I’m reading over and over the biggest issue is undisclosed overnight guests and visitors. We all have horror stories.
my jurisdiction recently enacted new licensing requirements which include $250 annual fee, fire and safety inspection, neighbor notification, one hour or less in person emergency contact ( until recently we lived 2 hours away), and a 3 fine ($500, $1000, $3500)/3 strike you’re out rule. So I’ve recently had to dumb down the definition of a guest, an event, etc to the point that we are losing bookings, but that’s okay, we don’t want those kinds of bookings anyway.
***we have this blurb in additional rules:
VISITORS ARE GUESTS TOO: And therefore subject to the max 4 guests. House is ideal for one couple with one or two children, or two individuals. King size bed is good for a couple. Full size bed is good for children or petite persons only. No sleeping on the sofa, cots, or air mattresses permitted. Effective June 28, 2022 AirBnB bans all parties. No “visitors” that aren’t included in the total reservation guest count*. No dinner parties regardless of reason (someone died, family reunion, holiday, etc). No local visitors are allowed to come over to do their laundry. If you are in town to visit someone please visit at their house not ours. Only the max 4 guests are permitted at the property- inside or out. Violators with undisclosed overnight guests, visitors, or parties will be evicted immediately with no refund. * A guest is defined as any person who visits the property either inside or out, whether staying over or not. We expect the max 4 guests to be the same 4 people throughout the duration of your stay, not 4 different people every day. We charge the same price for 1-4 guests.
****the per guest fee over 2 didn’t work for us. Everyone always picked 2 and brought 4 or more anyway.
here is my scheduled booking rule acknowledgment. It’s basically the same thing but lets them know about the outdoor security cameras so they know we will know if they bring more than 4 people.
VISITORS ARE GUESTS TOO:
And therefore subject to the max 4 guests. House is ideal for one couple with one or two children, or two individuals. King size bed is good for a couple. Full size bed is good for children or petite persons only. No sleeping on the sofa, cots, or air mattresses permitted.
Effective June 28, 2022 AirBnB bans all parties. No “visitors” that aren’t included in the total reservation guest count*. No dinner parties regardless of reason (someone died, family reunion, holiday, etc). No local visitors are allowed to come over to do their laundry. If you are in town to visit someone please visit at their house not ours. Only the max 4 guests are permitted at the property- inside or out. Violators with undisclosed overnight guests, visitors, or parties will be evicted immediately with no refund.
* A guest is defined as any person who visits the property either inside or out, whether staying over or not. We expect the max 4 guests to be the same 4 people throughout the duration of your stay, not 4 different people every day. We charge the same price for 1-4 guests.
*You acknowledge the use of outdoor security cameras for your safety and the security of the property.
***and here’s where we mention it again under other things to note- licensing info:
We are licensed by City of Bisbee #20174343
What does this mean for hosts?
Hosts have to pay $250 per year to be licensed and inspected, are subject to hefty fines ($500, $1000, $3500) and a three strike you’re out rule, in addition to the following requirements:
*guest Background checks completed by Airbnb.
*All adjacent Neighbors notification- city permit #, address of STR, name/email/phone of owner & one hour or less in person emergency contact info.
*Advertisement requirements- license # must be posted on Airbnb online listing.
*Posting right inside house entrance- name/email/phone of owner & emergency contact info- ALL GUEST COMMUNICATION MUST STILL ONLY GO THROUGH AIRBNB MESSAGING REGARDLESS OF THIS CITY REQUIREMENT.
*Insurance requirement- provided by Airbnb air cover for guests.
*Safety inspection- fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, CO2 detector, up to date electrical requirements, space heaters cannot be the only source of heat, guidelines for extension cords, bedroom window egress & escape exits, grills & fire pits.
What does this mean for guests?
Although we cannot allow over the max occupancy of 4 guests/visitors whether staying overnight or not, you can rest assured you are staying in a fully licensed, insured, safe space. Before booking, ask the host whether they are licensed by the city of Bisbee, what their main heat source is, if they have CO2/ smoke alarms/fire extinguishers, & most importantly read the reviews!
***feel free to use any of this verbiage if you think it will help curtail undisclosed guests.
