How to Add a Co-Host on VRBO (2026)

VRBO calls them "additional users" instead of "co-hosts," but the idea is the same: another person with login-level access to your listing who can help you run it. Here's exactly how to add one, what permissions to hand over, and where most owners get it wrong.

Before you add a co-host

Decide two things first:

What do you want them to do? Reply to guest inquiries? Manage the calendar? Handle refunds? The permission level you give them should match.
Do they already have a VRBO account? They'll need one with the same email you invite. If they don't, have them sign up at vrbo.com first — takes two minutes.

Step-by-step: adding a co-host on VRBO

Log in to your VRBO owner dashboard at vrbo.com/login.
Click your profile icon in the top right, then choose Account.
In the left sidebar, select Users.
Click Invite a user.
Enter the co-host's email address (the one tied to their VRBO account).
Choose a permission level (see the next section).
Select which properties they should have access to — you can scope them to one listing or all of them.
Click Send invite. They'll get an email and need to accept before access turns on.

That's it. Access is live the moment they accept.

What permission level to pick

VRBO gives you three roles. Pick the smallest one that gets the job done — you can always upgrade later.

Owner — full access, including billing and adding other users. Reserve this for you and a co-owner.
Manager — can edit listings, respond to inquiries, manage the calendar, and handle reservations. Best fit for a professional co-host or a messaging service.
Employee — read-only in most areas, plus messaging. Good for a virtual assistant handling first-response only.

For most owners hiring a co-host to run guest communication end-to-end, Manager is the right choice.

What VRBO doesn't let a co-host do

Unlike Airbnb, VRBO's co-host permissions are coarser. A few things to know:

Payouts always stay with the owner. Your co-host can't redirect deposits — that's a good thing.
Refunds require your approval by default. You'll still get pinged for damage-deposit disputes.
They can't remove you from your own account.

If the person you're adding is a professional service, ask them exactly which permission level they require. Reputable co-hosts default to the minimum needed.

Where most owners get burned

The mistake isn't giving someone access — it's giving someone access without a written scope. Before your co-host sends their first message, agree on:

Response-time SLA — VRBO ranks listings partly on response speed. One hour is the practical bar.
Refund authority — dollar cap on what they can approve without asking you.
Escalation triggers — damage, safety issues, and any request for a partial refund should come to you.
Tone and canned responses — a shared doc of your voice saves both of you hours.

Get this in writing before day one. Without it, you'll spend the next three months clarifying every ambiguous message.

How Vacohost handles VRBO

Vacohost operates as a Manager-level user on your VRBO account. We reply to every guest message within an hour, coordinate with your cleaner, and escalate refund and repair decisions back to you. You keep the payouts, the login, and the final call on every dollar out.

If you want a professional messaging team on your VRBO listing without giving up control, that's exactly what we built.

FAQ

Does VRBO charge extra for adding a co-host? No. Adding additional users is free on VRBO. You pay your co-host directly for their service.

Can I limit a VRBO co-host to just one property? Yes. When you send the invite, VRBO lets you pick exactly which properties the user can access. Scope them to one listing if that's all they'll manage.

How do I remove a co-host from my VRBO account? Go to Account → Users, find the person, and click Remove. Their access is revoked immediately.

Can a VRBO co-host see my payouts? Only Owner-level users can see billing and payout details. Manager and Employee roles can't.

Is a VRBO co-host the same as a property manager? No. A property manager typically takes 20–35% of revenue and controls the whole operation. A co-host handles a defined scope — usually messaging and coordination — while you keep pricing, payouts, and refund authority.