Should you rent your Airbnb as a smoking or a non-smoking property?

Renting out a property through a platform such as Airbnb is generally quite profitable. That said, owners can find themselves dealing with unpleasant problems caused by the behaviour of a small number of guests — rare, but painful all the same. Smoking guests are a hotly debated issue: criticised for many good reasons, cigarettes can cause considerable damage inside a property. So should smoking be banned? And is that even allowed? How can owners, managers and concierge services protect themselves against this scourge? In short, which is the better option — a smoking or a non-smoking Airbnb? Here are all the answers, for more peaceful Airbnb rentals.

Are there still a lot of smokers in the world?

Smoking is one of the leading causes of preventable illness and premature death worldwide. Cigarette smoke contains more than 7,000 chemical substances, at least 69 of which are known to cause cancer. Passive smoking — the inhalation of smoke by non-smokers — can also cause serious illnesses, particularly cardiovascular and respiratory conditions.

For several decades now, many countries have run anti-smoking campaigns. On the whole these were effective at first in reducing the number of smokers and above all overall cigarette consumption. In France, consumption has more than halved since 2000. However, while 35% of the population smoked cigarettes that year, around 30% still do today. People smoke fewer cigarettes, but nearly a third of the population continues to indulge regularly in this dangerous pleasure.

Worldwide, the trend is much the same. Today, Spain and Germany are among the countries with between 25% and 30% of smokers; in Italy, Switzerland, Belgium and Portugal, between 20% and 25% of citizens use tobacco, compared with 19% in the United Kingdom and 17% in the United States.

In return, non-smokers have become noticeably less tolerant of cigarette smoke, turning the “non-smoking” criterion into a decisive factor for a significant number of travellers when choosing a short-term rental. Beyond the unpleasant smell, some are genuinely worried about the risk of passive smoking and see it as a deal-breaking health issue.

Smoking or non-smoking Airbnb: what does the law say?

Legislation and holiday rentals

In standard residential leases, you cannot include a clause prohibiting the tenant from smoking. A paragraph stating such a ban would be considered an unfair term (French law of 6 July 1989) and would offer the owner no protection whatsoever.

That 1989 law, however, does not apply to furnished holiday lettings such as Airbnb rentals. It is therefore entirely possible and lawful to add an explicit no-smoking clause to the rental agreement, on hygiene and safety grounds.

While nothing obliges an owner to ban smoking, they are entitled to do so for reasons of health, safety and upkeep of the property. Cigarette smells can soak into fabrics and furniture, calling for expensive deodorising and a more thorough clean between stays.

What are the consequences for owners and guests?

Where a no-smoking clause is written into the rental agreement, a guest who smokes can lose all or part of their deposit if the owner or the concierge service finds damage or smoke-impregnated walls.

There is, however, no penalty specifically provided for in such cases. That is why the deposit remains virtually the only means of leverage over guests.

Smoking or non-smoking Airbnb: the benefits of banning guests from smoking

As mentioned above, health is a compelling reason not to smoke. But for the owner of an Airbnb property, their manager or a concierge service, there are many further advantages to such a ban.

1. Better indoor air quality

Banning smoking in an Airbnb rental significantly improves indoor air quality. Tobacco smells can linger and are hard to remove, requiring prolonged airing and specific deodorising products. A closed-up property will retain not only the smell but also the harmfulness of tobacco fumes for several months. By preventing guests from smoking, the owner ensures the air stays fresh and pleasant, and protects guests from potential passive smoking.

2. Reduced fire risk

A smoking ban considerably reduces the risk of cigarette-related fires. Every year in France, around 500 people die in domestic fires and nearly 10,000 are injured. An estimated 30% of the outbreaks behind these fires are caused by a poorly extinguished cigarette or by a smoker falling asleep with one in hand. Installing smoke detectors has not been enough to prevent these tragedies. Beyond the victims themselves, a fire can destroy the property and its furnishings. While insurance covers part of the restoration work, it is often not enough to bring the property back to a standard that appeals to guests. And repairs and restoration often take a long time, resulting in a potentially considerable loss of income.

3. Making the furniture last

Tobacco and smoke can cause significant damage to furniture, fabrics and appliances. Cigarette burns on furniture, carpets and other fittings are unsightly and undermine the appeal of a holiday rental. By enforcing a non-smoking policy, the owner protects their property while keeping guests safe.

4. Saving on cleaning and maintenance costs

Cigarette damage is not limited to the furniture. Tobacco leaves a lingering smell in walls, wallpaper, curtains and carpets. It also yellows walls and ceilings — all of which may call for a deep and costly clean. By banning smoking, owners of non-smoking Airbnb properties avoid specialist cleaning bills and the cost of repainting and re-papering.

5. Appealing to a wider audience

Many non-smokers are reluctant to book holiday rentals where smoking is allowed, because of tobacco smells and the risk of passive smoking. As we saw above, the vast majority of people worldwide — and therefore of travellers — do not smoke. By introducing a no-smoking clause, the owner makes their property more attractive to this large audience, and particularly to families with children and people who are more sensitive to smells and smoke.

6. Simpler rental management

By clearly setting out a no-smoking policy, owners can simplify the management of their furnished holiday let. With the rules well defined and stated up front, there is less risk of conflict and misunderstanding with guests. Maintaining the property is also easier, since the owner or manager does not have to carry out heavy upkeep work.

7. Adding value to the property

A non-smoking property is often seen as better maintained and cleaner, which can increase its market value. Future buyers or tenants are generally willing to pay more for that.

8. A non-smoking Airbnb improves the owner’s reputation

Owning a property that is let on a short-term basis sometimes irritates fellow co-owners, who are not especially keen on strangers coming and going frequently. The guarantee of a no-smoking clause is likely to reassure them about guests’ behaviour and to keep them well disposed towards the person letting the property.

Smoking or non-smoking Airbnb: the drawbacks of banning guests from smoking

That said, opting for a non-smoking Airbnb rental agreement is not without a few potential risks.

1. The risk of the rules not being respected

This is in fact the main drawback. Even with explicit clauses, the owner or their manager is not truly protected against behaviour that abuses and breaches the rental agreement. It is only once the rule-breaking guest has left that the full extent of the damage can be assessed. If it exceeds the amount of the deposit, it will be very difficult to recover the costs. And yet the losses caused by smoking are not hard to calculate.

What is more, with short-term rentals, one guest’s departure is often followed by the swift arrival of the next. Between the two, there is not always time to clear the cigarette smell before the new guests arrive. They may then complain about it and leave a negative review.

2. Losing potential guests

By choosing not to offer a smoking-friendly Airbnb, owners may cut themselves off from part of their audience: as noted above, smokers account for between 20% and 30% of the main tourist populations. They will no doubt prefer to pick another holiday rental where they feel more at ease and are free to smoke without constraints. There is no cause for concern, though: it is very unlikely you will be left without guests because of such a clause.

3. How can you check that guests are not smoking?

When it comes to making sure the smoking ban is respected, owners, managers and concierge services are often powerless. They cannot drop in every day to check, and generally have no option but to wait until the guests have left. At the risk of discovering damage and smells that will not shift. That can create pressure and a degree of anxiety.

How do you put an effective non-smoking policy in place for an Airbnb rental?

There is sometimes a real gap between intention and execution. To stop your contractual clause from being pointless, here are the points to watch. Follow these five recommendations and the property stands every chance of staying permanently smoke-free.

1. Draw up clear, explicit house rules

Alongside the rental agreement, you need a precise, detailed and complete set of house rules. These rules must include an explicit no-smoking clause setting out the rental conditions, any designated smoking areas — on a balcony or in a garden, for example — and the consequences of not complying. This no-smoking clause must be included in the property description on Airbnb and on every holiday rental platform where the property is listed, and repeated in the rental agreement.

2. Communicate the property’s non-smoking policy clearly to future guests

Communication is the key to enforcing a non-smoking Airbnb policy. Once the clause is clearly stated in the platform listing, here is how to communicate it as effectively as possible:

By email. Before guests arrive, it is common practice to send an email recalling the property’s rules. Stressing that the property is non-smoking is essential. The email can include details of the consequences of non-compliance and of the additional charges that may apply for any damage cleaning and deodorising of the property.

Inside the property. Displaying visual reminders, including pictograms, inside the property serves as a permanent reminder of the rental’s non-smoking policy. A written explanation of the reasons behind it — health concerns, fairness towards non-smoking guests, or fire risk — is more likely to get through to any smokers.

On arrival. If guests are greeted in person, taking a moment to gently stress the house rules and the smoking ban is also useful.

3. Clean and air the property after a smoker’s stay

Despite all these precautions, a smoking guest may still break the rules. In that case, the ideal response is a deep clean and air purification before the next guests arrive. Here are the steps to follow:

Airing. Open all the windows to air the property and eliminate tobacco smells. A through-draught airs the place more quickly.

Deep cleaning. Cleaning every surface, including walls, furniture and soft furnishings, removes the bulk of the tobacco residue.

Deodorising. Air purifiers are available to eliminate lingering smells. Ozone machines can also be effective against stubborn tobacco odours. Avoid “air freshener” products, however: they are often fairly toxic, and the smell they leave behind can bother guests too.

4. Leave negative reviews for rule-breakers

One way to penalise non-compliant behaviour is to leave a bad review for guests who breach the no-smoking clause. Short-term rental platforms such as Airbnb allow owners to leave feedback on guests, and vice versa. A poor rating for breaking the no-smoking rules, together with a comment explaining why, can deter your guests from doing it again and warn other owners about their behaviour.

5. Fit the property with a cigarette smoke detector

This is the surest way to avoid trouble: fit the property with a cigarette smoke detector. There are particularly reliable and comprehensive systems, such as the one offered by Minut.

Minut’s smoke sensor detects cigarette smoke; when it does, it immediately alerts the guest and the owner, or the concierge service looking after the property. That alert is usually enough to curb guests’ urge to smoke. If not, the concierge service or the owner can call their guest directly to warn them. The deterrent effect is total.

AI-trained to avoid false positives, this detector is part of a more comprehensive system designed to prevent the full range of problems that inconsiderate guests can cause. The monitoring device is fitted to the ceiling of a main room and carries several sensors (sound, temperature, humidity, motion, tamper detection), whose purpose is:

• to detect cigarette smoke, as we have just seen,
• to spot abnormal occupancy levels,
• to prevent disruptive noise,
• and to keep the property secure when it is empty.

When something is detected, it warns the manager, the concierge service or the owner as appropriate, as well as the inconsiderate guests. No more nagging worry about finding your property wrecked or damaged!

Choosing this Minut solution to make a rental a non-smoking Airbnb property also means protecting guests’ privacy. You should tell them the detector is there before they enter the property. As it has no camera and records no sound, it complies in every respect with privacy regulations.

Finally, this solution is cost-effective. It amounts to an investment of EUR 50 (the cost of the detector) and an annual subscription of EUR 120. Ten euros a month for peace of mind and to save yourself all the disadvantages listed above. Compare that with the cost of putting the place right after a smoker’s stay…