What Does an Airbnb Co-Host Actually Do?

The short answer

An Airbnb co-host helps a listing owner run their short-term rental. Airbnb lets owners add co-hosts to a listing and choose what each one can access, from messaging guests to editing the calendar and pricing. The owner remains the listing's primary host and keeps control of payouts unless they choose otherwise.

What a co-host actually does depends entirely on the agreement between the two. Some co-hosts are a neighbor who restocks coffee. Others, like Strally, run the online side of the business every day.

Common co-host responsibilities

Most professional co-hosting arrangements cover some mix of the following:

• Answering inquiries and booking requests
• Sending check-in and check-out instructions
• Handling guest questions and problems during the stay
• Writing and updating the listing
• Managing nightly rates and minimum stays
• Scheduling cleanings and dispatching repairs
• Following up for reviews
• Filing damage claims through the platform

Local co-host vs. remote co-host

A local co-host lives near the property and may do physical work themselves: greeting guests, cleaning, or fixing a leaky faucet. A remote co-host handles everything that can be done online and coordinates local providers for anything physical.

The remote model works because most hosting time is spent on screens, not at the property. Messaging, pricing and scheduling happen dozens of times a week. Physical visits happen at each turnover, and those are handled by your cleaner either way.

The trade-off is that a remote co-host depends on good local providers. If you don't have a reliable cleaner, fix that first.

What stays with the owner

Even with a full-service co-host, some responsibilities don't transfer:

• Making sure the property is allowed as a short-term rental (permits, registration, zoning, HOA rules)
• Insurance and taxes
• Choosing and paying local providers
• Approving major repairs and purchases

How co-hosts are paid

Co-hosts are usually paid either a percentage of booking revenue or a flat monthly fee. Airbnb has built-in payout splitting for co-hosts in many cases. Whatever the model, make sure the agreement spells out exactly what revenue the percentage applies to and which costs are passed through.

For context, Strally offers both options: $349 per month flat, or 10% of net rental revenue. See our pricing page for how they compare.

Questions to ask before hiring a co-host

• Which tasks are included, and which cost extra?
• Who does the physical work, and who pays them?
• What are your guest response expectations?
• How will I see what's happening? (reports, calendar access)
• How do we end the agreement if it isn't working?