What Does Airbnb Say About Service Animals?
- Published on:
- By: ASP Team
Airbnbs provide fun alternatives to staying in hotels. They range from cozy to quirky, and there’s an Airbnb for every type of travel preference in between. If you’re considering booking an Airbnb and intend to bring your Psychiatric Service Animal (PSA), you’ll want to brush up on Airbnb’s Accessibility Policy for the latest guidelines for PSAs. This article provides a starting point for that, but things change, so head over to Airbnb’s website for the most updated version.
Note that this article only encompasses details for Psychiatric Service Animals (PSAs). Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) do not get the same legal concessions that PSAs do, except in New York or California. As a result, ESAs can be denied – with the exception of those two states or where other local law prohibits it – and can have pet fees assessed for their stay.
What do I need to prove to Airbnb or a host that my animal is a service animal?
Be prepared to answer questions, if asked by the host, testifying to your service animal. The only two questions, according to the Airbnb Accessibility Policy, that a host can ask you are:
- Whether you require your service animal because of a disability
- What work or task your service animal has been trained to perform
Although not required, bringing a copy of your doctor-signed animal letter and your I Train completion certificates for Obedience Training and Service Dog Task Training could be a good way to provide additional peace of mind to your host.
If you’re not yet enrolled in I Train Academy, jump into it today. It’s a convenient and inexpensive way to train your dog to perform a specific task aligned with your need(s) – 100% online from the comfort and security of your own home.
Do I have to let my host know about my service animal in advance?
You’re not required to let anyone know about your service animal before booking. In rare cases related to the health and safety of the host or another guest, a host may have an exemption from having to permit a service animal on their property. Contact Airbnb directly if you have questions or concerns about this part of their policy.
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Can Airbnb hosts deny service animals?
In most cases, no. Airbnb hosts must allow your service animal to stay at their property for no extra fee as long as your service animal meets the criteria for being a service animal and your service animal is well behaved, potty trained, in your control, accompanying you at all times (unless there has been prior approval that you can leave your service animal at the property), and wearing a harness or leash in a public space.
The only other exception to this rule is, as stated in the section above, if your host has qualified with Airbnb as having an exemption due to a health or security reason, such as allergies to animals.
Can Airbnb hosts charge a fee for my Psychiatric Service Animal?
No pet fees or other types of additional fees related to your animal can be charged by Airbnb or its hosts when your PSA comes to stay.
How does Airbnb enforce its service animal policy, and what if I run into issues?
If a guest or host doesn’t abide by the Accessibility Policy, Airbnb could take measures to prevent the perpetrator from using the property booking platform in the future. If you need to file a complaint, Airbnb has outlined a process to follow. There’s also a 24-hour safety line to use for safety concerns before, during and after your stay.
To sum it up...
Service animals, also known as Psychiatric Service Animals or PSAs, are explicitly written into Airbnb’s Accessibility Policy, so you can stay at an Airbnb with ease and have the accommodation that you need, by your side. Just be sure your service animal is trained accordingly for the sake of everyone involved, including your animal. Happy, safe, and confident travels to you both!
This post is intended to be educational and informative. American Service Pets makes no claims to the accuracy of information, which may have changed from when this post was written. Please refer to Airbnb’s official Accessibility Policy for the most up-to-date requirements regarding staying at an Airbnb with your service animal.
The benefits of an Emotional Support Animal certification and a Psychiatric Service Dog certification are drastically different. Fortunately for you, American Service Pets’ network of active board certified doctors can help you find the right path to certification. To find out whether you need an ESA or PSD letter, take our easy, three-step Pet Owner Survey!
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