Safety questions to ask your Airbnb host

Vacation rentals found on Airbnb can provide a great alternative to your usual summer lodgings, but how do you know that what you saw online is what you're going to get? Even worse, could it be unsafe?
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Consumer Reports takes a look at the features you should look for and what you can do before you book to make sure your stay is safe.

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Consumer Reports recommends that all rentals have working fire-safety products, but a 2018 study found that only 56 percent of Airbnb listings had carbon monoxide detectors, and only 42 percent carried fire extinguishers.

Airbnb maintains a web page dedicated to home safety, which states: "We encourage every Airbnb host to install working smoke & CO detectors in their listing and to check them frequently."

But CR says these are only suggested requirements, which is why you have to take a more active approach. Vacation rentals are not regulated in the same way as hotels, which means you really want to reach out to your host before you book.
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CR recommends asking these five questions:

1. Does the property have working smoke and CO detectors?
2. Is there a working fire extinguisher on the property?
3. Does the property have an emergency safety card?
4. Is there a first-aid kit in the home?
5. Does the property meet local safety regulations?

Asking these questions will give you a better understanding of how safe the property is and might bring up some other issues you hadn't thought of.



Consumer Reports says it's essential to read the reviews with a critical eye. Look for Airbnb "Superhosts," those who have hosted at least 10 times in a year and received a 5-star review for at least 80 percent of stays. CR says these listings are a good bet for a happy vacation.