Guest brought an extra person

[Jacqueline105]

I was out of town for the holidays, and rented my room out to a young woman and her friends. My initial booking had stated that my room was available for only two people, as I share an apartment with another person, but this guest asked if one additional friend could stay. I updated the booking and tacked on an extra charge for the third guest. Upon returning yesterday, my roommate informed me that this guest may have brought a fourth person, though she was not sure that this person stayed over (he was from the same city guests were, and roommate saw him in the apartment alone). How do I proceed?

[Helen3]

Contact the guest and let them know that you are aware a fourth person stayed.

Say as they paid for the third person, they knew an additional charge would be payable for the fourth, so it must have been an oversight on their part not to have agreed.

If they are still in the apartment raise a change and charge for the fourth person, if not do this through BNB and ask for the additional fee. BNB ask you do this first before raising it throught their resolution.

Do flag it with them too so they are aware of what has happened.

If there are issues like this , its best if your flatmate raises it with you as soon as it happens.

[Gerry-And-Rashid0]

You have to have proof that the 4th person stayed - ask the person who booked. If they say no, then you really have nothing to rely on.

[Deborah1]

Also, important to include it in your review.

[Donna136]

This seems to be a "problem".  I have only recently started hosting and am now on my 4th booking and every single one of them have brought additional people.  First booking, I am pretty sure had an addition 2 - 4 over the period of time.  I asked 3 times how many were staying but they insisted it was only the 4 that were paid.  Yet there were mattresses in the house, extra sheets on the washing line, towels all over the place.  Clearly someone was on the lounge.

Second lot arrived with 5 and booking was 4 so I said you will need to pay - she said oh sorry .. its only for a night but then I find out later they had an additional 2 people for the entire period.  They even had the hide to give me a 3 star as they found dead ants in the shower.  I had pointed it out, left spray and said I would come clean each day if they would like me too 😞    I am a little bit jaded and hoping the experience will get better.

[Karsten0]

Has happened to me also at least 5 times now, seems to be a real problem, some guests just don't have respect for house rules. Next time it happens I will make them leave my flat with no refund or call the police.

[Donna136]

Happened again today !!  Fortunately I was at the property when the additional person turned up.  I said "oh are you staying" and they said, I was going to ask can we add another person.

As I have beds for 8 people it isn't a problem to accommodate them, however you do have to go and get extra bedding, then make up the beds, all taking additional time.

Its the ones that want to "free load" and sleep on the lounge and use the cushions as pillows that annoy me 😞  

[Helen3]

Hi @Donna136

Do you have CCTV at your property? If not I would suggest installing it so you can see who is arriving and leaving.

You can also include in your house rules that only guests who have booked and stayed can come into the property and that breaking this house rules will be grounds for the whole booking being cancelled and guests being asked to leave.

These actions should help minimise extra guests who haven't paid turning up.

Also make sure any additional bedding not being used is locked away.

[Donna136]

Thanks Helen - I will look into a CCTV.

I lock away bedding 🙂  However they sleep on lounge or have pulled extra mattress off a bed and was made up as a single.  Its a learning curve.