee, the owners also warned.
‘$75 per carpet stain? “I’m sure that will never be abused, no sir,” one comment read.
“I just have a freaking big stain on the carpet,” someone responded.
‘$60 for an extra load of towels? “Imagine calling the hotel front desk asking for more towels and they tell you it will cost you $60 for a few more,” one comment read.
A limit on the number of guests allowed also alarmed many Reddit users, with visitors warning that the house was bugged to ensure no rules were broken.
“In fact, we have a monitoring device on the property, which alerts us to excess numbers,” the note to tenants said.
‘A tracking device to know if there are too many guests…? What the fuck? How does that work? wrote one user.
Reddit users also highlighted that points 13 and 14 on firewood were virtually identical, but questioned who would need firewood in Queensland.
‘Firewood…in Queensland? Did they just copy and paste this from their Tasmanian Airbnb? asked one.
The discussion also revealed that many have not abandoned Airbnb bookings in recent years because of the high cost of bookings and additional cleaning charges.
Others said it had played a role in the current housing crisis affecting Australia.
‘Hotels are the way. Daily maid, call if you need new towels. There is no exit cleaning,” one wrote.
“I stopped using Airbnb a few years ago and haven’t missed it since,” wrote a second.
“So they have a scam where they make money by renting out a property, but they literally don’t expect to have to do ANYTHING to make that money,” another added.
‘Guests prepare the property for the next guest. It’s ridiculous, but as long as people keep paying, this won’t change.’
Another added: ‘That’s why we stopped using them a few years ago, the same price as a hotel, but you have to do all the cleaning or it’s more expensive.’
Many commented on Airbnb’s impact on the current housing crisis.
‘I will never use an Airbnb. They are contributing to the housing crisis in Australia. “Greedy bastards don’t care about the long-term consequences, just their money,” one wrote.
Another added: “Airbnb is a cancer that continues to screw up not only the real estate market but also the lives of those who are unfortunate enough to live in an area with temporary rentals that should be illegal.”
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Airbnb for comment.