Ask the Rov: I am renting an Airbnb for an extended period of time. Do I need to put up mezuzos?

By Rabbi Chaim Hillel Raskin – Rov of Anash in Petach Tikvah

For a rental, the obligation of mezuzah is on the renter, whether the landlord is Jewish or not,¹ and even if the tenant expected the Jewish landlord to have a mezuzah.²

In Eretz Yisroel, the obligation for a rental begins immediately, but in Chutz La’aretz, one is exempt until thirty days have passed, as the rental is considered temporary until then.³ (The Rebbe explains that since a Jew anticipates the coming of Moshiach every day, the mere intention to “settle” in Chutz La’aretz doesn’t have permanence until time demonstrates so.⁴)

Yet, the Rebbe advised affixing mezuzos on a rental right away, even in Chutz La’aretz, without a bracha. After ³⁰ days, one mezuzah should be removed for checking, and then a mezuzah should be affixed with a bracha.⁵

A step lower than a rental is a “pundak,” which is obligated after thirty days in Eretz Yisroel, and, according to some, completely exempt in Chutz La’aretz. Some define pundak as an inn, not meant for permanent lodging, but rather for resting during a trip. Others explain it as a place where one merely rents usage rights, but has no right to the room itself and can be moved by the owners at will.

Thus, one renting an Airbnb isn’t obligated to affix a mezuzah, unless one rents it for more than thirty days (in which our minhag is to affix without a bracha immediately). Since it may be categorized as a pundak, one would not make a bracha even after thirty days.

Would a Jewish owner of an Airbnb be obligated to affix mezuzos?

An owner of a house is obligated to affix mezuzos with a bracha immediately upon moving in. Thus, a Jewish owner of an Airbnb may be required to affix mezuzos if they ever sleep there themselves, even for just one night.⁶

Some poskim hold that keeping furniture in the Airbnb for guests to use is considered usage for dwelling purposes, while others counter that all the items there are only for the guests and it’s not considered the owner’s usage. Some view it more stringently when the Airbnb is attached to one’s regular home.⁷

See Sources (open PDF)

From The Weekly Farbrengen by Merkaz Anash