How Do You Deal With House Rules

[Julie131]

The longer I have hosted, the more I have noticed how important the house rules are.  My house rules are pretty basic and simply.  

No smoking

No drugs

No excessive alcohol

No overnight guests

No weapons

Stay out of off limits area which are clearly marked

Front door has to remain locked

Bedroom doors need to remain closed (so dogs do not enter the room)

Twice now, I have had guests who have violated this rule.  Both were long-term and I gave both of them several chances to correct the behavior.  One, I finally had to have removed, and the other one, I just let finish his reservation.  

My question is ... how many chances do you give a guest?  After my latest debacle, I am ready to implement a no tolerance policy especially regarding the first six items.  From what I understand also, if they break house rules and are kicked out, they are not refunded.

Thoughts?  

I think I have been "too nice."

[Helen3]

What rules are your long term guests breaking?

I had to smile at the no guns rule - never be an issue here.

[Shelley29]

Helen, in the UK I find that anything is possible 🙂

[Helen3]

That's coz u is a Londoner bro 🙂 (as my son would say)

[Julie131]

The first person broke just about all of them except guns.  Overnight guests, drugs, excessive drinking, not locking the door (actually leaving it wide open all night once due to being drunk).  I had her removed via AirBNB.  I will say that I did wait too long to have her removed because she kept promising she'd fly straight.  She obviously had an addiction problem as well as other issues.  I also found out later it was a third party reservation.  Live and learn.  

The other one, who I should have had removed, kept going into private areas, taking my personal items and using them, not closing or locking front doors, stealing food.  Making a hellacious mess.  I let him stay because I knew he had no where else to go as he was returning overseas after his studies and I knew he didn't have resources to go somewhere else.  In hindsight, I should have removed him.  

I have hosted close to 100 people, and without fail everyone else has abided by the rules.  

[David126]

I would focus on rules that can be enforced, for example I am in a Hunting area so have Hunters stay and to say no guns would lose a lot of business, if someone was concealed carrying, how would I know?.

Drugs, using well hopefully I would notice and they would be gone, but if they had a stash in their bag how would I know?

[Julie131]

I think it kind of goes without saying that if you don't know they are breaking a rule, then you can't enforce it.   That's rather obvious and silly to point out.  

And I think it would also go without saying that if you are living in an area where you get hunters that you would of course expect hunting equipment to be brought in.  Again, a situation not being discussed here.  

[David126]

The issue of people not reading the description has come up many many times.

You could make pages of rules to cover every situation I suppose, but then the stuff you want to focus on will be lost in the background.

Which is why I would focus on things that both matter and are enforcable.

[Helen3]

Oh lordy you have had a time of it.

I now have a new word to use with my son to describe his room 'hellacious' mess.

Do you have instant book - if so maybe turn it off for a while and chat to guests before accepting their bookings to get a better feel of who they are.

I would definite approach BNB to remove guests promptly if they are breaking those sort of rules.

In terms of your overseas students unless they are on a scholarship only the extremely rich can afford to study abroad. I would have had no compuction in throwing him out for invading your personal space and stealing your food, particularly as you pulled him up on this and he continued to ignore you - complete disrespect.

[Melanie58]

Smoking - that one would be an Airbnb cancellation.  And I wonder if you would do better to either phrase it as "only non-smoking guests allowed" or to clarify where a person is allowed to smoke "Smoking is not allowed in the home at any time.  Smoking is only allowed on the side patio.  All butts must be placed in the can of sand located by the trashcan" something to that effect.  Drugs and excessive alcohol, obviously that could be a police matter.  Overnight guests, I totally get what you are getting at - I have a similar rule with long-term guests but word it more like "all guests must be pre-approved with 24 hours notice".  You could also have a rule about cars so if something does come up you can make it about the excessive # of cars and not something more personal, such as their poor taste in human companions:)  My gun rule since I have kids at home is just that I expect guests to disclose if they have a weapon.  If they do, I ask a lot of questions about where they plan to keep it, and how secured it is.  I don't especially mind if people have a gun, I just want to know.    

I would agree you have been too nice if people are putting your home at risk by leaving it unlocked, and if they lack the personal responsibility to not be passed out drunk in someone else's home.  In my situation, I would describe myself as having a no tolerance policy, and further, I have a maximum reservation of 10 days.  I won't rent long term to anyone without having an initial trial period.  I view this as protecting both of us, because it prevents either party from having too much skin in the game.  

[David126]

@Melanie58

Sounds all very sensible. You clearly have given the issue serious consideration.

[Gerry-And-Rashid0]

I think you have right balance. The biggies are covered ( - but weapons - intrigued to know what that includes!). When we book an Airbnb we steer well clear of hosts with lists of trivial rules - to me it says something about the host/and or location or property that feels strange.

I think some more minor rules are perhaps best covered in a conversation when you meet your guests. E.g.: leave shoes by the door, put dirty fuses in the dishwasher etc

[Julie131]

I am very anti-gun, and like someone said earlier, I wouldn't know if the item was concealed.  But I just do not want weapons in my home period.  It's a personal choice.  Theoretically, someone could bring weapons in and I'd never know, but if I found out, I'd insist they leave.  My other possibly "trivial" rule is about the bedroom door and the door to the back of the house staying closed, but as I explain when people arrive that is so the dogs do not go back there.  I don't want the dogs even thinking it's an option to go into the guest area!  

And you are correct, there are some hosts that have some strange rules...