Airbnb requires five basic amenities in every property. French law additionally mandates eleven pieces of furniture as a minimum. Here is the complete checklist to equip your property, room by room.

What are the essential amenities required by Airbnb in 2026?

Airbnb lists five essential items for every listing. Without these amenities, your property risks penalties.

Towels, soap and toilet paper for an Airbnb property
  • Toilet paper — in sufficient quantity for the length of the stay
  • Soap — for hands and body
  • One towel per guest — clean and in good condition
  • One pillow per guest — appropriate and comfortable
  • Bed linen for every bed — sheets, duvet cover or blanket
Clean pillows and bed linen on an Airbnb bed

These five items make up the minimum baseline. A single oversight quickly leads to a negative review.

Vesna concierge tip

On the Côte d'Azur, plan for extra towels in summer. This small investment (around 10 euros per towel) generates positive reviews and sets your listing apart. Guests do not want to buy towels for a three-day stay.

What furniture is required by French law?

Decree no. 2015-981 of 31 July 2015 sets the list of mandatory items for any furnished rental in France. Your property must contain at least these eleven elements.

CategoryMandatory item
BedroomBedding with duvet or blanket
BedroomWindow covering (shutters, curtains, blinds)
KitchenHob
KitchenOven or microwave
KitchenFridge with freezer compartment (at least -6°C)
KitchenCrockery for meals
KitchenCooking utensils
Living areaTable and seating
StorageStorage shelves
LightingLight fittings in every room
MaintenanceAppropriate cleaning equipment

The absence of even one of these items can reclassify your rental. A furnished property that does not meet this list is no longer considered as such under the law.

What amenities are guests looking for most in 2026?

According to data published by Airbnb, certain search filters come up consistently. Guests do not limit themselves to basic amenities.

  • Swimming pool — the top search criterion in summer, especially on the Côte d'Azur
  • High-speed Wi-Fi — essential for both leisure and business stays
  • Fully equipped kitchen — beyond the legal minimum, guests want to cook
  • Free parking — a decisive factor in tourist cities
  • Air conditioning — practically essential on the Mediterranean coast
  • Washing machine — sought by families and stays of more than 3 nights
  • Self check-in — key safe or smart lock
  • Television — appreciated in the evenings or in bad weather
  • Hot tub — a differentiating feature for upscale properties
  • Fireplace — charm and cosiness for off-season stays

Offering these amenities increases your visibility in Airbnb search results. Every filter a guest ticks eliminates listings that do not offer it.

How to equip your property room by room?

Here is the detailed checklist so nothing is missed when listing your property.

The bedroom

Well-equipped bedroom with quality bedding for Airbnb

5,200: that is the average number of Airbnb reviews per month in France that mention bedding quality. Good bedding remains the leading factor in guest satisfaction.

  • Quality mattress — firm but comfortable, replaced every 8 to 10 years
  • Mattress protector and waterproof cover — hygiene and durability
  • Varied pillows — one firm and one soft per person where possible
  • Bedside lamp — with a nearby USB socket
  • Blackout curtains — legally required, essential for comfort
Vesna concierge tip

For bedside lamps, opt for models with a USB socket or USB-C port.

The bathroom

After bedding, the bathroom directly influences guest ratings. The legal minimum is not enough to meet current expectations.

Clean and well-equipped bathroom for short-term rental
  • Soap, shampoo, shower gel — in refillable format to reduce waste
  • Hair dryer — often forgotten, always appreciated
  • Non-slip bath mat — safety and comfort
  • Bin with a lid — a simple detail with a real impact on perceived cleanliness
  • Beach towels — a genuine plus for coastal rentals

The kitchen

Fully equipped kitchen for an Airbnb property

Guests want to be able to prepare a full meal. Go beyond the strict legal minimum to avoid frustration.

ItemRecommended quantity
Flat and deep platesDouble the maximum occupancy
Glasses and mugsDouble the maximum occupancy
Pots and pans3 to 4 pieces
Coffee maker or coffee machine1
Kettle1
Corkscrew and bottle opener1 of each
Salt, pepper, oilTo be replenished

Would you like to simplify the management of your property on the Côte d'Azur? Our Airbnb concierge team in Nice checks every item of equipment between stays.

A question about your project?

Talk directly with your local Vesna agent. Available, responsive, no commitment.

Talk to a local agent

What safety equipment is mandatory for short-term rentals?

A smoke detector is mandatory in all properties in France. Several other items are strongly recommended by Airbnb.

  • Install a smoke detector — legal obligation, check the batteries at every change of tenant
  • Add a carbon monoxide detector — mandatory if the property has a combustion appliance
Smoke detector installed on the ceiling
Fire extinguisher and first aid kit for short-term rental
  • Place an accessible fire extinguisher — not mandatory, but recommended by Airbnb
  • Display emergency numbers — fire service, SAMU, police, poison control centre
  • Provide a first aid kit — plasters, antiseptic, gauze pads

What budget is needed to fully equip an Airbnb property?

The cost varies depending on the size of the property and the comfort level targeted. Here is a realistic estimate for a one-bedroom flat on the Côte d'Azur.

ItemEstimated budget
Full bedding (mattress, pillows, linen)400 to 800 €
Kitchen (crockery, utensils, small appliances)300 to 600 €
Bathroom (linen, accessories, toiletries)100 to 200 €
Safety (detectors, extinguisher, first aid kit)50 to 100 €
Comfort (Wi-Fi, TV, portable air conditioning)200 to 500 €
Estimated total1,050 to 2,200 €

This budget pays for itself within a few bookings. Investing in durable equipment reduces replacements and long-term costs.

Vesna concierge tip

Choose white cotton bed linen that is easy to wash at high temperatures. It gives an immediate impression of cleanliness and simplifies restocking. Coloured sheets mask dirt and wear out faster in the wash.

The 5 most common mistakes property owners make in 2026

Certain oversights recur in negative reviews. Here are the pitfalls to avoid.

  • Insufficient crockery — provide double the maximum occupancy, not just the exact count
  • No air conditioning — a property without AC in summer loses bookings
  • Unstable Wi-Fi — test the speed before each season, aim for at least 50 Mbps
  • No spare towels — guests do not appreciate having to do laundry on the second day
  • Forgetting the corkscrew — seemingly trivial, but very common in negative comments

To welcome your guests properly, anticipate these details from the very start of the listing.

What equipment to improve depending on your guests' profile?

Adapt your property to the types of guests you are targeting. A family has different needs from a couple or a business traveller.

For families, provide a travel cot, a high chair and a few children's games.

Family with children on holiday in an Airbnb property
Desk area in a property for business travellers

For business travellers, a stable desk and a fast Wi-Fi connection make all the difference.

Vesna concierge tip

International guests account for more than half of bookings in summer. Provide electrical plug adapters and a welcome booklet in English in addition to French.

Are you thinking of listing on Airbnb and looking for personalised support? Visit our Airbnb concierge service in Nice page to discover what we offer.

Frequently asked questions

Airbnb requires five items in every property: toilet paper, hand and body soap, one towel per guest, one pillow per guest and bed linen for every bed.
Fast Wi-Fi: the top satisfaction criterion after cleanliness. Air conditioning: essential in the Mediterranean region. Well-equipped kitchen: beyond the legal minimum. Beach towels: a detail that generates positive reviews.
For a one-bedroom flat, budget between 1,050 and 2,200 euros. This covers bedding, kitchen, bathroom, safety and comfort. It pays for itself within a few bookings.
Yes. Airbnb requires bed linen and one towel per guest. In practice, providing clean sheets and quality towels is the minimum expected. Not providing them almost always leads to a negative rating.
A smoke detector is mandatory in France. A carbon monoxide detector is required if the property has a combustion appliance. A fire extinguisher is not mandatory but is recommended by Airbnb.
Go to the “My property” section, then “Amenities”. Tick each item present in your property. Airbnb penalises hosts who list amenities that are not actually in the property.
Sources
  1. 1.Providing basic amenities for guests — Airbnb Help Center, 2024.
  2. 2.Décret n°2015-981 du 31 juillet 2015 — Legifrance, August 2015.
  3. 3.Renting out your secondary residence — Service-public.fr, March 2023.
  4. 4.The mandatory basic amenities on Airbnb — JD2M, December 2025.

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