As a property host utilizing various booking platforms, it is essential to understand the nuances of offline surcharges—additional fees collected outside the initial booking system of the listing channel. Offline surcharges are any fees that will be charged to the guest at some point after the booking, which aren't included in the normal booking charges and payments. They are used to notify the guest about an offline or stay collected fee charged on-site or by a third party. Offline surcharges are only available for Airbnb and Vrbo channel integrations.
While Airbnb and Vrbo guests are notified of Offline Surcharges during their booking process, hosts should communicate these offline surcharges to guests through an OwnerRez messaging template and trigger before arrival. For transparency, any surcharges, including resort fees, management fees, and security deposits, should be clearly outlined in property descriptions.
- Offline Surcharge
- Is Taxable
- Multiplier
- Conditions
- Options
- Property Management
- Security Deposits
- Guest Booking Experience
- Additional Item Surcharges
- Channel Caveats
Offline Surcharge
Navigate to Settings > Surcharges > + Create Surcharge > Supplemental Surcharges > Offline Surcharge.
Select a category for your Offline Surcharge from the Category dropdown list and, if desired, edit the Description field.
In the Amount Type section, select a fixed amount per stay or night, or a percentage of rent or subtotal per stay.
Is Taxable
For complete information, see the Is Taxable section of the Supplemental Surcharges Overview support article.
Multiplier
Learn more by reading the Multiplier section of our Supplemental Surcharges Overview support article.
Conditions
For complete information, see the Conditions section of the Supplemental Surcharges Overview support article.
Options
For complete information, see the Options section of the Supplemental Surcharges Overview support article.
Property Management
Expense
For complete information, see the Expense section of the Supplemental Surcharges Overview support article.
Commissions
For complete information, see the Commissions section of the Supplemental Surcharges Overview support article.
Security Deposits
If you have set up your offline security deposits through an Offline Surcharge or these instructions, you're fully compliant with Airbnb. You can enforce the requirement as it's clearly stated in your configuration and rules, visible to guests before booking. We also advise explicitly including your Security Deposit rule in your Airbnb House Rules.
During the Airbnb checkout process, guests will see the following, as shown below, stating that the property requires a security deposit that will be collected separately.
If you talk to an Airbnb support member who disagrees, sides with the guest, and says this isn't allowed, here's what you can do:
1. Refer them to this Airbnb article. Note that, as described in the article, you are a "software-connected host" (that's OwnerRez), which specifically allows you to directly collect a "security deposit / refundable deposit" as long as it is "detailed in the listing description and included in the price breakdown before guests book" - which it is, if you've followed our instructions. Airbnb's Security Deposits article makes it even clearer that this is allowed.
2. Tell them to check their internal system for your account and note the “Collects offline fees” flag on it. If you've correctly configured an Offline Surcharge or followed these instructions, that flag will be set (you can't see it, but Airbnb support can). As its name implies, it authorizes you to collect offline fees, like your security deposit. If they say that the flag is not set on your account, let us know—we have Airbnb contacts who can fix that.
3. If this doesn't persuade the Airbnb support member that you are right, please forward their entire message to the OwnerRez Helpdesk, including their name and other identifying information, so we can pass it on to our Airbnb contacts. They can then reach out to them and educate them on the new program to clear up the confusion.
Guest Booking Experience
How are these Offline Surcharges displayed to Airbnb guests during the checkout process? For pricing transparency, offline surcharges are displayed as individual line items in the Price Details and the Due to host at property sections.
Vrbo guests will see Offline Surcharges displayed in the Paid at property section.
Additional Item Surcharges
If you already provide one complimentary item, such as a parking spot, resort amenities, or equipment rental, mention this in your property description. This approach makes your offline surcharge optional, applying only to additional items beyond what's included.
Channel Caveats
Airbnb
Restrictions include the following.
- Electricity and other KW/h or Unit fees are not supported.
- All Airbnb Surcharge Restrictions
- For more information about Airbnb restrictions, see their Off-Platform and Fee Transparency Policy and Collecting fees outside Airbnb support articles.
- Read OwnerRez's Email Blast April 23, 2025 - Important Update: Airbnb Policy Changes Regarding Rental Agreements and Guest Communications.
- All other Airbnb surcharges and restrictions configured in OwnerRez still apply to offline surcharges.
See our Airbnb Surcharges support article for a complete explanation of Airbnb's surcharges.
Vrbo
See the Vrbo section of our Rate & Fee Differences support article.
Booking.com
The OwnerRez Booking.com (BDC) channel integration does not support Offline Surcharges. However, you can create an OwnerRez messaging template and trigger to notify BDC guests of Offline Surcharges.
Apply Offline Surcharge
You can add your previously configured offline surcharge to a confirmed booking by navigating to the specific Booking and changing the charges.
Select your previously configured offline surcharge from the Item dropdown list.
As displayed on the linked changing charges, you'll need to drag your Surcharge line above the Tax lines by grabbing the hamburger icon on the left of the item line to apply the discount to the rent properly. Click Save.