First, What Is an Airbnb Listing Takeover?

An Airbnb listing takeover is when a co-host or property management company creates or transfers your Airbnb listing under their own Airbnb host account.

So, while your property is owned by you, the listing, its reviews, host history, and reputation all belong to the co-hosting company's Airbnb profile. In other words, they are building their reputation while cynically (yes, I definitely mean it) doing so using your property.

In addition, your co-hosting company can change any information they wish at any time, without your permission. From the listing description to where the funds are sent to. I've seen hosts whose co-hosts directed all Airbnb payouts to the company's account and then paid the homeowner "their share" later. This absurd practice should never take place (unless specifically requested by the homeowner). This should be the other way around.

Surprisingly, many homeowners don't realize this takeover "arrangement" (more like a hostage situation, you'll see why soon) has long-term consequences until they decide to switch co-hosts for whatever reason (whether to manage it themselves, have their niece take care of it, or hire a co-hosting service that better fits their needs).

This Will Not End Well

As the listing's owner, you will not be able to transfer your reviews, ranking, booking history, or chat history (unless you request the chat history, assuming they are willing to go through that tedious process). Also, having them own your listing prevents you from earning Superhost status on Airbnb. And, to make things worse, all future reservations and income tied to that listing are gone. Switching to another co-host or managing it yourself will require you to start over with a brand-new listing, without any ranking, reviews, future reservations, income, or reputation associated with either the listing or you as the owner.

To make matters even worse, they can even remove you from your own listing should they choose to do so. So, always maintain access to your own listing and make sure you can remove your co-host whenever you wish. This issue is nationwide and happens anywhere because it depends on how the Airbnb listing is created, not where it's located.

ONLY Your Co-Host Benefits From This

When your listing is under a hosting company's Airbnb profile, those reviews strengthen their host profile-not yours. In other words, they're building their reputation using your property (just in case the pay is not enough).

Over time, those reviews and rankings become one of the most valuable assets your property has-if not the most important one. They improve trust, increase visibility, and help generate more bookings. If, for any reason, you stop working with them, it's all gone, and months, or even years of hard-earned credibility can disappear overnight simply because the listing wasn't under your account.

By Now, You Figured I Don't Do Listing Takeovers

Your Airbnb listing should always remain yours. I represent your home and its hospitality, while helping build your property's reputation - not my own. Although I manage and improve your Airbnb, everything your property earns-including its reviews, ranking, booking history, and reputation-belongs to you.

None of it should ever be used as a tool to hold you hostage if you decide to leave. I'd like homeowners and me to work together because they're happy with the service and the results, not because they feel like hostages to their own future.