Someone wants to stay while "looking for a permanent place to rent."

[Mindy37]

I've got two apartments in the US. The location isn't touristy, but we do get many contract workers looking for rentals from one month to several, and that has been very good for me. Recently I've received requests from families who are moving into the area and just looking for "someplace to stay till they find a permanent place." This makes me very nervous, as I believe they've already looked and realized that the rental market is extremely tight here. My fear is that they will move in, and suddenly become "permanent" tenants, a situation I absolutely want to avoid having had horrific experiences prior to airbnb. None of these requests have come from seasoned airbnb tenants, they have no reviews. I believe I'm at risk of having to become a regular landlord again. Or worse, having to evict someone who has turned into a squatter. Am I being unreasonable, or is this a real risk? 

[Anonymous]

@Matt682  It's not wielded as a deterrent to guests; actually, from the guest perspective it doesn't even appear onscreen during the payment process. 

It just serves a similar function to the "Host Guarantee" - a placebo meant to lubricate hosts into handing their homes over to strangers under the delusion that they have all kinds of protection if something goes wrong. It's an illusion that evaporates pretty quickly when something well and truly does go wrong.

[Mindy37]

thank you everyone for your responses. I have just gone with my gut when I get requests like this, and I will continue to do that. Because of the extreme shortage of rental properties, if I believe someone is planning on just using my space until something "opens up" I will not accept their booking request. I have also had requests from people wanting to rent off the airbnb grid, and I won't do that. I'd rather the apartment sits empty than have to go through the hassles and expenses (again) of evicting and repairing damage. 

[Sarah977]

@Mindy37  If more hosts adopted the attitude "I'd rather it sits empty than...(fill in the blank)" there'd be a lot less horror show scenarios being reported here.

[Susan1188]

100% agree I'd so much rather it sit empty!  For my peace of mind and for my pocketbook in the end.

[Mindy37]

thank you. I agree. I will not rent to anyone that makes me feel uncomfortable for any reason. The risks are just too great. 

[Susan1188]

All of these things can be true:

(1) the person really is looking for a long term rent and honestly needs a place to search from

(2) the person might not find the long term rent and refuse to leave your place

(3) the person might find sooner than he thinks and cancel your place after having blocked your calendar

I would make them do multiple short term bookings instead of one long term.
Before they book, switch your cancellation policy to "strict" or "non refundable". 
Explain this to them of course.
Eventually make them check out for one week and check back in so they can't claim they are permanent residents (above all find out about the law in your area)
Do not make a LTR rental agreement on Airbnb this requires a separate, legally valid rental contract according to the laws in your area
Good luck!

[Anonymous]

@Susan1188 Creative thinking! But I don't recommend committing to multiple bookings with a guest you don't know yet. Why add in a whole bunch of extra drama, especially for a guest who knows they wield the power to tank your listing with the chance to review you several times? This doesn't seem like a comfortable arrangement for someone who has expressed twice here that she doesn't want to be a landlord again.

[Mindy37]

I definitely would not be doing that with a tenant. Either I trust them enough to do a short term rental, or I will deny the request. This month I've had more than the normal "worrisome" requests, but I feel comfortable in saying no. My typical tenant is a contract worker doing medical or electrical job work, and they're the best. 

[Liz162]

I live behind a small, local hospital. I LOVE to host traveling contract workers. Currently, I have a 3/2 that is rented 90% of the time YEAR ROUND. Winter is my busiest time. I offer a 40% discount on a room with a daily pet fee. I vet them, position, shift, pets. These travelers work 3-5 10-12 hour shifts/week. I only accept professional working people. Some have turned into lifelong friends. I offer weekly housekeeping and I do less laundry. I make additional income from my pet fee (non-refundable) plus an extra daily charge.

This is my current roll-call: 5 rooms (plus me!) between 2 houses: One physical therapist here for 3-6 months, two pharmacists that work alternating schedules, and live out of town here for a permanent position. One Covid evacuee from San Francisco. He writes computer codes in my garage (which I give him FOR FREE) and he has been here 1 year! Thinks my room rate is cheaper than a shared rental from the city! A nurse, that works night-shift ER and sleeps during the day (everyone is gone working.)

That being said, the property owner takes a higher risk than the traveler. There is the risk of squatters, damage, etc. Because I am able to enter both properties at any time (cleaning, garbage, flipping a room), I keep an eye on my investment. It mitigates the risk, but I agree with the previous posters, there is a risk. 

[Sarah977]

@Liz162  It's great when hosts find their niche market that works for them. Too many hosts try to attract everyone and anyone and I think that makes hosting harder.

In my case, I market to solo travelers in a private room, looking for a quiet tropical vacation (20 minute walk to town and the beach). Average stay is a week and they have all been respectful, self-sufficient, quiet and clean.