Hosts that share their space with guests...

Nichola7
Level 3
Glasgow, United Kingdom

Hosts that share their space with guests...

Hi everyone,

 

I wanted to specifically ask hosts who share/live in their space with guests - how are you feeling about resuming bookings please? Personally I am still not comfortable with a stream of short-term bookings. However, I have had a couple of enquiries about longer term bookings, which I'm considering. Then again, any guest will be out and about, and I'm wondering how that would work, even with strict cleaning procedures. Would both the guest and I be, or feel, safe?

 

Where are you at in your thinking about it all? Any thoughts appreciated.

 

Many thanks.

 

All the best,

Nichola

20 Replies 20
Huma0
Level 10
London, United Kingdom

I agree that you can have no real control over how someone behaves when they are outside your home, but having a long-term guest, rather than lots of different people in and out, makes sense to me.

 

Firstly, they are not travellers (at least not the ones that have been contacting me lately, who have mostly been locals in search of a temporary home) and have not been jumping on and off planes and trains etc. or coming from places where you discover a couple of days later there is another COVID-19 peak.

 

Secondly, there is less vetting to do because you have to do it less often, but can be inquisitive. Long-term guests tend to have more questions and be more open to being asked questions. There is usually much more dialogue so you get a better sense of who they are and their lifestyle. The latter often currently involves working or studying from home so, yes, they may still be out and about in their free time, but that's generally less out and about that people coming for short trips, tourism, meetings etc. who will be using public transport a lot more. My current guest is at home all day during the week and then walks or cycles when he does go out.

 

I can't say I feel 100% comfortable 100% of the time, but I think for me this is the safest way to continue hosting and I can't really afford not to. I usually have three, rather than one, rooms booked year round and also lost most of my self-employed income due to COVID-19, so having that little bit coming in from renting out a room makes a big difference, especially having had an empty house for months.

 

In terms of safety measures in the home, my current guest and I barely see each other (sometimes not for days) and when we do, it's a quick chat at a distance. I am lucky though that the house is quite large with enough showers so we don't have to share and communal spaces like the kitchen and entrance hall are also spacious so we're never in close proximity. The house is kept as clean and hygienic as possible, but that's nothing new. The main differences are that I've changed some products, there is constant handwashing and, yes, having to disinfect stuff like door handles and light switches, but I'm not finding it that much more work than normal. I've always been a bit OCD about cleaning counters etc.

Nichola7
Level 3
Glasgow, United Kingdom

Hi @Huma0 

 

Many thanks for your thoughts and info.  I think, for me, fewer guests staying for a bit longer does seem like a less stressful option. And yes, for sure, suddenly going from being fully booked to no guests when lockdown hit was quite a thing. 

Gordon0
Level 10
London, United Kingdom

Short of the front door, I'm lucky in that the configuration of my house means no other shared space is, well, shared. And there's a sanitiser on entry and exit which all of my guests seem to 'get'. 

My guest type has changed and I'm seeing more and more workers (not NHS etc., but those who don't need a permanent base anymore) and (youthful) grandparents down to see their offspring and their ankle-biters.

I've upped my cleaning regime (although I've always had an OCD tendency) and have started sealing stuff after cleaning, like the remote/cups etc. 

I'm thankful to be making some money and long may it continue (safely).

Nichola7
Level 3
Glasgow, United Kingdom

Hi @Gordon0 

 

Thanks for your response. Sounds like you've figured it out as best you can for yourself. Yes, it's a very challenging time work-wise so great it's working out. I plan to keep reassessing and get back in the safest way as soon as it feels right. 

Kate1742
Level 2
Birmingham, United Kingdom

Hi,
@Helen350 
I’m finding these comments extremely useful. I’ve been desperate to get back to hosting as I’ve lost so much income since lockdown. I rent out a private room in my home along with a shared bathroom. Most enquiries have been from abroad, which isn’t a problem, except they are sharing a plane with several hundred people. Also, I have underlying conditions, so am very nervous about starting up at this moment in time. As with the previous comments, how can we be sure that guests will socially distance. My mind is made up to wait for a while until I feel safe and comfortable. Thank you all for helping me come to this decision.
Stay safe and good luck!!

Nichola7
Level 3
Glasgow, United Kingdom

Hi @Helen350 thanks - so glad you have found this thread useful - it's been great hearing different thoughts on it all. Take care, and very best wishes! Nichola