Airbnb has agreed to comply with directives from European Union consumer regulators that will hopefully give consumers a more transparent experience when booking stays on the platform.
Two major issues raised by the EU Commissioner for Consumers are that users complained that the prices they were quoted on the website often rose as charges were added, and that it wasn’t possible to tell if the host was a private individual or a landlord. The latter is important because it affects how disputes are resolved under European laws.
Airbnb has agreed that all listings on its EU websites will either include the total price with all fees and taxes included, or, where that’s not possible in advance, an upfront warning that there might be additional charges.
An important issue remains open: The company describes itself as an ‘online service provider,’ while EU regulators have been pushing to have it classified as a business in the lodging industry that would be compelled to work with cities and governments to comply with rules and eliminate illegal listings.
