Are hosts allowed to use their yard?

[Lydia479]

Hi;

So we rented a house in Green Bay WI for a Packer weekend and we rented it for its size location and the fact it had a HUGE backyard.  Nowhere on the reservation did it talk about they would be parking people for the game in the back and front yard.  Let alone it's game day and we are paying a huge amount of money to not be in a hotel and have our own space, not having people walking through the yard.

We got a message from the host saying they will be parking people in the yard and we only get half the driveway to park the cars we are bringing.  

Is there some sort of rule that they are allowed to do this especially since they didn't disclose it in booking?

[Sandra126]

I'd say completely unacceptable if it's a whole house rental. Just a big no.

[Sarah977]

@Lydia479  This was way out of line, not okay at all. Reading your heading here, I first thought it would be about hosts who live on the same property sharing the yard with guests, which of course is acceptable, but should definitely be mentioned in the listing.

If something is unacceptable to you as a guest, you have the choice to cancel and leave if the host isn't open to addressing the issue. If you have stayed in spite of the conditions, it's not appropriate to try to get a refund after the fact, if that's what you were thinking.

But I would report this behavior to Airbnb, (frame it as a privacy and safety issue, both of which Airrbnb take very seriously- having random strangers walking through the yard is not in the least okay, and means the yard and parking spaces were no longer part of what you paid for) and make sure to leave an honest review. 

Airbnb will likely suspend her listing for privacy and safety concerns and read her the riot act before lifting a suspension, so that will serve her right for being so disrespectful.

[Lydia479]

We haven’t stayed yet! We are going to though because everything else is booked.

i agree it made me feel very weird that there will be random people. I’m not gonna stir the pot before  we stay.

[Sarah977]

@Lydia479  Ah, well that puts a different slant on it. If the host has warned you and you choose to stay anyway, you have no grounds to complain. 

If you had decided to cancel because of it, and told Airbnb why, they would likely have refunded you in full. But if there isn't any other place to rent, that's a moot point.

It's a rude thing for her to do, and she should have offered you a discount, as she has basically removed an amenity that was listed. But it's probably best, if you are going to stay regardless, that, as you say, you don't stir the pot. Just leave an honest review.

[Doug-and-Sister-Kathy0]

@Lydia479 .  That's just terrible to have total strangers parking on the front and back yards.  I have a condo in Green Bay and it is clearly stated in our listing that no extra cars can be in the parking lot.  

[Laura-and-Rod2]

Part of the experience of a Packer game in Green Bay is that the whole community supports the team. The stadium is limited on parking related to leaving space for tailgating. It is very common for property owners to park cars on the front or side yards of their house. I agree that parking in the back yard is inappropriate. I draw out a parking diagram for each of our units and leave that on the dining table so the guests know exactly where to park and where we will be parking cars. We give enough room around each car so people can get in/out of their vehicles without damage to the vehicles. We never block the guests in unless they tell us it’s ok. The guests should be advised that this parking is a common practice and whether or not the owner will be parking cars. I have this info on my property’s listings however there have been times when the guests don’t read every thing about the property. We have always been able to work things out without too much hassle.