How to check an Airbnb before you book: a step by step guide
A few minutes of checking before you pay can save a lot of trouble. This checklist is for stays in the City of Los Angeles.
Step 1: Find the City registration number
Look in the listing for the host's City Home-Sharing Registration Number. If it is missing, ask for it.
Step 2: Match it to the address
Confirm the number belongs to the exact address you are booking, not a different property.
Step 3: Think about the calendar
Registrations are limited to 120 days a year and for the host's primary residence. A listing open every night deserves a question, unless it only offers stays of 30 nights or more.
Step 4: Check the permit history
See what work has been done on the property, whether it was finished and whether any permit is still open.
Step 5: Check the hazard maps
Look at whether the address sits in a mapped flood, fire, earthquake or tsunami zone.
Step 6: Ask the host the basics
Ask about smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, the nearest exit and any recent work.
Step 7: Keep the payment on the platform
Do not pay or message outside the booking site.
Let Deedlore do steps 2 to 5
Deedlore compiles the public record for the address and, with the Stay Check, adds a manual review of the City registration within 2 business days. We describe properties, not people, and a report is not legal advice or a safety guarantee.
Know before you book!
Related guides
- How to check an Airbnb address for safety
- Red flags when booking an Airbnb in Los Angeles
- How to look up permits for a Los Angeles address
- Is an address in a hazard zone?
- How to check if a Los Angeles Airbnb is legal
- Airbnb scams: what public records can and cannot catch
- How to check the area around an Airbnb
Common questions
What are the risks of staying at an Airbnb?
Common risks are a listing that does not match the real place, a rental that is not registered with the City, hazards or unfinished work at the property, and scams that pull payment off the booking site. Public records can help you check the address, the City registration and the permit history. They cannot rate the host or guarantee a stay.
Is Airbnb safe and trustworthy?
Most stays go without problems, and booking platforms have their own protections, but quality varies from one listing to the next. It is worth checking the specific address instead of relying on the platform alone. Deedlore is not affiliated with Airbnb, Vrbo or any booking platform.
How do I know if an Airbnb is safe?
No one can promise that. In the City of Los Angeles, find the City registration number on the listing and make sure it matches the address. Check the permit history and the hazard maps, read recent reviews that mention the street and parking, and ask the host about smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and the nearest exit. Keep your payment and messages on the booking site.
Is it safe to stay in an Airbnb by yourself as a woman?
Many people travel alone without problems, and the steps are practical. Choose a listing with self check-in or a host who answers quickly, read reviews from other solo guests, look at the area around the address and how you will get there at night, and share your address and plans with someone you trust. Public records describe the property and the area, not any person, and cannot guarantee safety.
Does Deedlore check the host?
No. Deedlore describes properties, not people. It does not show host names or run background checks.
Does a registered rental mean a safe stay?
No. A registration shows what the City has on file as of the date checked. It is not a finding that a stay will be safe or good.
Which addresses are covered?
Addresses in the City of Los Angeles only. Other cities, including Santa Monica and Beverly Hills, have their own rules.