Useful Airbnb accessibility information starts with a careful look at the actual property. A guest needs to understand the route, the rooms and any obstacles before deciding whether a London flat works for their stay. A broad description such as “easy access” leaves too much unanswered.
This checklist helps hosts collect specific details, support them with photographs and keep the information current. It is a way to organise a property description, rather than an assessment or certification of accessibility.
Start with the whole arrival route
Walk from the place where a guest would arrive to the flat's entrance. Include the pavement approach, garden gate, communal front door, lobby, lift and internal corridor where these form part of the journey. A flat with a level entrance may still be reached through a building with steps.
Create a separate note for each change in level or surface. Record where doors must be opened, whether the route narrows and which parts depend on shared building facilities. Give each observation a location: “communal lobby to lift” is easier to understand than “a small step inside”.
- Approach: describe the route from the arrival point and any gates, steps or uneven sections.
- Shared entrance: record thresholds, door arrangements and the route beyond the entrance.
- Lift: check the actual entrance and cabin dimensions, controls and onward route to the flat.
- Inside the home: follow the route to the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and living area separately.
Keep this survey alongside your key exchange and check-in plan. Receiving a key and being able to reach the accommodation are different practical questions.
Measure details instead of guessing suitability
Record measurements in centimetres, with a photograph showing exactly what was measured. Identify the opening or obstacle rather than writing a number without context. Door width, a threshold's height and the space beside a bed answer different questions.
For your working record, note the date, who checked the measurement and anything that limits it. If a door cannot open fully because of furniture, describe the usable arrangement. Do not infer wheelchair suitability from one wide doorway or the presence of a lift.
Airbnb's accessibility feature definitions set criteria for individual listing features. Check those definitions before selecting a feature; different features have different requirements. The same guidance explains that photos are submitted for review, and that listings connected through full-sync management software may need accessibility updates through that software.
Build a useful photo record
Take a sequence that explains how spaces connect, then add close views of the details a guest might need to examine. A bright room photograph can look attractive while hiding a doorway threshold or the access beside the bed.
Airbnb's accessibility photography guidance recommends showing dimensions with a tape measure, using more than one viewpoint and adding descriptive captions. For wide doorways, include both a view of the opening and a close view of the measurement. Make clear when a feature applies to only one room.
Use current photographs of the real property for this evidence. Avoid cropping out obstacles or using an edited image to suggest a feature is present. General marketing images have a different purpose; our Airbnb photography guide covers presenting the wider accommodation.
Write a precise access description
Put the most consequential information early in the listing, then organise the detail by route and room. Guests should not have to piece together a limitation from several unrelated captions.
Illustrative wording to adapt: “There are three steps between the pavement and the communal front door. A lift serves the flat's floor after that entrance. The bathroom has a shower over the bath. Please message us if you would like photographs or measurements of a particular part of the route.”
This is a fictional example, not a description of a StayinLondon property. Replace every detail with checked information about your home. State what remains unmeasured and arrange a check when needed. Avoid an unqualified promise that the home suits everyone.
Airbnb lets guests search using accessibility features and contact hosts for more detail. Keep the feature selections, photographs and written description consistent. Our listing writing guide explains how to make the rest of the description equally specific.
Answer the guest's practical question
When a guest asks about access, establish which part of the home or journey they need to understand. Offer relevant measurements and photographs, and let the guest explain what information would help. Do not guess what they can manage from a brief message.
A useful reply might be: “I can check that doorway for you. Would a photograph of the open entrance, its clear width and the threshold help? I will confirm the details after a visit rather than estimate from the listing photos.” Only promise a response time you can meet.
Airbnb's inclusive hosting advice suggests discussing practical requests and considering changes such as moving furniture or placing household items within easier reach. Record any agreed arrangement so the person preparing the flat knows exactly what to do.
Keep one current record for the team
Save the survey, measurements, photos and approved wording together. Assign someone to update the record after furniture changes, building works or alterations to the entrance. If a shared lift becomes unavailable, check the effect on upcoming arrivals and communicate the actual situation promptly.
- Confirm the documented route still matches the property.
- Check any arrangement agreed with the incoming guest.
- Tell the preparation team what must be moved or made available.
- Verify completion and flag any unresolved question before arrival.
- Update listing information when the underlying facts change.
StayinLondon coordinates listings, guest communication, cleaning and day-to-day operations through its London Airbnb management service. Request a property assessment to discuss the practical management of your home.
Official Airbnb guidance checked on 28 October 2026. Checklist and message examples are practical suggestions. The cover is an original illustration, not a photograph of an inspected property.
