3 month booking request for an international guest-PLEASE HELP

[Nicole3470]

Hi all!
Posting from South Africa.

I PLEASE need your help.
I’ve received a big booking for 88 days on Airbnb -I’m just concerned about squatters in my property.
The guests ID has been verified on the app and is from Amsterdam.

Shes going to do some charity  work while in South Africa ,and is traveling alone-but other than that,the guest has a new Airbnb account and I don’t know anything else about them
My question is-have other hosts accepted such big bookings and/or have they had any problems from international tourists with them leaving,or am I just being overly paranoid?

Please let me know of your experiences.

Thanks so much!

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Nicole3470 You need to review the law in South Africa to see if you are effectively creating a tenancy. If not then agree with the guest how often (if ever) the bed linen changes and cleaning will be done. Perhaps also agree an acceptable usage for power etc.

[Bob297]

@Nicole3470 
South Africa is highly favored by individuals from the Netherlands. There is a one-hour time difference, enabling us to work online. Our daughter and her friend stayed in Cape Town for three months last year, and currently, our nephew and his girlfriend are residing there. During an extended vacation, we found it convenient to work remotely from South Africa. The trend of staying for extended periods is growing in popularity.

[Nicole3470]

Thanks so much for your response Bob297,this makes sense and puts me at ease-would you think it be necessary to have the guest sign a tenant lease before they check in to the unit,or just a weekly clean would suffice? 

[Bob297]

@Nicole3470 
I'm sorry, but I don't know the  tenancy laws in South Africa.
She just rented directly from the host and vacated the home on the date they agreed. (she had a good upbringing :-))
My nephew is still there.

[Helen3 · Accepted solution]

Hi @Nicole3470 

As @Mike-And-Jane0  says if having checked your tenancy laws you are happy that such a booking wouldn't lead to tenancy rights, then you can ask vetting questions to understand whether the guest is likely to be a good fit.

Make sure you are not offering too high a discount for long term bookings to allow for utilities. I would also confirm with the guest that you will include a regular clean in your rates so you can make sure the property is being properly looked after.

Ask the guest why they chose your place .