Dealing with Late Checkouts – Advice from Fellow Indian Hosts Needed!

[Paras45]

Hey everyone,

I wanted to hear from other Indian hosts about their experiences handling late checkouts. Despite clearly mentioning my checkout time in the house rules, sending polite reminders, and even specifying that a late checkout fee will be charged, I’ve still faced situations where guests refuse to leave on time.

This recently caused a big inconvenience, as my next guest was left waiting because the previous guest overstayed despite multiple reminders.

If I have no booking after them, I’m flexible — but I believe every guest should respect the timing as a courtesy to others.

Late checkouts also disrupt my personal schedule and cleaning routine. I often have to make multiple adjustments, and honestly, it becomes quite a hassle. 😅

I’ve also faced situations where guests arrive and start demanding services that were never mentioned in advance or are clearly not included. This puts us hosts in a tough spot, especially when they know certain services aren’t offered.

I’d love to know:

✅ How do you effectively communicate checkout timings to ensure guests respect them?
✅ Have you successfully charged late fees before? If so, how did you approach it?
✅ Are there any tips or strategies that have worked well for you in ensuring smooth guest transitions?
✅ How do you handle guests who outright refuse to leave on time?
✅ What are the standard guidelines for late checkouts and extra service requests that most Indian hosts follow?

(Please mention it)

I really want to find a balance between being polite and firm so that future guests aren’t left waiting. Any advice or strategies that have worked for you would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences. 🙏

@Alex if you can help me out here! Thanks. 

[Paras45]

I recently had a guest with a caravan, and I spent almost two hours accommodating their needs, investing my time and communicating everything clearly. Despite this, they later said they’d check out about an hour late. When I reminded them about the checkout time, they just said, "We'll try."

I find this so strange because checkout time isn’t a favor or a request — it’s a standard. Delaying checkout doesn’t just affect me; it’s unfair to the next guest who expects a clean and ready room.

How do you all handle situations like this? Do you charge late fees or offer a small grace period?
Would love to hear your thoughts!