Airbnb has become one of the most talked about staples of the share economy, allowing travelers to rent rooms, floors or entire homes/apartments from tenants and owners in- stead of having to pay a premium to stay in cramped hotels. Much of the feedback has been positive, but the site has not been without its controversiesrenters throwing wild parties, cities trying to shut the service down so it’s important to know what you’re getting into before joining either end of an Airbnb transaction.

1. Legally, It’s Complicated: Cities like New York, San Francisco and Santa Monica have put heavy restrictions on Airbnb usage, as have Paris, Berlin and Barcelona. Before you consider offering up your place or agreeing to rent something, make sure you won’t be slapped with heavy fines or banned from your proposed stay. 

2. Extra Charges May Apply: Not only are owners allowed to charge cleaning and security deposit fees to your rental agreement, certain cities may charge you hotel taxes for the duration of your stay in an Airbnb rental.

3. Not All Rentals are Photographed Equally: If you want to make sure a perspective rental actually looks like its posted pictures, check for an Airbnb watermark on the online images. That little seal means the team of professional Airbnb photogs has actually seen the digs you’re scoping, giving you a little extra piece of mind about the condition of the accommodations.

4. This Ain’t No Cash Biz: All fees must be paid and collected through the Airbnb website. Period, end of discussion.

5. You Can’t (Always) Back Out: Different places have different cancellation policies that will determine how much of your money will be returned if your travel plans change. Know what yours is before you agree to any contract.

6. Rent at Your Own Risk: Airbnb doesn’t do background checks (which can lead to well-publicized nightmares like this.) The site offers safety guidelines, but not much else, so do your homework before renting from or to any online connection.