Guests taking advantage

[Carl-and-Pandora0]

We've been hosting for four years. Since the pandemic our bookings have gone down to a third of what they were. But things have really picked up this spring. We're booked through June and that's wonderful!

Our current guests not so much. We are not in a tourist location so the majority of people staying are visiting family. We understand that they want to spend time together. And so we said to the current guests that it was ok for their two daughters to come over for lunch and/or quality time. When doing yard work this afternoon (after a very boisterous night downstairs) they came out for a chat before a walk and we learned that not only is it the husband, wife and sister but son and fiancé (our max capacity is 4) as well as the two daughters and their SOs who are visiting.  We were of the understanding that two daughters were visiting for lunch one afternoon (their words), “and did that go against our no events policy”? But now there are at least nine/ten people in the apartment.
We're pretty sure we're going to get a bad review no matter what because they wanted a late check-out for hosting a family brunch and we said no. How would you proceed?

[Kelly251]

Just , more entitled guests....🤨  stick to your guns .... and ensure you review them as per your house rules. We all need to start looking after each other instead of worrying about the Superhost or retaliation from our so called guests . Maybe if we all rate our “guests” as we see them as per our rules they will learn they can no longer take advantage. 😡

[Ricardo85]

@Kelly251 

I've been adopting this policy for a while now - "...rate our 'guests' as we see them as per our rules...".

It has been rare for guests to earn 5 stars since then.

Ricardo

[Christine615]

Immediately tell them the other guests must leave if it makes you uncomfortable. I just declined someone who kept trying to add people. My security footage shows he complied.

But I do know it’s common for guests to have family visit. I used to allow it with advance approval (family meals, etc) But now I explain that during Covid that’s not something I’m comfortable with. 

Your house. Your rules. 

[Sarah977]

@Carl-and-Pandora0  8-9 people in an apartment that has a max of 4 and on which you base your pricing. Now they have an extra 4-5 people using up the toilet paper, soap, dirtying towels, drinking up the coffee or whatever else you provide, probably have their devices plugged in to your electric charging up.

Read these advantage takers the riot act. You gave permission for the 2 daughters to come for lunch, you gave them an inch and they took a mile.

[Crystal366]

That is a great point.  I would include that in my email with an "I'm sorry to report that my rules state (#guests), I happily agreed to day visits, not overnights."  Tell them you will have to charge extra guests fees if you want or ask them to reduce their party size to align with your house rules.  I just try to stick to being polite.  In the end it shows in your favor when you stick to the polite side of the fence while someone else does not. 

[Anonymous]

@Carl-and-Pandora0  Your House Rules don't appear to include an explicit rule about day visitors, so it's inevitable that some guests are going to overestimate your tolerance for these kinds of gatherings.

I've always found it better to have a firm and strict rule by default than to have a fuzzy one that's too open to misinterpretation. If the policy bluntly states that no unregistered visitors are permitted at any time, you are still free to make exceptions on a case-by-case basis for guests who have earned your trust. But it's always best to make sure the boundaries are fully understood ahead of time; once a line has been crossed, there's no longer a comfortable way out of the situation.

The current guests would have to be pretty awful people to give you a bad review just because you stuck to your checkout time, but that does happen. I hope your review of them notes the liberties they took without your consent. 

[Crystal366]

I'm in a bit of a similar situation in where the guest took advantage.  I don't allow parties or events in my rules.  A mom instant booked for 2 nights saying "hosting slumber party for my 14-yer-old son."  I immediately asked if she was planning on it here or what.  She just kinda tiptoed around the issues and I didn't catch it.  Her response sounded like she was not having it here.  Well..she was.  And no adult. 

I sent her a polite message saying that it went against my rules, I specifically asked in the beginning to avoid misunderstanding.  Please understand that any excessive cleaning fees and/or property damage will result in an extra fee.  I trust her to leave my home tidy, thank you.

She responded back with a bunch of bs excuses, but was not rude.  Neither did she have any intention of stopping the 2-night sleepover.  They don't check out until tomorrow so I have no idea how that is going to turn out.  Happy Easter, lol!!

You might try a message politely worded like mine.  We agreed to lunches and family time, not overnight guests.  I'm sure you all plan on leaving my space tidy and I greatly appreciate that.  Any excessive cleaning and/or damage will incur an extra fee.  Thank you for your understanding in this difficult time.  Its my wonderful guests such as yourself that allow me to be so flexible or something like that.  Politely worded guilt trips seem to work good for me so far!  😂