College student with mother paying

[Lisa990]

I have an inquiring 19 year old guest who says that their  mother would be the guarantor for payment. She wants to stay 2.5 months and do her college school work online and her reason for booking my place is to be around her friends. 
1. My House Rules don’t allow anyone under the age of 21 to rent my place.

2. Wouldn’t a parent paying their child’s rent be considered a 3rd party booking?
I don’t feel comfortable, but am not 100% sure. Any advice would be appreciated. I’m also wondering which rule, number 1 or 2, would apply in this situation. 

[Emilia42]

@Lisa990 You also have to keep in mind that on Airbnb there is no security deposit. So whereas if you were signing a lease with a college student they would likely be paying you a one month's amount deposit. You are not getting that here. So unless your home is returned to you exactly how you left it, you could be losing money. 

[Helen427]

Hey @Lisa990 @Sarah977 @Emilia42 

@Colleen253 @Kelly149  were you 19yrs old once upon a time??

 Not all 19yr olds are party central people.

@Lisa990ask for more details as you don't know what has lead to her situation, maybe she needs a break from been cooped up with family, and most importantly ask her mother to include her in her profile for transparency and do a booking that way.

 It's a positive if she's been upfront from the outset to enquire.

 You must have something in your profile that suggests your place is safe for a single young woman to choose it.

 You can always stipulate that you need to be advised who is coming to the property. It would be unreasonable to deny any person the right to see their friends & I've met a number of students who are struggling with the whole impact of not been able to see their friends throughout the year.

Re no Wifi,  It's not an issue to many pple as they are connected to Family accounts and use their own access that way.

 I've had a couple of longer term guests doing Internships  and studying stay at my place quite successfully without WiFi.

 Best to treat people how you would like to be treated, including your own children if you have them 

[Sarah977]

Yeah, I was 19 once. I was working and supporting myself, my mother wasn't paying my rent so I could hang out with my friends. As was the case with all of my three daughters.

And I would have read through the listing information and not sent a request to book when it clearly said 21 and over.

@Helen427

[Helen427]

So was I @Sarah977  , 3 jobs, studying & socialising.

I also unashamedly used to reply to flatmate/ homeshare ads  for over 25 yr olds as I wanted to  be with more settled people and successfully past the test but was found out when  friends decided to bring me a 21st birthday cake!!

I also, like others at that age, used to sneak into the occasional bar to hear bands play etc and when I was the oldest in groups of friends venturing off to over 20 years old venues without fail was the only one asked for my ID...

Sometimes we need to give credit where it's due to younger people who have openly stated in advance their ages and intentions.

@Emilia42 @Colleen253 @Kelly149 did any of you used to do similar things around that age???

@Lisa990at least you know that she plans to stay there for 2.5 months not days...Has she disclosed which university/ education facility she's  doing her online study?

If not, ask.

No harm in asking questions.

Wise idea also to have your cleaner pop in and it sounds like you have friendly neighbours there which may have been a deciding factor for choosing your home.

Sometimes when people are that age they just want a little independence in life and somewhere they can feel secure and your apartment looks like it has that.

[Helen427]

@Lisa990  when replying may I suggest you include the @ tag with the persons name so they are notified of your post?

Cheers.

[Sarah977]

"Sometimes when people are that age they just want a little independence in life..."

How does wanting independence fit in with letting your mother badger a host to accept you and having your mother pay your rent? That sounds like the opposite of independence to me. 

19 year olds who want independence get a job, arrange their own living accommodation, usually sharing a house with roommates because that's all they can afford, and would be mortified if their mother went to bat for them. They aren't under the impression that they should have a 2 bedroom house all to themselves.

@Helen427

[Emilia42]

@Sarah977  Kids really don't have their own lives anymore, they all live through their parents. It's really crazy to watch some of my friends raise their children in this new norm. It honestly makes me question if I want kids myself.

But anywho, @Helen427 , I am more wondering if @Lisa990 will even make a profit here. Her listing advertises a fully furnished house (including garage) with all utilities included (now wifi + possible weekly housekeeping!) and she will get about $1100 per month. I don't know what the cost of living is like in Nebraska but what happens when this 19-year-old keeps the heat set at 85 degrees because she's independent now and can do what she wants. What happens when her friend comes over and breaks the coffee table and won't take responsibility for it because it's old and falling apart anyway. @Lisa990 is not only trusting this girl with her home but also all her furnishings and is covering all her bills with no real security deposit. Is the small profit worth it unless you are 100% comfortable and confident from the start?

[Lisa990]

@Sarah977 I really appreciate your comments. So funny and to the point. @Helen427 @Emilia42 Thank you. Airbnb allows a security deposit option up to $150 under Booking Settings, Extra Charges, but you may have meant a month of rent security deposit. In the end Airbnb saved me in this situation with the no 3rd party booking rule.

[Emilia42]

@Lisa990 That is not a real security deposit. There is no security deposit on Airbnb.

[Helen427]

Aw come on @Emilia42 they aren't all one size fits all thank goodness.

Living in a wealthier area here most teenagers that age are quite sensible although some rely on Uber Eats and takeaways when their parents aren't home. Overall they tend to be sensible with eating.

At 19 girls tend to be weight conscious.

I had a reflective moment about your breaking the table comment though.

My nephew a number of years ago was playing around with his friends, all under 12 yrs old, & fell flat on his back onto the toughened glass table & smashed it.

Not one scratch on him. 

It still makes my heart race and believe we have someone looking over us.

 I'm sure if @Lisa990 potential guest and her mother have open honest communications  they can work something out.

@Lisa990do the profiles have their photos? Are they fully completed?

 If not ask them to complete them.

We all have to start somewhere in life and if it goes ahead & is successful maybe you will have the opportunity for a longer term tenant, if that's what you want.

[Anna9170]

@Lisa990  The fact that a parent pays for a child is not important at all, it is even normal and logical sometimes. The important thing is that you trust a person of this age with your home, and here you should think very carefully.
In fact, after @Sarah977   answers there is nothing more to add).
I have an older son - he is a very responsible guy and in many questions, the most important, I can trust him much more than any other man, including former husbands and current friends). But, do you know how he makes pizza? He turns on the oven and sits for about 20 minutes in his smartphone, although it has been heated up for a long time... Ok, while making pizza he stands and watches if everything is ok. And then it's good if he remembers that the oven has to be turned off. I will not tell you how long he takes a shower, and heating water is not a cheap pleasure either.)).
The point is that I would never trust him to live in a separate house. Only living together, where everything is under control, or a small studio without expensive appliances and large space.
Now he is a student at a Film School in Barcelona and he lives there (an hour from our city) in a hostel where there are several people in a room, and this is a great experience. There is a paid washing machine and he learned how to wash with his hands or at least stock a lot of laundry for one wash. But I would not entrust the house to him anyway.
Also be almost sure that your potential guest keeps in mind to share this accommodation with someone, it is absolutely obvious, they all think so now (and economically it is right, but probably not suitable for you)).