Three years after its launch, Airbnb’s Airbnb-friendly Apartments program has expanded to include more than 1,300 buildings across over 75 markets, including locations in the UK and Brazil. The initiative was created to help renters find apartments where part-time hosting is permitted.
With high housing costs and mortgage rates, many renters are seeking ways to supplement their income. According to Airbnb, in the past year, a typical host participating in the Airbnb-friendly program earned about $3,900 from hosting 34 nights—an amount equivalent to roughly two and a half months’ rent for an average U.S. renter. Around 2,200 renters collectively earned nearly $13 million through part-time hosting during this period.
This year, Airbnb focused on expanding how renters can discover eligible properties by partnering with Apartment List. The platform recently introduced an “Airbnb-friendly” search filter and amenity badge that allows users to easily identify buildings where hosting is allowed.
For property managers and operators, the integration offers a new method for attracting residents interested in hosting. Properties can now display their Airbnb-friendly status directly on Apartment List using a dedicated filter and badge, which increases visibility among potential renters looking for such opportunities.
The collaboration follows positive results from previous marketing efforts: properties labeled as Airbnb-friendly experienced up to 1.5 times more search impressions, 88% more property views, and 64% more high-intent leads compared with non-Airbnb-friendly properties.
Additionally, Airbnb has begun working with Entrata—a property management platform—to use Airbnb listings as a tool for prospective tenants. This partnership allows future renters to stay in a building before signing a lease, providing them with firsthand experience of living there while giving leasing teams an opportunity to engage with potential tenants.
Another milestone this year involved working alongside organizations like NMHC (National Multifamily Housing Council), NAA (National Apartment Association), and industry leaders to advocate changes at Freddie Mac regarding federal loan policy. They recommended that Freddie Mac create a standard rider permitting tenant hosting in multifamily properties under specific conditions: capping annual hosting at 180 nights per tenant and limiting the number of units that can be hosted simultaneously.
“This shift represents a meaningful evolution in how short-term rentals are understood within property financing. What began as a niche amenity is increasingly recognized as a mainstream, policy-supported solution that helps renters while providing owners and operators more flexibility,” the release stated.
Airbnb’s partners—including five of the top seven REITs in the United States—have promoted the program through targeted marketing campaigns and support for hosts. Guest satisfaction remains high; guests rate their stays at an average of 4.82 out of five stars, while hosts give guests an average rating of 4.95 out of five stars.
As rental prices remain elevated across many markets, interest continues from both renters seeking extra income and property managers aiming to attract new tenants. The company says it will continue developing partnerships and integrations to make Airbnb-friendly living available to more people.
“We’re proud of how far the program has come—powered by tech innovation, strong industry collaboration, and real policy progress. With momentum accelerating, the next chapter of Airbnb-friendly real estate looks exceptionally promising.”
