An Airbnb host recently shared their frustration on Reddit after attempting to give their long-term guests a break on their rent, only to discover that the platforms involved were tacking on a massive surcharge that threatened to derail the entire deal, Daily Dot reported. The host took to the r/AirBnBHosts subreddit to vent about a 50 percent markup on a 90-day booking. The host had been housing five guests who were in the city for a contract job and originally planned to stay for just one week. Things were going well, and when the guests expressed interest in extending their stay for three months, the host was more than happy to accommodate them. Wanting to be fair, the host told the guests to hold off on booking for a few days so they could adjust the listing to a winter rate. They also planned to apply a 20 percent discount for monthly stays, which would have brought the total down to $3100 per month. The host noted that they were excited to help out some great guests, but the final price displayed on the platform told a very different story. According to the host, both Airbnb and the property management company, Evolve, were hitting the booking with a 50 percent surcharge This brought the monthly cost close to $5000, a jump that the host found completely unreasonable. The host pointed out that this kind of pricing structure could end up hurting business for everyone involved. Airbnb costs out of control by u/Frankie6067 in AirBnBHosts Facing the reality that the guests would likely have to move elsewhere due to the inflated costs, the host decided to take matters into their own hands. They bypassed the platforms entirely by putting the guests on a short-term lease, allowing them to charge their own rate and cut out the middlemen. The move was a success, as it kept the guests from having to find a new place to live and likely saved the host from a potential negative review. Other users on the platform were quick to weigh in on the situation. One commenter noted that this is a prime example of why hosts need to be aware of the total price a guest sees, rather than just focusing on their own payout. Another user echoed this sentiment, suggesting that comparing the full platform cost against a direct lease can make a massive difference for both the owner and the guest. The discussion also highlighted a broader issue regarding how some property managers operate. One commenter mentioned that they have seen larger managers engage in what they described as shady practices, such as marking up rates and cleaning fees to squeeze out more profit. Another user called the 50 percent fee an “insane markup, basically doubling their cut for no extra work on a long stay.” Ultimately, the consensus among those commenting was that the host made a smart move by switching to a direct lease. It kept good guests in the property and ensured they weren’t being gouged by platform fees. As one commenter put it, this situation serves as a reminder that while platforms can be useful for finding guests, the economics often shift when you start dealing with longer stays or repeat clients.