Airbnb just changed its policy on host-imposed contracts, and it’s a big one.

In this solo episode, I break down what’s changing for hosts who use rental agreements, why it matters for your legal protection, and what I’m doing about it.

I walk through the four exceptions that still allow a rental agreement: contracts required by law or community association rules, optional amenities, stays of 28 days or more, and Luxe listings. I also cover the other changes hosts are missing, including limits on collecting guest information, the end of Wi-Fi login portals that capture guest emails, and restrictions on signs at your property.

Then I explain why this matters. After reviewing more than 2,000 lawsuits involving hosts and Airbnb, I’ve seen how often the platform points the finger at the host. Your rental agreement, liability waivers, and assumption-of-risk language are how you fill that gap.

You’ll also get my four pillars of protection (rental agreement, LLC, insurance, and safety), a six-step to-do list for this week, and how to keep using your rental agreement on direct bookings and other platforms.

REGISTER FOR MY FREE WEBINAR HERE: strlaw.com/webinar

Follow me on instagram @ strlaw.with.katie

#ShortTermRental #AirbnbHost #VacationRental #AirbnbPolicy #RentalAgreement #STRLaw #RiskManagement

Could someone else trademark your Airbnb's name before you do?

I sat down with Matt Schneller, trademark lawyer and founder of TM TKO, to break down what short-term rental owners actually need to know about trademarks. We cover what qualifies as a trademark in the first place, why rental properties are a strange case in trademark law since your guests come from everywhere, not just your neighborhood, the real risk behind themed properties (yes, that includes your Harry Potter-themed guest room), federal vs. state registration, and what your actual options are if you get a cease & desist letter, or if you're the one who needs to send one.

Follow Matt and learn more about his tools for trademark clearance at tmtko.com and trademarkclear.com.

#Trademark #ShortTermRentals #STRHost #AirbnbBranding #TrademarkLaw

What if the biggest risk to your short-term rental business isn't a bad review, but depending on just one booking platform?

I sat down with Mark Simpson, founder of Boostly and host of The Boostly Podcast, to talk about building a direct booking strategy that actually works in 2026. We get into why Airbnb's new lower-commission "direct booking link" still isn't a real direct booking, how AI tools (Claude included) are now automating guest outreach and turning cold leads into real bookings, the free and paid ways to legally collect guest emails, and why naming and branding every single property matters more than people think. We also talk rental agreements, chargeback protection, and Mark's 65% direct / 35% OTA philosophy for keeping your business safe from platform risk.

Follow The Boostly Podcast and find Mark on Instagram @BoostlyUK for more.

#DirectBookings #ShortTermRentals #STRHost #Boostly #VacationRentalMarketing