Confirming number of checked in guests

[Amerigo2]

Hello all,

I am new to hosting. My last guest booked one night for two adults. However, they were a family of 6 (parents and four teenagers), who arrived separately. I did not find her trustworthy at all and they did not leave the place as I had expected.  I do not wish to have them as guests again, although she had nine good reviews and one dubious one. I cannot in good conscious leave a positive review for her.

What is the procedure for making sure that the number of guests checked-in is in accordance with what they have reserved and paid for? I did not want to object upon their arrival but guests like this should be filtered out of instant-booking criteria.  Are we allowed to have a camera installed in the yard facing the entrance to the house?

Thanks in advance.

[Helen3]

If you know more guests are at the property than have booked, then you need to contact the guest straight away.

If your place can sleep six, then you have the option to tell the guest to amend the booking to reflect the numbers who are staying and remind them that they should have made sure their booking reflected the number of guests they have staying. 

The best way to make sure that only those on the booking stay are;

1. When you confirm the booking make sure you ask the guest to confirm that only those that are on the booking will be staying

2. Meet guests on arrival 

3. Have CCTV - you need to do this in accordance with Airbnb's rules for this (See CCTV/camera's on the Airbnb Help Centre website). 

4. Have house rules that state only those who have booked can be at the property.

In this case please leave an honest, factual review. 

[Linda108]

What a beautiful home you have listed, @Amerigo2 .  I agree with everything @Helen3  has posted and want to encourage you to be a bit more  aware that the public you are inviting into your home don't automatically behave as you would in another person's home.  If you are not on the property  you should have various methods for ensuring the guests are complying with your rules and expectations.  For these guests put them on notice that there are more guests than registered, which must be an "oversight" on their part and you will be sending a change order they must agree to immediately.  If you already saw the extra guests and allowed them entry, you have tacitly agreed to their entrance so you may need to waive the extra charge this time but get the names of all the guests.  Make sure you use the Air BNB message system to document all communications.  Good luck and keep us posted as to how this turns out.

[Amerigo2]

Thank you so much for your help @Helen3 and @Linda108 .  Excellent points.  

[Pamela797]

I am so fearful of dishonest individuals.

I like open book 

the truth up front

i had declined 4 guest in 5 years due their dishonesty.. just by talking to them…