Airbnb commission rise explained: What holiday rental owners need to know

What has changed in Airbnb’s commission structure

Until now, Airbnb used a split fee model. Hosts typically paid around 3%t of each booking, while guests were charged a separate service fee that pushed the total commission to roughly 15%. With the new structure, Airbnb has removed the guest fee entirely and introduced a single 15.5% cost paid only by the host.

The key changes in simple terms

• The former 3% host fee has increased to 15.5%
  
  

• Guests no longer pay a service charge
  
  

• Hosts are fully responsible for the platform’s commission
  
  

• Pricing adjustments may be required to maintain earnings
  
  

• Guests see a simpler, cleaner price, but host revenue may fall if listings are not optimised
  
  

Airbnb confirmed that this update, which is due to take affect by 1st December 2025, is intended to create more transparent pricing for travellers. You can read more about their reasoning in Airbnb’s official statements in the Help Centre, which explains how fee changes support their long term pricing strategy.

Why this matters for UK holiday rental owners

For many UK hosts, earnings are already influenced by rising costs in cleaning, utilities, insurance and local regulations. A move from 3% to 15.5% means the gap between self managing and using a professional solution is much smaller than before.

For example:

• Before: 3% host fee plus guest service fee
  
  

• Now: 15.5% direct host fee
  
  

If you were previously self managing to save money, this change narrows the cost difference considerably, especially once you factor in the time required to manage enquiries, pricing and calendars across peak and shoulder seasons.

How to minimise the impact of the fee increase

To counterbalance higher commission fees, hosts can focus on improving visibility, conversion and occupancy. Three practical steps can help:

1. Review and adjust your pricing

A small price increase per night can help maintain your earnings without harming your competitiveness. Dynamic pricing tools (such as Travelnest Smart Pricing) and expert guidance can ensure your rates shift correctly with demand.

2. Improve your listing quality

Better photography, stronger descriptions and more complete amenities data can raise search ranking positions. This leads to more bookings at higher average nightly rates. Travelnest Property Experts can provide guidance on getting good photos for your property and our software automatically improves the quality of images you upload to help maximise your listing.

3. Expand beyond a single platform

Relying on one booking site limits your reach. Diversifying helps you find different types of travellers and increases your total occupancy.

You can find practical tips in the Travelnest News and Insights section, where we share how channel diversification can help smooth out seasonal gaps. When you join Travelnest, we list your property on over 30+ top booking sites.

Why multichannel distribution now makes more sense

With Airbnb charging 15.5%, using a partner such as Travelnest becomes easier to justify. For only a small difference in cost, you gain access to more than 30 booking sites, personalised support from property experts, unified calendars and optimised pricing.

With Travelnest you receive

• Expert listing support to improve visibility across major platforms
  
  

• Professional pricing optimisation tailored to your property and location
  
  

• A single synchronised calendar that removes double bookings
  
  

• High quality distribution to more than 30 channels including Airbnb, Booking.com and Vrbo
  
  

• Guidance on how to increase occupancy across the year
  
  

This combination helps hosts achieve more stable and predictable income while saving time and reducing manual admin.

Final thoughts

Airbnb’s new 15.5% host fee marks one of the biggest changes in years. While guests benefit from transparent pricing, hosts must adapt to protect their earnings. By reviewing pricing, improving listings and exploring multichannel distribution, holiday rental owners can turn this shift into an opportunity rather than a setback.

If you would like personalised advice tailored to your location and property type, the Travelnest team is here to help. Sign up today.