Airbnb Property Management Blog

How Old Do You Have To Be To Use Airbnb?

You must be 18 years old or over to rent Airbnb.

This minimum age requirement applies to both the hosts and guests, no matter where you are registered worldwide. You need to be a legal adult to be an Airbnb host and/or guest.

This age policy applies only to the account holder

What it means is that your family member or a co-host can also operate your account and rent out the same property if you come up to the age limit. 

And the same for the guests—if a family is booking a place, all the guests (of any age) can move in if the booking is made from an account of an adult 18+ person. 

Keep reading this guide to learn more about all Airbnb’s age restrictions!

Airbnb’s Age Restrictions in Different Countries

While the minimum age requirement to rent or host is 18 years old, it can vary in counties. 

For example, a guest (not host) who is making a booking is required to be at least 25 years old or over to rent a whole property on Airbnb in the following countries:

  1. Canada
  2. United Kingdom
  3. United States (a few cities)
  4. Spain
  5. France
  6. Japan

In addition, if a guest wants to book an entire home or property, the guest must have at least three positive reviews (with no negative reviews) in these countries. 

But why do some countries have a higher Airbnb age limit? Well, because of certain issues Airbnb has faced in recent years, such as unauthorized house parties, damages, and crimes. 

One such famous incident was the 2019 Halloween incident in which five people died due to a mass shooting on an Airbnb property.

However, this under-25 policy is only for guests booking entire properties, not shared rentals. So, a guest who is younger than 25 years can book a private or shared room.

Age Restrictions for Airbnb Experiences

Age Restrictions for Airbnb Experiences

Airbnb Experiences are activities (typically in-person) that are led by locals and participated by guests. For example, normal tours, classes, cooking, hiking, food tours, and more.  

Airbnb requires both hosts and guests to be 18 or older to host and participate. 

However, guests can themselves set the age limit for the participants for safety purposes, depending on the activity.

How Airbnb Verifies Your Age?

Airbnb verifies hosts, co-hosts, and guests (one time) for all stays.

The platform requires you to submit their personal details for identity verification, such as legal name, address, phone number, and other contact details.

However, Airbnb can also ask for additional information, including age.

If this happens, you must provide a photo of your government ID as proof of age via:

  1. Driver’s license
  2. Passport
  3. National identity card

In addition to the government ID, you can also be asked for a photo/selfie of yourself. 

In short, the government identification document is used to verify the age of the host as well as the guest before making any booking.

Pro Tip! If you’re a guest, bring your ID when checking in. Local laws in certain European countries, such as Portugal and Germany, demand ID verification.

Airbnb’s Other Requirements and Restrictions

Along with age limit, Airbnb has other requirements and restrictions, such as:

  • Only partnerships, legal entities, and natural persons can register.
  • Users must provide accurate and latest information when creating an account.
  • Accounts cannot be transferred to another person.
  • Users are supposed to maintain the security of their login credentials.
  • Any suspected unauthorized access needs to be reported promptly to Airbnb.
  • Airbnb may conduct background checks and cross-reference public records and third-party databases.

     

These restrictions help maintain a safe and reliable platform for both guests and hosts.

How to Find Out If an Airbnb Listing Has Age-Specific Rules?

If you’re a guest and want to know whether a listing has any age-specific rules, simply review the “House Rules” section of the listing. You can also use the “Contact Host” section and directly ask for any age restrictions for your age group. 

What If You Are Under the Minimum Age?

Suppose you are under the minimum age to book an Airbnb. In such a case, you won’t be able to create an account or make a reservation yourself.

However, a family member or guardian who meets the age requirement can book on your behalf. You can stay with them if they are the official account holder.

Conclusion

Airbnb has a clear age rule to keep things safe for everyone. 

You must be at least 18 to rent or host. In some countries, like Canada, the UK, France, Japan, and Spain, guests need to be 25 to book an entire home. 

This rule helps prevent problems like loud parties and property damage.

Airbnb checks your age using your ID, so always have it ready. If you’re underage, a family member or guardian can book for you.

FAQs

Airbnb has an age policy to keep guests, hosts, and properties safe. The rule helps stop unauthorized parties, property damage, and legal issues.

A key reason for stricter policies was the 2019 Halloween shooting at an Airbnb rental, which led to permanent restrictions on party houses and underage bookings.

No, individual hosts cannot create their own age requirements outside Airbnb’s official policies. They can, however, describe their listing in a way that attracts certain types of guests.

Hosts can protect themselves by verifying guests' IDs, setting clear house rules, and checking guest reviews before accepting bookings. In some places, it is legal to check a guest’s ID.

If a guest is too young to book, a parent or guardian can book for them. The guest can stay as long as the account holder is with them. They can also try other rental platforms like VRBO or Booking.com, which may have different age rules.

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