Estate planning as a Airbnb account holder
Airbnb, Inc. reviews transfer requests for accounts individually upon receipt of documentation
Verified Apr 2026
Airbnb is the world's largest short-term rental platform. An Airbnb account can hold significant financial assets: host accounts generate ongoing rental income, have pending payouts, active reservations with guest obligations, property listings with reviews and Superhost status, and potential security deposit holds. Guest accounts hold upcoming reservations, travel credits, gift card balances, and payment methods. Airbnb host accounts are among the most financially consequential digital assets due to active revenue streams and booking obligations that require immediate attention after death.
Airbnb, Inc. reviews transfer requests for Airbnb accounts on a case-by-case basis after the account holder's death. Approval is at the company's sole discretion, and documentation requirements must be met before any transfer is considered.
What happens at death
Airbnb has no published bereavement or deceased user policy in its terms of service. The terms do not address account transfer, inheritance, or death. In practice, Airbnb handles deceased account situations case-by-case through customer support. Host accounts present urgent concerns: active reservations must be managed (guests arriving, check-ins, cleanings), pending payouts must be collected, and listings must be deactivated or transferred. Airbnb support can assist with cancelling upcoming reservations and releasing pending payouts to the estate.
How to protect your Airbnb accounts
Airbnb, Inc. does not guarantee transfer of accounts after death. Lifetime planning provides options for managing accounts and controlling who has access to them.
6 lifetime planning steps for your Airbnb accounts:
1
Add a co-host to all listings immediately. Co-hosts can manage reservations, communicate with guests, and handle operations if you are unavailable. This is the single most important estate planning step for Airbnb hosts.
2
Document your Airbnb login credentials for your executor. Host accounts require urgent attention after death due to active reservations and guest obligations.
3
Set up payout to a joint bank account or an account your executor can access. Airbnb payouts are deposited to the bank account on file, which may be frozen after death.
4
Document your hosting operations: cleaning schedules, key/lockbox locations, house rules, local contacts (cleaners, maintenance). Your co-host or executor will need this information to manage active reservations.
5
If you have significant Airbnb income, address it in your estate plan. Document your average monthly revenue, property addresses, and whether the properties are owned or leased.
6
Keep your calendar updated. If your executor needs to cancel reservations, an accurate calendar helps identify which bookings need attention.
Family sharing
Airbnb allows co-hosts on listings. Co-hosts can manage reservations, communicate with guests, and handle day-to-day operations. Adding a co-host is the primary estate planning mechanism for host accounts. Co-hosts have their own Airbnb accounts and can continue managing properties if the primary host dies. However, the listing ownership, payout destination, and Superhost status remain tied to the primary account.
When someone dies
Handling Airbnb accounts after a death
Transfer is handled on a case-by-case basis, 8-step process, and 5 required documents.
View details →Airbnb does not offer a beneficiary designation feature. Without this option, accounts cannot be assigned to a named recipient through the program's own settings.
Frequently asked questions
Airbnb offers three co-host permission levels. Full access co-hosts can manage listing details, pricing, photos, reservations, guest messaging, and invite other co-hosts. Calendar and messaging access co-hosts can message guests and view the calendar but cannot edit listings or manage reservations. Calendar access co-hosts can only view the calendar. No co-host can modify payout methods or taxpayer information. Hosts can invite up to 10 co-hosts per listing.
Sources
Data sourced from Airbnb, Inc. primary sources (8 pages reviewed). How we research.
Verified Apr 2026