Guest's Stay is up, but won't leave

[Priscilla150]

This has not happened yet and perhaps I am just projecting.  I have a guest who has been asking a lot of personal and house questions that is causing me to feel a bit uneasy.  Plus I now find out that this guest is unemployed.  If my guest decides to not leave when the stay is up, how do I handle that, short of calling the police?   I have another guest arriving the day this guest is to leave, but some of the things I am hearing, cause me to wonder if I am going to have issues getting this guest out.  I just want to be prepared so I know how to handle this issue.

Thanks,

[Ricardo85]

@Priscilla150 

Make sure your guest receive a copy of this:

Airbnb ToS

"...

8.2.2 You agree to leave the Accommodation no later than the checkout time that the Host specifies in the Listing or such other time as mutually agreed upon between you and the Host. If you stay past the agreed upon checkout time without the Host's consent (“Overstay”), you no longer have a license to stay in the Accommodation and the Host is entitled to make you leave in a manner consistent with applicable law. In addition, you agree to pay, if requested by the Host, for each twenty-four (24) hour period (or any portion thereof) that you Overstay, an additional nightly fee of up to two (2) times the average nightly Listing Fee originally paid by you to cover the inconvenience suffered by the Host, plus all applicable Guest Fees, Taxes, and any legal expenses incurred by the Host to make you leave (collectively, "Overstay Fees"). Overstay Fees for late checkouts on the checkout date that do not impact upcoming bookings may be limited to the additional costs incurred by the Host as a result of such Overstay. If you Overstay at an Accommodation, you authorize Airbnb (via Airbnb Payments) to charge you to collect Overstay Fees. A Security Deposit, if required by a Host, may be applied to any Overstay Fees due for a Guest’s Overstay.

..."

[Clara116]

@Priscilla150  The big question is how long has the guest been there already? Do they have tenant rights?? Every state has different laws and its important to know the laws in your state. When they have tenant rights and decide to stay you will have to evict them. Which is a process, usually long and costly to YOU the host. If they don't have tenant rights, haven't been there long - well, many folks would call a cop friend or someone to encourage the guest to leave immediately as they are NOW Trespassing. When time is up....some would march in with cleaning equipment and several cleaning friends....blast the music and make it very uncomfortable. DO NOT give them 5 extra mins. if you suspect they might stay! You also can not throw out their stuff. If they have left the house after check out time you can change codes/locks. keep us posted and good luck, hope you are just fretting for nothing. Clara

[Paul154]

A good offensive is the best defense.

Your best friend is your agreement. 

Start with a nice text in the morning, saying you've enjoyed their stay.

An hour before, knock on their door. Offer him coffee. Remind him of checkout.

Make your presence known. Start cleaning the common area. 

Come checkout time, knock on his door. Firmly say you must start washing the linens. 

If he's not yet ready to leave his room, ask him to strip his bed for you. 

BE FIRM and NO NONSENSE.

Start to vacuum.

If he's not leaving, call Airbnb for advice. Ask them to reachout to the guest.

I once drove a late checkouter to his next airbnb, cuz I wanted him out at all costs.

I also once went medieval on a drunk who started to shower 3 hours after checkout!

Even if they have tenency rights, you can still do all of the above to give the impression that the contract must be honored. (If they have tenency rights you can't legally can't change the locks.)

If all else fails, call the police.

[Julie143]

Work the fact that you have a guest checking in the same day the current guest is checking out into casual conversation. This will help plant the seed in their head that extending the stay is simply not an option.

PS: If it ever comes to kicking out this guest or any other one, know that Airbnb can’t help you actually physically remove people from your property. That’s up to you. Have a plan in mind.  As long as the guest hasn’t been there long enough to establish tennant’s rights you can get fairly creative in how you accomplish this. If they have those rights, however, you will need to be much more careful and can’t do things like shut off the power.

[Sarah977]

@Priscilla150  Do you have any male friends, friendly neighbor, or family members who look like someone you wouldn't want to mess with? (even if they're actually gentle souls who wouldn't hurt anyone) If so, you might see if they could "drop by" for coffee and conversation an hour before check-out time and stick around until the guest checks out.

[Ange2]

@Sarah977    Ha! I have actually done that. Very gentle souls but with a commanding  presence.

[Sarah977]

@Ange2 I have a friend like that, too. Short stocky Italian guy, looks like something straight out of The Godfather. Even more intimidating when he puts his shades on. Actually non-violent and laid back, but has that Italian temper that can flare up in an instant. And if he's yelling at someone, you'd be quite sure he was going to kneecap them next, even though he wouldn't. When his friends had a sticky situation they thought might turn ugly, they'd call him and ask if he could come along- he wasn't required to do anything,  just stand in the corner with his deceptively menacing demeanor 🙂

[Priscilla150]

Thank you everyone.  Perhaps I am overly concerned, but each of your answers have helped put me at ease and given me concrete concepts to consider.