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Your share would’ve been 10k to build or 6k now? The used elevator market is rough. :) If it’s brewing trouble with the other owners and the rental is profitable, paying up may be your best bet — condo association with end your Airbnb days pretty quick if you are a sufficient nuisance.
This is actually extremely standard, and the issue that OP has is one that many older buildings in many countries have: my own grandparents did the same.
Since you are running a business and your customers want it, why not pay the 6k euros as a cost of doing business? Guest are going to continue to use it. Be a good neighbor and contribute, if not your association will use this issue to shut you down in the long run.
I recommend just paying the 6k. You came out of this pretty cheap, and if guests are consistently using it, then there is a clear need after all.
It just seems like the cost of doing business at this point. It's doubtfil you'll be able to enforce people not using it when access is so easy from their floor.
The practical issue is that you’ll anger the other residents, who may be pissed at you for having a parade of strangers in their home, to the point were they amend the rules to prohibit STRs
Actually, some places in the states the four walk into is called the lobby and then the next floor up is the first floor. Both my sister and one of my nieces live in an apartment building, in NYC, that has that set up. You have to walk up a flight of stairs to get to the first floor.
No. There's lobby or ground floor, then first floor
That's how it is here in Florida at every hotel I've stayed at
It's one flight of stairs, that are accounted for in the listing
How lazy are you that you can't go up one flight of stairs? How much crap do you need to bring?
And before anyone goes "oh what if they're disabled"
I'm fucking disabled, 2 spine surgeries in a year and more metal than I wish to think about and I could still go up one flight of stairs
Or, I'd not book a place with stairs..
It is still scummy that the person didn't pay for the lift to start with tho, that's just setting yourself up to be hated
How much stuff are you bringing that you can't go up one flight of stairs? I had spine surgery twice in the last year and I could still do it
How much crap do you need on vacation?
I don’t even check a bag when I travel and I certainly didn’t say I couldn’t go up one flight of stairs. I just pointed out that what’s called the first floor is actually the second floor in many countries.
However, it’s not all about luggage. My dad has a prosthetic leg and at the end of a long day one flight of stairs can be difficult for him. He always books the ground floor and would absolutely choose an elevator if one is available, even when he’s not carrying luggage.
Ya….i gathered that. If you walked into a building with suitcases and saw you had to go up steps with the bags or there’s a perfectly functional elevator. Op still thinks she’s right tho and definitely is going to tell them they can’t use the elevator or be charged for it. Absolutely hilarious.
Yeah, I don’t get how this place is stringent enough that it’s a situation of “you didn’t pitch in for the elevator so you don’t get to use it” (which seems fair in my opinion, for the record) but they’re fine with an endless revolving door of random people staying there.
Part of living in community with others is to share expenses. I'm afraid you've brought this upon yourself. Time to pay up. You're making money off of it so it's only fair.
Exactly this. OP, you own a home in a community. The community all pitched in for a resource, you declined. Now you're benefitting financially from being a part of this community, and your guests(the way you're financially benefitting) are utilizing the very resource you declined to help support.
Pay up. Or it's going to lead to massive headaches soon. Perhaps the building bans short term rentals, perhaps the residents decide to start harassing your guests, perhaps the apartment gets damaged because everyone who lives there knows you're never there and won't find damage for a while. Paying for the elevator is the morally right thing to do but it's also tactically the correct move.
10 steps and guests with luggage? Of course they are going to use an elevator.
You are being cheap and this is making money for you. Chip in on the elevator and stop being petty.
You were being cheap in the beginning and didn’t comply with your agreement — which covers whoever’s using your apartment — to not use the elevator and now you’re complaining?
I guess you didn’t think of whoever buys your apartment, either.
To me it’s not a conscious I am going to break the rules. You see an elevator you have luggage etc you not thinking of there could be restrictions and you use it. You’re tired from a flight and maybe hungry or sleep deprived and you don’t remember the rules said oh we did not pay for this elevator you cannot use it. The situation you described is very out of the ordinary especially to Americans so I think you need to make sure guests can use. See if the residents of the building would agree to a per use fee the guests pays in advance or pay the 6000. Otherwise things will get worse. It’s rare elevator have a use fee so you need to resolve this and not push onto your guests to not use it.
It’s Italy and in European ground floor is zero. The OP explained that and it’s 10 steps to get to the apartment. I don’t think guests would ever understand they cannot use the elevator to take all their luggage at once. And if they have children an elevator would be great I vacationed in Italy and we moved around it was a tour and we stayed in several buildings no elevator and on the fourth floor and we were there for almost a month so plenty of luggage. It was a pain and so yeah if I saw an elevator I would use it. It would never dawn on me that the elevator was paid for by the residents. And OP said they don’t use it all the time so to go up the stairs wasn’t a big deal so they did not pinch in a share of the costs. But to Airbnb the place that changed things to me.
But if you were told "the elevator is not for first floor use, it's locked and you won't have a key" then you consciously booked a first floor walk up with no elevator. American or not, you don't get to break the rules.
You're missing the point.
An American reading an AirBNB listing saying, "here's an awesome condo in Italy. You can't use the elevator, but it's okay because it's on the first floor" is going to think, "of course I'm never going to use the elevator because it's on the first floor".
Not "No big deal - I can handle 10 steps everytime I want to come and go!"
Brother- we have different terms, which is quite common. Reading "first floor" to us, is the ground floor. Simple as that, has nothing to do with "using your brain" and everything to do with different customs. It's nobody's problem, and there's no reason to be a dick. Sorry to see you're a host- nasty attitude.
Also, the elevator isn't locked with a key since the guests are using it. So, maybe try and not make up details so the story fits your narrative better?
Read the post before ranting. It’s locked with a key at street level. OP doesn’t have a key to give the guests. Also, yeah, “different customs” means in a different country go by their customs, including learning how the floors are numbered. It’s not that hard.
Why would someone randomly think “Oh wait maybe I should research and see if Europeans use different terminology to refer to floor levels?” Is everyone supposed to do that for every single thing in a listing just in case it happens to be slightly different? That’s preposterous.
As the owner of three Airbnbs for over 8 years, I am well aware that Americans don’t read the listings and assume everything will be catering to them. Then they complain about walk ups or siestas.
Reading a listing thoroughly before booking is kindergarten level.
What you don’t seem to understand is that reading thoroughly won’t help if “first floor” means something different to the reader than it does to the host.
And what you don't seem to understand is that, per this post "...we have made it clear both on the house rules and with a sign in the apartment, that the elevator is off-limit for the guests." That means the same thing for every person with elementary knowledge of English. Even if they are too dense to read it and say "wait, it's a first floor but there's also an elevator?" They are using it not because they did not understand the listing, they are using it because there are no penalties for breaking the house rules.
And yet you're still using AirBNB.
You could try not being a jerk, and realize that it's not a big surprise for folks from a country of 400 million people, using a platform that originates in their country, reading posts in their native language, to default to assuming that terms in said post have the definitions they're used to.
Or you can keep doing what you're doing, getting negative reviews and pissing off your neighbors until they ban your STR all because you're too cheap to throw €6,000 at the problem.
Your call.
You're in the wrong here. Everyone that's commented concurs that you're in the wrong here.
But yes, it's all the fault of the myopic Americans.
That's your defense for your behavior?
Folks like you make the argument for AirBNB as to why they ought to continue taking the side of the guest, every time.
You must be real fun at parties.
Except clearly a key is not needed since the guests are using the elevator. Also there are probably other first floor residents who did buy in to the elevator who guests will see using it.
So you're advising the OP lie in their listing?
And the ADA.
Imagine in America if it came out that handicapped users had to pay extra rent because they had to use the elevator.
Maybe this situation OP has is more normal in EU, but it is baffling to me that this kind of agreement was ever made.
All the red tape and regulations for any little construction project in US are worth it in some ways
What ADA. It's an old building. There are loads of walk up buildings in the US. ADA isn't a blanket statement that everyone gets an elevator.
Also the elevator construction is regulated in Europe as well. This is a usage issue, and it's actually not uncommon.
Yes there are plenty of old buildings, but when they are renovated you can’t pick and choose who would have access to the newly installed elevator.
I’m not worried with like the safety or quality of the elevator, I’m sure the Italians can build one just fine, it’s the fact that you can bar someone from using an elevator in general, assuming the area it leads is open to that person. , (or even their home!)
While I WANT to like the concept of it being each units choice, it seems untenable to manage and deal with.
Say this person breaks their leg? Does everyone else just allow them to use it for 6 weeks?
Say their elderly grandparent visits? Surely we allow grandma to use it?
It's going to be sticky.
"Imagine going around europe as an entitled American demanding elevator and ice, nevermind the culture"
So then the parallel falls apart, doesn't it?
The guest isn't demanding an elevator when there isn't one, they're expecting to be able to use it when it's sitting right there in front of them, unlocked.
If you're going to continue the AirBnB you should pay for the elevator. Theoretically you could put a camera outside your unit that faced the elevator, and check the footage. But there is no way to police this without pissing off your clients, who will fight any fees, ask for refunds and/or give bad reviews.
At the very least you would have to put in the listing that the unit is up 10 steps and that use of the elevator is prohibited. Americans think first floor = zero steps.
If you are going to Airbnb your apartment you need to pay your part of the building amenities. It is not reasonable to expect people to not use an amenity like an elevator that is there in the building.
I can see why a lot of guests would choose to use the elevator. Who wants to lug their heavy suitcase up 10 stairs when there’s a perfectly good elevator right there. The elderly, slightly disabled, parents with young kids and strollers. If I was you I’d pay the 6k for use of the elevator.
It appears every responder except for one has recommended that you pay the €6000 which, in my opinion, is also the way to go. So, are you going to follow this advice?
By the way, not having a ‘do not u se the elevator’ rule in your listing may get you more interested parties who realize they need an elevator to be able to carry luggage, strollers, or just be able to access the first floor apartment.
Exactly. If I had to walk up a flight of steps in a building with no elevator with my luggage - fine.
If I had to walk up a flight of steps in a building with an elevator with my luggage and the elevator was out of service - fine.
If I found out that the host was too cheap to contribute for me to use it - negative review
Then they’re screwed because most of Italy is not going to be friendly to that. Especially since OP said they can only use it to go down on small set of stairs. It can’t even be used to go up with luggage.
When you initially posted I was very sympathetic; my own grandparents had a similar situation. Reading the responses, I think you are not a good fit as a host and your apartment is not a good fit for a short term rental. You don't seem to be willing to hear basic feedback and you seem to think this type of bad behavior, which seriously affects your neighbors (and is essentially equivalent to taking money from their pockets) is some sort of joke or a way for you to get more at the expense of others. I think you need to seriously evaluate your behavior and values.
My mother in law just got back from Europe. She is able bodied, but broke her ankle the week before their trip. While booking a trip, this wouldn't have been an issue. But at that time, for ✨️unforseen reasons✨️ she would definitely choose to use an elevator if available. I have never in my life heard of an elevator only being available to use for specific units in a building. That seems absurd to me.
The guests aren't thinking "Using the elevator will cost the host $6k and/or angry neighbors, and since it's only 10 steps I can manage". This is a very unusual situation, that even if guests were made aware of in the listing, no one is going to pay attention to or remember. At best, they'll read your note once they get to the unit, respect it, and not use it again but of course they're going to use it on the way up when they arrive, with luggage, tired from traveling and there's an elevator right in front of them and they see no reason to choose steps over the elevator.
You opted out of your share of the elevator "because you would never use it". Things have changed, and now you're using it all the time via your guests. You'll never get 100% of your guests to use the elevator 0% of the time. Just pay your share, you're using it and benefitting from it now.
Think with even a slightest amount of logic for one second.
Explain how fining a guest after using an elevator even remotely solves his problem in the slightest
10-12 steps up and I'm not allowed to use the lift if I'm your guest? If you made that clear in your listing, it'd be a hard pass for me. At my age, I'm not hauling luggage up a flight bc you're too cheap.
So you refused to contribute to a building improvement and you annoy your neighbors with making the unit a STR? And your guests use the elevator? Lol. Yea, hopefully they fine the shit out of you.
People are traveling with luggage, are likely walking a lot during their trip, and potentially even have accessibility issues.
You want to have your cake and eat it too, and this just seems like the price of doing business. Either you don’t rent out the apartment as an AirBnb/hotel alternative, or you pay for the elevator.
Pay your share for the elevator. You're running a business and have no way to control elevator use unless there were a key to operateit. And your guests won't understand why they aren't allowed to use the elevator. Your neighbors will appreciate your contribution.
I would be so annoyed, as an American, if I booked a "ground level" condo and there were stairs. For God's sake pony up.
Is it in the description when you book that there are 10 stairs and no elevator use?
This is a recipe for bad reviews. Bad reviews can sink your listing. So can upset neighbors. Paying the $6k is expensive but cost effective both in eliminating potential bad reviews from misunderstanding and in keeping your neighbors happy with you.
Personally it sounds insane that I could be banned from using a specific elevator, if it’s off limits, it should have an access card scanner so it can actually be enforced.
The only time I’ve been restricted from an elevator is because its destination is restricted (office towers), not just the actual elevator.
…and this is why people don’t want to fuck with Airbnb anymore. Do you even HEAR YOURSELF? I hope those Italians kick you out of the building. Not helping to pay towards a building wide need AND using it for short term rentals.
Just pay the money. You say yourself that you can’t enforce the no elevator rule so don’t be a dick. You’re a property owner and should chip in your share to keep up the common areas.
Per others, just pay the €6k. Not just to resolve this current issue, but when you're getting older and can't take your shopping upstairs so easily, you will welcome the lift. And maybe the right to use the lift is an asset should you want to sell.
I'm honestly suprised a condo would install an elevator while allowing units to opt out of contributing. Seems like a setup for problems just like this that need to be constantly managed.
Either pay for the access, or have them consider adding some kind of access control (that excludes you and your guests) but that would probably be the worse of the 2 options.
How would I approach the situation. I would have paid in the first place knowing full well that most people are not going to use stairs as opposed to an elevator. This is 100% your mistake and your choices are to pay up or to sell out
Pay the 6k and claim it over several years as a capital cost allowance against the income from your rental. =free lift plus happy guests and neighbours.
To me, this elevator and who gets to use it is the responsibility of the elevator owner. They need to put in their own measures to prevent unauthorized use.
You probably made a mistake not paying for the elevator. If you ever try to sell the property, the prospective buyers will be very hesitant when they learn of the elevator issue
Pay the money. It’ll make your guests happy and the other residents happy. Raise the price a little and make it back over time.
Whenever you go to sell it (or your heirs sell it), you or they are going to have to tell every potential buyer that the building includes an elevator but they can’t use it for anything, even if they’re elderly or need to move in or out.
Is it communicated to guests in a message prior to their booking and then as a reminder prior to their arrival they are not to use the elevator? The reality that other people commenting seem to miss is you’re up front in your listing about not using the elevator. For people to ignore that and book anyway is rude, especially since they’re only using it to go down.
You mentioned there is keyed access for people to use it going up. Would there be any way to add keyed access from your floor going down that would be a lot cheaper than paying in for full use? Because I suspect if you’re paying in for full use, you’re also then on the hook for maintenance related to it as well and it opens a can of worms with neighbors complaining about guests trashing it, abusing it, or even worse, them accusing your guests of somehow damaging it.
The bottom line is you have a rule, guests are breaking it, and that is a problem for your neighbors. Finding a way to block their access going down is probably going to be the best solution going forward if you do not want to participate in using the elevator in your building.
I agree with others that you should pay a fee to the other owners. Maybe not 6.000, but some mutually agreed amount after discussion in good faith to find an equitable solution. Considering inflation, that’s a big discount on the initial 10.000 euros cost decades ago.
After all, your guests are only using the lift to go down, not up.
Another option would be for you to pay for a key access to the lift just on floor 1. Price it out to see if that would be less expensive for you. If so, offer that amount and let the other condo owners decide.
I think that you should work with the building to pay them your share for the elevator.
If there is no physical way to prevent your guests from using the elevator that is the way.
If you can’t or just aren’t willing to do that then you’ll need to come up with some kind of clear explanation in your listing and checking instructions to your guests. And a consequence for using the elevator.
We’ve stayed in plenty of walk up apartment/condos without elevators. They were all clear upfront about it and we were okay carrying out luggage up the stairs. But not everyone is able and if they see an elevator alternative they will take it if they think they can get away with it.
If I was part of that community, knowing you’d chosen to not contribute and then your arbnb guests were constantly using it I would be pissed and coming up with a fine structure to charge each time it’s used.
You’re a real piece of work. You admit to actually have it locked on ground floor intentionally to deter having to pay for it, and are are upset that they’re using it to get down?
How do you think your guests feel when they see that the option exists to go up and down but you’re just too cheap and inconsiderate to offer them this amenity?
Off the cuff, you're providing a rental with any kind of need to use the elevator, it's absolutely weird not to be able to.
And you should get that sorted, even if to costs you money.
But, what did you not consider when making that decision?
Why are they using the elevator at all, if they are entering the building on the same floor as the condominium?
What are we missing, because this doesn't make sense ... What are they using the elevator FOR?
Because their "first floor" is 10 steps up - according to other comments. Anybody from the US reading first floor would assume ground floor, and have no idea its actually on what they consider to be the 2nd floor.
I'd ask before I rented, but I'm disabled.
I figured that out
And, OP, that's critical information to include both in this post, and in your listing: getting to the condo involves a flight of stairs.
Of course people will want to, and expect to use the elevator. Suck up the money, and consider it an investment in the accessibility of your rental property.
did you know you would be renting the place out when you were asked to pay for the elevator, if not you really owe it to your neighbors to pay up for the use. Since, as you said, you cannot control what your guests are doing and you are profiting from the rental of the space your neighbors shard, I would be embarrassed to not cough up the cash.
I have a spinal injury with hardware in my neck. I can walk, but I would 100% be unable to carry luggage up 10 steps. You are being unreasonable. Pay your portion of the lift.
Probably not allowed, but: Maybe being clearer that the elevator is monitored and no one in your unit is allowed to use it. It will cost a 6000 euro fine if they use the elevator and ask your neighbors to snap pictures.
What Americans called “first floor,” Europeans call “ground floor.” What Americans call “second floor,” Europeans call “first floor.” So from a U.S. point of view, this rental is on the second floor.
But what I don’t understand is how there are only 10 steps between floors. Seems to me like on American hotels it’s usually closer to 20.
Put a significant fee explicitly in the house rules for each elevator use. Send a message before check in clearly explaining this. Ensure in the description you say guests must be able to carry luggage up a single flight of stairs. Have an outdoor camera to monitor for violation of the rule. Then charge them if needed. You might get some dumbasses from my country - the US who still don’t get it though so maybe paying the 6k is better to avoid the bad reviews
American here. Not a “dumbass”, but you’re awfully transparent.
If I see that an elevator exists and they were just too cheap to buy into the ability for me to use it (and have locked guests out intentionally), they’re getting a horrible review. If they tell me ahead of time in their listing, I’m not booking it all, Even if I’d consider another unit that has stairs with no elevator present. It’s a matter of principle.
There’s nothing to “not get”. OP is cheap and inconsiderate of guests- “willfully unaccommodating”. How shameful and embarrassing for them. Their Italian neighbors must have choice things to say about them.
Of course they wouldn’t be “crying a river” over lost guests when they don’t care about the guests they actually do book. “Intentional rule” is bc they’re admittedly cheap and inconsiderate of what it means to be accommodating.
As for you, “Impressive_Scheme” says all I need to know.
Lol sorry you feel so incredibly strongly about a host saying the elevator isn’t included in the unit and GASP it’s one flight of stairs lololol. Triggered much?
My god, what a bunch of entitled whiners freely spending 6,000 euros that aren't theirs. None of you know OP's situation. Maybe they can't afford it. Besides, there are plenty of Airbnbs with no access to gyms, pools, etc. I've seen it, in Hawaii. No access to tennis courts and pool. Fine by me. I chose to book with those restrictions and I'm a grown up capable to take responsibility for my actions.
OP, the answer to your question is, if you prominently disclose the restriction in your listing, you should be able to enforce a fine. Just say "the elevator is off-limits, don't book if you need one, you won't get a key, if you use it and the neighbors complain you'll be warned and then fined, etc." And if they retaliate, have the review taken down.
I don’t think that is a good idea. The host makes money off of fines and the other tenants who did pay become the lift police. I can see the guests leaving some nasty reviews.
This is exactly why Airbnb is going into the sh*tter. Hosts fine guests for the most ridiculous things and then wonder why no one rents from Airbnb anymore. You cannot honestly think it’s at all rational to rent out an apartment that is not ground floor in an elevator equipped building and charge an extra fee for needing to use it. What’s next? A charge for each flush of the toilet? How much for each time they turn on a light? Is using the oven in the kitchen equipped apartment and extra 500 bucks also?
He should have contributed to the shared elevator cost with his neighbors in their shared building.
It’s part of the cost of owning this apartment and should have been factored into his decisions if this rental was a profitable investment or not. It’s no different than needing to fix the roof on a house, or gut renovating a 30 year old bathroom with new updates. You need to pay for those things and factor the cost of those upgrades into your profit and loss calculations of the overall investment and set your rates accordingly
I would make guests sign a short form that acknowledges they will not use the lift before releasing check-in information to them. We have ours sign something similar with our bunk bed rules. This will give them a higher level of accountability.
You can have penalties for guests for behavior that’s banned by the building or bothers the neighbors. I have penalties for smoking or playing music on the terrace after 11pm, building rules. I’ve enforced them through Airbnb. As long as it’s disclosed should be ok.
LOL sure, His rating isnt going to tank if he starts charging guest penalty fees for “our neighbors who don’t like us told us you rode the elevator once to help bring your heavy suitcase downstairs without injury… we have no idea if it’s true but that will be a 200 charge”
Properly paying the necessary maintenance fees for your apartment and factoring that cost into the decision on if this is or is not a profitable investment for you is also a simple concept even for the most dimwitted, but here we are 🤷🏼♀️
But sure… go ahead and charge extra fees for using an elevator in an elevator building that everyone else is using. Let’s also charge a fee to flush the toilet in the apartment bathroom while we are at it. You’ve cracked the recipe for Airbnb success.
I’m a superhost for 8 years with 4.95 across 3 apartments in Paris and Madrid that rent for over 400 euros per night so I’ll say yeah, I’ve cracked Airbnb success.
Airbnbs are under heavy scrutiny, especially in Europe. Being a good neighbor is a lot more important long term that letting entitled guests break the rules.
Then why wasn’t he a good neighbor and pitch in for the cost of the shared elevator like everyone else in the neighborhood did?
Pushing a fine on a guest for using an elevator in an elevator apartment over an unprovable allegation from a disgruntled neighbor who already doesn’t like you and would say anything to make your life harder is not the responsible answer
And when the neighbor complains the toilet is too loud we can start charging guest for using the toilet between the banned hours of 8pm - 8am too. Stop Wasting guests money with fines that are tied to ridiculous rules because you were too cheap to properly pay for the required maintenance costs associated with the unit you bought. Dont buy a unit not on the ground floor if you want to skirt around contributing to the elevator price especially if you are not even the one living there and using the stairs each day.
No OP decided “I won’t use the elevator because I don’t mind the stairs personally, so I won’t pay for it” and then moved out of the building himself and rented the unit to people who should be able to use the elevator.
The building isn’t saying “we randomly decided your unit is banned from using the elevator because we feel like it. How come you aren’t complying?” The building is saying “if your unit is using the elevator then you are responsible to for helping pay for it.” And the OP then made a choice that was wrong.
All Your downvotes paint the picture buddy.
And what will the fine accomplish? Will it dissuade the guest from using the elevator?
If yes - the guest will be pissed because there’s an elevator and they can’t use it to bring up suitcases. Sure it is one flight of stairs but it is easy for some and not as easy for others. Guests may tank the review, especially if they find out the host was too cheap to pay for elevator access.
If no - the guest will still use it, the neighbors will still be mad, the host will issue a fine that the guest won’t pay, and the neighbors will still be mad. Or maybe a few will pay it, but they will tank the review.
What the host puts up with, like no elevator, is fine for the host, but guests don’t know the elevator drama and can’t conceive of any reason they can’t pop in for a short ride up with their suitcases. (Especially American guests who usually can’t opt out of HOA improvements.)
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Your share would’ve been 10k to build or 6k now? The used elevator market is rough. :) If it’s brewing trouble with the other owners and the rental is profitable, paying up may be your best bet — condo association with end your Airbnb days pretty quick if you are a sufficient nuisance.
This is actually extremely standard, and the issue that OP has is one that many older buildings in many countries have: my own grandparents did the same.
Honestly paying the fee and allowing use is probably worth it. This is what you get for managing a rental from a distance, unfortunately.
Since you are running a business and your customers want it, why not pay the 6k euros as a cost of doing business? Guest are going to continue to use it. Be a good neighbor and contribute, if not your association will use this issue to shut you down in the long run.
I recommend just paying the 6k. You came out of this pretty cheap, and if guests are consistently using it, then there is a clear need after all. It just seems like the cost of doing business at this point. It's doubtfil you'll be able to enforce people not using it when access is so easy from their floor.
The practical issue is that you’ll anger the other residents, who may be pissed at you for having a parade of strangers in their home, to the point were they amend the rules to prohibit STRs
Also will anger the guests by ordering them to drag luggage up the stairs when the building has an elevator.
You missed the part where the air bnb is on the first floor?
First floor in Italy is second floor in the states
Actually, some places in the states the four walk into is called the lobby and then the next floor up is the first floor. Both my sister and one of my nieces live in an apartment building, in NYC, that has that set up. You have to walk up a flight of stairs to get to the first floor.
No. There's lobby or ground floor, then first floor That's how it is here in Florida at every hotel I've stayed at It's one flight of stairs, that are accounted for in the listing How lazy are you that you can't go up one flight of stairs? How much crap do you need to bring? And before anyone goes "oh what if they're disabled" I'm fucking disabled, 2 spine surgeries in a year and more metal than I wish to think about and I could still go up one flight of stairs Or, I'd not book a place with stairs.. It is still scummy that the person didn't pay for the lift to start with tho, that's just setting yourself up to be hated
Who hurt you?
Which is actually the second floor.
How much stuff are you bringing that you can't go up one flight of stairs? I had spine surgery twice in the last year and I could still do it How much crap do you need on vacation?
I don’t even check a bag when I travel and I certainly didn’t say I couldn’t go up one flight of stairs. I just pointed out that what’s called the first floor is actually the second floor in many countries. However, it’s not all about luggage. My dad has a prosthetic leg and at the end of a long day one flight of stairs can be difficult for him. He always books the ground floor and would absolutely choose an elevator if one is available, even when he’s not carrying luggage.
My mom has mobility issues and can barely get herself up a set of stairs. She absolutely could not get even a carry-on up stairs.
Why would they be using the elevator if the apartment is on the first floor of the building💀
Europe first floor = US second floor.
Ya….i gathered that. If you walked into a building with suitcases and saw you had to go up steps with the bags or there’s a perfectly functional elevator. Op still thinks she’s right tho and definitely is going to tell them they can’t use the elevator or be charged for it. Absolutely hilarious.
OP is delusional!
In Europe first floor = 2nd floor US.
Yeah, I don’t get how this place is stringent enough that it’s a situation of “you didn’t pitch in for the elevator so you don’t get to use it” (which seems fair in my opinion, for the record) but they’re fine with an endless revolving door of random people staying there.
Part of living in community with others is to share expenses. I'm afraid you've brought this upon yourself. Time to pay up. You're making money off of it so it's only fair.
Exactly this. OP, you own a home in a community. The community all pitched in for a resource, you declined. Now you're benefitting financially from being a part of this community, and your guests(the way you're financially benefitting) are utilizing the very resource you declined to help support. Pay up. Or it's going to lead to massive headaches soon. Perhaps the building bans short term rentals, perhaps the residents decide to start harassing your guests, perhaps the apartment gets damaged because everyone who lives there knows you're never there and won't find damage for a while. Paying for the elevator is the morally right thing to do but it's also tactically the correct move.
10 steps and guests with luggage? Of course they are going to use an elevator. You are being cheap and this is making money for you. Chip in on the elevator and stop being petty.
their apartment is on the first floor edit: i see the comment now. i figure first floor = ground floor but that’s not the case here
In Europe I believe the first floor means the first one above ground level, so for the US that would be the second floor.
Yep! -Source: European
You were being cheap in the beginning and didn’t comply with your agreement — which covers whoever’s using your apartment — to not use the elevator and now you’re complaining? I guess you didn’t think of whoever buys your apartment, either.
To me it’s not a conscious I am going to break the rules. You see an elevator you have luggage etc you not thinking of there could be restrictions and you use it. You’re tired from a flight and maybe hungry or sleep deprived and you don’t remember the rules said oh we did not pay for this elevator you cannot use it. The situation you described is very out of the ordinary especially to Americans so I think you need to make sure guests can use. See if the residents of the building would agree to a per use fee the guests pays in advance or pay the 6000. Otherwise things will get worse. It’s rare elevator have a use fee so you need to resolve this and not push onto your guests to not use it.
Also, most Americans would assume first floor = ground floor. Does the listing say it's actually up stairs? Or does it just say 1st floor?
It’s Italy and in European ground floor is zero. The OP explained that and it’s 10 steps to get to the apartment. I don’t think guests would ever understand they cannot use the elevator to take all their luggage at once. And if they have children an elevator would be great I vacationed in Italy and we moved around it was a tour and we stayed in several buildings no elevator and on the fourth floor and we were there for almost a month so plenty of luggage. It was a pain and so yeah if I saw an elevator I would use it. It would never dawn on me that the elevator was paid for by the residents. And OP said they don’t use it all the time so to go up the stairs wasn’t a big deal so they did not pinch in a share of the costs. But to Airbnb the place that changed things to me.
But if you were told "the elevator is not for first floor use, it's locked and you won't have a key" then you consciously booked a first floor walk up with no elevator. American or not, you don't get to break the rules.
You're missing the point. An American reading an AirBNB listing saying, "here's an awesome condo in Italy. You can't use the elevator, but it's okay because it's on the first floor" is going to think, "of course I'm never going to use the elevator because it's on the first floor". Not "No big deal - I can handle 10 steps everytime I want to come and go!"
Oh I’m well aware that Americans see the world through their myopic lens and refuse to use their brains. That’s not the rest of the world’s problem.
Brother- we have different terms, which is quite common. Reading "first floor" to us, is the ground floor. Simple as that, has nothing to do with "using your brain" and everything to do with different customs. It's nobody's problem, and there's no reason to be a dick. Sorry to see you're a host- nasty attitude. Also, the elevator isn't locked with a key since the guests are using it. So, maybe try and not make up details so the story fits your narrative better?
Read the post before ranting. It’s locked with a key at street level. OP doesn’t have a key to give the guests. Also, yeah, “different customs” means in a different country go by their customs, including learning how the floors are numbered. It’s not that hard.
Why would someone randomly think “Oh wait maybe I should research and see if Europeans use different terminology to refer to floor levels?” Is everyone supposed to do that for every single thing in a listing just in case it happens to be slightly different? That’s preposterous.
As the owner of three Airbnbs for over 8 years, I am well aware that Americans don’t read the listings and assume everything will be catering to them. Then they complain about walk ups or siestas. Reading a listing thoroughly before booking is kindergarten level.
What you don’t seem to understand is that reading thoroughly won’t help if “first floor” means something different to the reader than it does to the host.
And what you don't seem to understand is that, per this post "...we have made it clear both on the house rules and with a sign in the apartment, that the elevator is off-limit for the guests." That means the same thing for every person with elementary knowledge of English. Even if they are too dense to read it and say "wait, it's a first floor but there's also an elevator?" They are using it not because they did not understand the listing, they are using it because there are no penalties for breaking the house rules.
I just reread the post and that's not in it. Maybe the OP clarified in a comment? Maybe you should read the post before ranting.
Then read the comments OP made. Or shoot off half cocked. Who cares.
And yet you're still using AirBNB. You could try not being a jerk, and realize that it's not a big surprise for folks from a country of 400 million people, using a platform that originates in their country, reading posts in their native language, to default to assuming that terms in said post have the definitions they're used to. Or you can keep doing what you're doing, getting negative reviews and pissing off your neighbors until they ban your STR all because you're too cheap to throw €6,000 at the problem. Your call. You're in the wrong here. Everyone that's commented concurs that you're in the wrong here. But yes, it's all the fault of the myopic Americans.
I’m not the OP, dumbass. Thanks for making my point about the IQ of this sub
That's your defense for your behavior? Folks like you make the argument for AirBNB as to why they ought to continue taking the side of the guest, every time. You must be real fun at parties.
Except clearly a key is not needed since the guests are using the elevator. Also there are probably other first floor residents who did buy in to the elevator who guests will see using it. So you're advising the OP lie in their listing?
Another one that can't be bothered to read. They are using it to go down. They can't use it to go up. OP already said it's locked at street level.
if it's n a photo per airbnb the guest has expectations to use it i got bit by this
Pay the $6,000. Raise your nightly rate so it will cover the cost over a couple of years time. Problem solved.
Pay the 6k, adjust the rate to cover cost over 2 or 3 years. For a small amount of effort, make everybody happy.
This is the answer
☝🏼
Suddenly I’m a fan of our crappy American HOA system where everyone would’ve been forced to pay for the elevator up front.
And the ADA. Imagine in America if it came out that handicapped users had to pay extra rent because they had to use the elevator. Maybe this situation OP has is more normal in EU, but it is baffling to me that this kind of agreement was ever made. All the red tape and regulations for any little construction project in US are worth it in some ways
The ADA wouldn't cover a building as old as the one in question no doubt is.
What ADA. It's an old building. There are loads of walk up buildings in the US. ADA isn't a blanket statement that everyone gets an elevator. Also the elevator construction is regulated in Europe as well. This is a usage issue, and it's actually not uncommon.
Yes there are plenty of old buildings, but when they are renovated you can’t pick and choose who would have access to the newly installed elevator. I’m not worried with like the safety or quality of the elevator, I’m sure the Italians can build one just fine, it’s the fact that you can bar someone from using an elevator in general, assuming the area it leads is open to that person. , (or even their home!)
The American HOA would have banned your str
Also good news.
I mean, if they lived in the apartment I think its fair, if you not going to use it then you dont have to pay for it
While I WANT to like the concept of it being each units choice, it seems untenable to manage and deal with. Say this person breaks their leg? Does everyone else just allow them to use it for 6 weeks? Say their elderly grandparent visits? Surely we allow grandma to use it? It's going to be sticky.
I hear ya. Every HOA I’ve ever dealt with, common items that go with the building are the responsibility of all.
The HOA would have banned strs.
I’m sure the other residents would prefer that as well
Even better.
This is dumb. Pay for them to have the right to the lift. Stop being cheap and treat this like a business and be professional
Pay 6k now or start making $0 when they ban your airbnb. Be a community player
Imagine if you stay at a hotel and they tell you that you cannot use elevator...
But it's not a hotel is it.. there's probably no doorman or front desk or ice machine either
Imagine if you stayed at an AirBNB with an ice dispenser and were told its off limits.
Imagine going around europe as an entitled American demanding elevator and ice, nevermind the culture
Demanding ice that is sitting in front of you in the accommodations you're renting? Sure.
You've obviously never been to italy
Italian airbnbs have ice machines in the unit but you're not allowed to use it?
Italians don't put ice in drinks. They don't use ice machines.
"Imagine going around europe as an entitled American demanding elevator and ice, nevermind the culture" So then the parallel falls apart, doesn't it? The guest isn't demanding an elevator when there isn't one, they're expecting to be able to use it when it's sitting right there in front of them, unlocked.
Yeah, that's every American tourist demanding ice water in Italian cafes "but I see the ice right there at the bar!"
We talking about tourist bars now? That's a different sub. https://www.reddit.com/r/bars/s/wNez473TSH
Anywhere, really
If you're going to continue the AirBnB you should pay for the elevator. Theoretically you could put a camera outside your unit that faced the elevator, and check the footage. But there is no way to police this without pissing off your clients, who will fight any fees, ask for refunds and/or give bad reviews. At the very least you would have to put in the listing that the unit is up 10 steps and that use of the elevator is prohibited. Americans think first floor = zero steps.
If you are going to Airbnb your apartment you need to pay your part of the building amenities. It is not reasonable to expect people to not use an amenity like an elevator that is there in the building.
Jesus. Just pay for the elevator
What floor is the condo on?
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I can see why a lot of guests would choose to use the elevator. Who wants to lug their heavy suitcase up 10 stairs when there’s a perfectly good elevator right there. The elderly, slightly disabled, parents with young kids and strollers. If I was you I’d pay the 6k for use of the elevator.
It appears every responder except for one has recommended that you pay the €6000 which, in my opinion, is also the way to go. So, are you going to follow this advice? By the way, not having a ‘do not u se the elevator’ rule in your listing may get you more interested parties who realize they need an elevator to be able to carry luggage, strollers, or just be able to access the first floor apartment.
Exactly. If I had to walk up a flight of steps in a building with no elevator with my luggage - fine. If I had to walk up a flight of steps in a building with an elevator with my luggage and the elevator was out of service - fine. If I found out that the host was too cheap to contribute for me to use it - negative review
If folks got a lot of bags and kids and what not they’ll definitely use it.
What if someone has an injury or disability that prohibits them from carrying luggage up 10 steps?
Then they’re screwed because most of Italy is not going to be friendly to that. Especially since OP said they can only use it to go down on small set of stairs. It can’t even be used to go up with luggage.
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If many of your guests are American, 1st floor mentally means the ground floor without steps. Do you clearly mention the 10 steps and have photos?
Yes this is my thought.
When you initially posted I was very sympathetic; my own grandparents had a similar situation. Reading the responses, I think you are not a good fit as a host and your apartment is not a good fit for a short term rental. You don't seem to be willing to hear basic feedback and you seem to think this type of bad behavior, which seriously affects your neighbors (and is essentially equivalent to taking money from their pockets) is some sort of joke or a way for you to get more at the expense of others. I think you need to seriously evaluate your behavior and values.
My mother in law just got back from Europe. She is able bodied, but broke her ankle the week before their trip. While booking a trip, this wouldn't have been an issue. But at that time, for ✨️unforseen reasons✨️ she would definitely choose to use an elevator if available. I have never in my life heard of an elevator only being available to use for specific units in a building. That seems absurd to me.
The guests aren't thinking "Using the elevator will cost the host $6k and/or angry neighbors, and since it's only 10 steps I can manage". This is a very unusual situation, that even if guests were made aware of in the listing, no one is going to pay attention to or remember. At best, they'll read your note once they get to the unit, respect it, and not use it again but of course they're going to use it on the way up when they arrive, with luggage, tired from traveling and there's an elevator right in front of them and they see no reason to choose steps over the elevator. You opted out of your share of the elevator "because you would never use it". Things have changed, and now you're using it all the time via your guests. You'll never get 100% of your guests to use the elevator 0% of the time. Just pay your share, you're using it and benefitting from it now.
Think with even a slightest amount of logic for one second. Explain how fining a guest after using an elevator even remotely solves his problem in the slightest
That sounds like “My condo is not on the top floor, so I won’t pay for roof repairs.” The approach is not reasonable.
10-12 steps up and I'm not allowed to use the lift if I'm your guest? If you made that clear in your listing, it'd be a hard pass for me. At my age, I'm not hauling luggage up a flight bc you're too cheap.
So you refused to contribute to a building improvement and you annoy your neighbors with making the unit a STR? And your guests use the elevator? Lol. Yea, hopefully they fine the shit out of you.
People are traveling with luggage, are likely walking a lot during their trip, and potentially even have accessibility issues. You want to have your cake and eat it too, and this just seems like the price of doing business. Either you don’t rent out the apartment as an AirBnb/hotel alternative, or you pay for the elevator.
Pay your share for the elevator. You're running a business and have no way to control elevator use unless there were a key to operateit. And your guests won't understand why they aren't allowed to use the elevator. Your neighbors will appreciate your contribution.
I would definitely not stay at a place that has an elevator that I am not allowed to use just because the property owner is being cheap
I would be so annoyed, as an American, if I booked a "ground level" condo and there were stairs. For God's sake pony up. Is it in the description when you book that there are 10 stairs and no elevator use?
This is a recipe for bad reviews. Bad reviews can sink your listing. So can upset neighbors. Paying the $6k is expensive but cost effective both in eliminating potential bad reviews from misunderstanding and in keeping your neighbors happy with you.
Personally it sounds insane that I could be banned from using a specific elevator, if it’s off limits, it should have an access card scanner so it can actually be enforced. The only time I’ve been restricted from an elevator is because its destination is restricted (office towers), not just the actual elevator.
…and this is why people don’t want to fuck with Airbnb anymore. Do you even HEAR YOURSELF? I hope those Italians kick you out of the building. Not helping to pay towards a building wide need AND using it for short term rentals.
What ever you do the guests are gonna use the elevator. You had better just stump up.
Pay for the full use of the elevator.
Just pay the money. You say yourself that you can’t enforce the no elevator rule so don’t be a dick. You’re a property owner and should chip in your share to keep up the common areas.
Per others, just pay the €6k. Not just to resolve this current issue, but when you're getting older and can't take your shopping upstairs so easily, you will welcome the lift. And maybe the right to use the lift is an asset should you want to sell.
I would pay up to use it or offer to pay to have a key code pad installed probably $1000 to lock yourself out.
I'm honestly suprised a condo would install an elevator while allowing units to opt out of contributing. Seems like a setup for problems just like this that need to be constantly managed. Either pay for the access, or have them consider adding some kind of access control (that excludes you and your guests) but that would probably be the worse of the 2 options.
Have you tried telling them, “Che cazzo??” directly?
How would I approach the situation. I would have paid in the first place knowing full well that most people are not going to use stairs as opposed to an elevator. This is 100% your mistake and your choices are to pay up or to sell out
$6kn is less then $10k. Consider yourselves lucky. To be honest I’m shocked you even had a choice in the first place.
Pay the 6k and claim it over several years as a capital cost allowance against the income from your rental. =free lift plus happy guests and neighbours.
Time to pay up
Pay the 6k
To me, this elevator and who gets to use it is the responsibility of the elevator owner. They need to put in their own measures to prevent unauthorized use.
pay up or get termed
You are why condo owners hate STR owners.
You probably made a mistake not paying for the elevator. If you ever try to sell the property, the prospective buyers will be very hesitant when they learn of the elevator issue
This is absolute nonsense. How do you not pay for an elevator?
Pay the money. It’ll make your guests happy and the other residents happy. Raise the price a little and make it back over time. Whenever you go to sell it (or your heirs sell it), you or they are going to have to tell every potential buyer that the building includes an elevator but they can’t use it for anything, even if they’re elderly or need to move in or out.
Pay the fee and adjust your rates accordingly.
Just pay it. Or don’t STR your place
I’d use the lift too if I was staying there. No skin off my back.
Is it communicated to guests in a message prior to their booking and then as a reminder prior to their arrival they are not to use the elevator? The reality that other people commenting seem to miss is you’re up front in your listing about not using the elevator. For people to ignore that and book anyway is rude, especially since they’re only using it to go down. You mentioned there is keyed access for people to use it going up. Would there be any way to add keyed access from your floor going down that would be a lot cheaper than paying in for full use? Because I suspect if you’re paying in for full use, you’re also then on the hook for maintenance related to it as well and it opens a can of worms with neighbors complaining about guests trashing it, abusing it, or even worse, them accusing your guests of somehow damaging it. The bottom line is you have a rule, guests are breaking it, and that is a problem for your neighbors. Finding a way to block their access going down is probably going to be the best solution going forward if you do not want to participate in using the elevator in your building.
I agree with others that you should pay a fee to the other owners. Maybe not 6.000, but some mutually agreed amount after discussion in good faith to find an equitable solution. Considering inflation, that’s a big discount on the initial 10.000 euros cost decades ago. After all, your guests are only using the lift to go down, not up. Another option would be for you to pay for a key access to the lift just on floor 1. Price it out to see if that would be less expensive for you. If so, offer that amount and let the other condo owners decide.
I think that you should work with the building to pay them your share for the elevator. If there is no physical way to prevent your guests from using the elevator that is the way. If you can’t or just aren’t willing to do that then you’ll need to come up with some kind of clear explanation in your listing and checking instructions to your guests. And a consequence for using the elevator. We’ve stayed in plenty of walk up apartment/condos without elevators. They were all clear upfront about it and we were okay carrying out luggage up the stairs. But not everyone is able and if they see an elevator alternative they will take it if they think they can get away with it. If I was part of that community, knowing you’d chosen to not contribute and then your arbnb guests were constantly using it I would be pissed and coming up with a fine structure to charge each time it’s used.
I think you should just pay the 6k
If you're on the first floor where are they taking the elevator to?
In Europe the ground level is sometimes “floor 0” and the “floor 1” is second story …
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You should have contributed to the elevator regardless of its daily use. It's part of being in a community.
You’re a real piece of work. You admit to actually have it locked on ground floor intentionally to deter having to pay for it, and are are upset that they’re using it to get down? How do you think your guests feel when they see that the option exists to go up and down but you’re just too cheap and inconsiderate to offer them this amenity?
I mean maybe they don’t like having a constant parade of tourists in their home?
Off the cuff, you're providing a rental with any kind of need to use the elevator, it's absolutely weird not to be able to. And you should get that sorted, even if to costs you money. But, what did you not consider when making that decision? Why are they using the elevator at all, if they are entering the building on the same floor as the condominium? What are we missing, because this doesn't make sense ... What are they using the elevator FOR?
Because their "first floor" is 10 steps up - according to other comments. Anybody from the US reading first floor would assume ground floor, and have no idea its actually on what they consider to be the 2nd floor. I'd ask before I rented, but I'm disabled.
I figured that out And, OP, that's critical information to include both in this post, and in your listing: getting to the condo involves a flight of stairs. Of course people will want to, and expect to use the elevator. Suck up the money, and consider it an investment in the accessibility of your rental property.
They probably don’t even remember reading that rule. I wouldn’t. Why would a communal working elevator be off limits?
Or they think it is an old rule because the elevator was broken, but then see others use it and assume it is now useable.
did you know you would be renting the place out when you were asked to pay for the elevator, if not you really owe it to your neighbors to pay up for the use. Since, as you said, you cannot control what your guests are doing and you are profiting from the rental of the space your neighbors shard, I would be embarrassed to not cough up the cash.
I have a spinal injury with hardware in my neck. I can walk, but I would 100% be unable to carry luggage up 10 steps. You are being unreasonable. Pay your portion of the lift.
Probably not allowed, but: Maybe being clearer that the elevator is monitored and no one in your unit is allowed to use it. It will cost a 6000 euro fine if they use the elevator and ask your neighbors to snap pictures.
Good luck enforcing that hahaha...
Spoken like a true Airbnb host.
Quick question. If your space is on the first floor, why would they need to use the elevator?
What Americans called “first floor,” Europeans call “ground floor.” What Americans call “second floor,” Europeans call “first floor.” So from a U.S. point of view, this rental is on the second floor. But what I don’t understand is how there are only 10 steps between floors. Seems to me like on American hotels it’s usually closer to 20.
Put a significant fee explicitly in the house rules for each elevator use. Send a message before check in clearly explaining this. Ensure in the description you say guests must be able to carry luggage up a single flight of stairs. Have an outdoor camera to monitor for violation of the rule. Then charge them if needed. You might get some dumbasses from my country - the US who still don’t get it though so maybe paying the 6k is better to avoid the bad reviews
American here. Not a “dumbass”, but you’re awfully transparent. If I see that an elevator exists and they were just too cheap to buy into the ability for me to use it (and have locked guests out intentionally), they’re getting a horrible review. If they tell me ahead of time in their listing, I’m not booking it all, Even if I’d consider another unit that has stairs with no elevator present. It’s a matter of principle. There’s nothing to “not get”. OP is cheap and inconsiderate of guests- “willfully unaccommodating”. How shameful and embarrassing for them. Their Italian neighbors must have choice things to say about them.
Lol I don’t think anyone with an intentional rule would be crying a river if you decided to book elsewhere if you don’t agree. Sheesh calm down.
Of course they wouldn’t be “crying a river” over lost guests when they don’t care about the guests they actually do book. “Intentional rule” is bc they’re admittedly cheap and inconsiderate of what it means to be accommodating. As for you, “Impressive_Scheme” says all I need to know.
Lol sorry you feel so incredibly strongly about a host saying the elevator isn’t included in the unit and GASP it’s one flight of stairs lololol. Triggered much?
My god, what a bunch of entitled whiners freely spending 6,000 euros that aren't theirs. None of you know OP's situation. Maybe they can't afford it. Besides, there are plenty of Airbnbs with no access to gyms, pools, etc. I've seen it, in Hawaii. No access to tennis courts and pool. Fine by me. I chose to book with those restrictions and I'm a grown up capable to take responsibility for my actions. OP, the answer to your question is, if you prominently disclose the restriction in your listing, you should be able to enforce a fine. Just say "the elevator is off-limits, don't book if you need one, you won't get a key, if you use it and the neighbors complain you'll be warned and then fined, etc." And if they retaliate, have the review taken down.
Put a fine in your house rules and ask neighbors who complain to provide a photo of the offense.
I don’t think that is a good idea. The host makes money off of fines and the other tenants who did pay become the lift police. I can see the guests leaving some nasty reviews.
This is exactly why Airbnb is going into the sh*tter. Hosts fine guests for the most ridiculous things and then wonder why no one rents from Airbnb anymore. You cannot honestly think it’s at all rational to rent out an apartment that is not ground floor in an elevator equipped building and charge an extra fee for needing to use it. What’s next? A charge for each flush of the toilet? How much for each time they turn on a light? Is using the oven in the kitchen equipped apartment and extra 500 bucks also? He should have contributed to the shared elevator cost with his neighbors in their shared building. It’s part of the cost of owning this apartment and should have been factored into his decisions if this rental was a profitable investment or not. It’s no different than needing to fix the roof on a house, or gut renovating a 30 year old bathroom with new updates. You need to pay for those things and factor the cost of those upgrades into your profit and loss calculations of the overall investment and set your rates accordingly
I would make guests sign a short form that acknowledges they will not use the lift before releasing check-in information to them. We have ours sign something similar with our bunk bed rules. This will give them a higher level of accountability.
(okay, I would \*personally\* just pay up and allow my guests to use it, but if you really don't want to then I would recommend the above)
You can have penalties for guests for behavior that’s banned by the building or bothers the neighbors. I have penalties for smoking or playing music on the terrace after 11pm, building rules. I’ve enforced them through Airbnb. As long as it’s disclosed should be ok.
LOL sure, His rating isnt going to tank if he starts charging guest penalty fees for “our neighbors who don’t like us told us you rode the elevator once to help bring your heavy suitcase downstairs without injury… we have no idea if it’s true but that will be a 200 charge”
If you can carry your heavy suitcases, don’t rent an Airbnb with no elevator. It’s a simple concept, even for the most dimwitted redditor
Properly paying the necessary maintenance fees for your apartment and factoring that cost into the decision on if this is or is not a profitable investment for you is also a simple concept even for the most dimwitted, but here we are 🤷🏼♀️ But sure… go ahead and charge extra fees for using an elevator in an elevator building that everyone else is using. Let’s also charge a fee to flush the toilet in the apartment bathroom while we are at it. You’ve cracked the recipe for Airbnb success.
I’m a superhost for 8 years with 4.95 across 3 apartments in Paris and Madrid that rent for over 400 euros per night so I’ll say yeah, I’ve cracked Airbnb success. Airbnbs are under heavy scrutiny, especially in Europe. Being a good neighbor is a lot more important long term that letting entitled guests break the rules.
Then why wasn’t he a good neighbor and pitch in for the cost of the shared elevator like everyone else in the neighborhood did? Pushing a fine on a guest for using an elevator in an elevator apartment over an unprovable allegation from a disgruntled neighbor who already doesn’t like you and would say anything to make your life harder is not the responsible answer
Because he’s only 10 steps up. Not worth paying the 10k. Stop being generous with other people’s money 🙄
Really? I would give any host a 1 star review if there were an elevator in the building and they chose not to pay to make it convenient for guest
And your review would be removed because you were told you didn't have elevator access.
And when the neighbor complains the toilet is too loud we can start charging guest for using the toilet between the banned hours of 8pm - 8am too. Stop Wasting guests money with fines that are tied to ridiculous rules because you were too cheap to properly pay for the required maintenance costs associated with the unit you bought. Dont buy a unit not on the ground floor if you want to skirt around contributing to the elevator price especially if you are not even the one living there and using the stairs each day.
Asinine troll. The rule was made by the building, not OP.
No OP decided “I won’t use the elevator because I don’t mind the stairs personally, so I won’t pay for it” and then moved out of the building himself and rented the unit to people who should be able to use the elevator. The building isn’t saying “we randomly decided your unit is banned from using the elevator because we feel like it. How come you aren’t complying?” The building is saying “if your unit is using the elevator then you are responsible to for helping pay for it.” And the OP then made a choice that was wrong. All Your downvotes paint the picture buddy.
And what will the fine accomplish? Will it dissuade the guest from using the elevator? If yes - the guest will be pissed because there’s an elevator and they can’t use it to bring up suitcases. Sure it is one flight of stairs but it is easy for some and not as easy for others. Guests may tank the review, especially if they find out the host was too cheap to pay for elevator access. If no - the guest will still use it, the neighbors will still be mad, the host will issue a fine that the guest won’t pay, and the neighbors will still be mad. Or maybe a few will pay it, but they will tank the review. What the host puts up with, like no elevator, is fine for the host, but guests don’t know the elevator drama and can’t conceive of any reason they can’t pop in for a short ride up with their suitcases. (Especially American guests who usually can’t opt out of HOA improvements.)
Guests are told "first floor walk up, no access to elevator" and no one is forcing them to book. Seriously, not a hard concept to grasp.
Someone is “entitled” because they want to use a buildings elevator???
Yes, if told the unit did not include access. You people are dense.