How have your house rules changed?

[Dave-and-Deb0]

It has been quite some time since I have posted anything of my own as I usually just help answer host and guest questions but I was wondering, how have your house rules changed from when you first started hosting on Airbnb?

I have been hosting for over 8 years now and as many have found out (or will find out), our house rules tend to change as we get more experienced with guests and the issue that may arise.  We use to have very basic house rules but we have had to add or modify several such as extra guests, infants, not washing laundry.  Here are our rules now and the reason (in italics) for adding the rules.  I look forward to seeing yours.

Please read these house rules before booking the house:

• This is for the entire house, both the main floor suite and the basement suite.

• No smoking or drugs in the house. (had to add this even though it is part of the general rules as people would smoke pots and one person even ruined our knives "hot-knifing"

• Absolutely NO pets or animals. (also a general rule but people snuck in a cat which took "furever" to get rid of the hair)

• Quiet time after 11 pm.

• Only registered guests are allowed in the house. (too many people booking and then inviting over several guests for dinner or a party - we do allow this if requested and not too many people)

• If a guest brings more people than were booked, the reservation will be canceled with no refund. (added this for protection as many would sneak in extra guests beyond what they booked which adds extra costs such as cleaning, utilities, etc.)

• All children are considered guests and must be included in the occupancy count which cannot exceed 8, including infants. (added this as Airbnb does not consider children under 2 in the guest count)

• The booking guest must be staying for the duration of the booking as per the Airbnb Terms of Service. (included this as many are not aware and may book for their parents, children, etc.)

• Let your host know if anything can be done to make your stay more comfortable and enjoyable!

• To prevent damage to bedding and towels, please do not do laundry that belongs to the suite. We will gladly provide replacement bedding and towels upon request. (too many people ruining sheets and towels by not treating stains properly and then locking in the stain)

• If you break or damage something, please let us know and arrange for its replacement or repair.

• Please, no outdoor shoes beyond entry door.

• Leave the suite tidy with the dishes clean and put away. It should be left the way you found it.

• Please close and lock all windows and doors when you leave the house.

• Stay is governed by the Alberta Innkeepers Act. (Added this to hopefully curb squatters)

Some may think this list is quite exhaustive while others may have many other house rules.  I would rather have everything covered and if a guest thinks it is too much to abide by, I hope they will skip over our listing and book with someone who allows more leeway.  

What are your thoughts and what rules have you had to add to due to experience with previous guests?

David

[Genevieve300]

Hi David.  Thanks for sharing this!  I think your rules are very reasonable and I don't think you should remove any of them.  If someone has an issue with these, they can simply skip your listing and stay elsewhere, as you suggested 🙂

[Janu35]

Yes Genevieve These rules are Good you are right if some is having issue they might skip this listing.

Regard CEO

**[Link removed due to safety reasons - Community Center Guidelines ]

[Jennifer3965]

Hi, David;

I appreciate your post.  I've only been hosting for about 10  months now, but have also found it necessary to add to my house rules.  At first, I was hoping to just create a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere, without a lot of the "Don't do this..." language.  After reflection and some experience, I find it helpful to avoid awkward situations by making it very explicit what is allowed and what is not.  Unfortunately, I have had at least one guest that broke the house rules regarding pot smoking, and then became abusive, when I informed him I had to leave him a negative review.  It cost hundreds of dollars to rid the room of the smell.  In addition to the providing the house rules, I do find it helpful to emphasize the rules when I meet the guests.  Thank you.

Jenn

[Fred13]

I see your rules as being a bit 'extensive', but they may be well be necessary in your place based on your past experience which is how rules for any place should evolve.

To combat the clueless and the 'least-common denominator' I have taken the conscious approach of improving my place and charge more, so get a more 'conscientious' clientele. No guarantee of course and not all places can be subject to change.

No doubt about it however, every time I have a guest that didn't fit, I go back and work on my description to try to prevent such a type of guest to book in the future in the first place. Every time.

I do not have House Rules, never have in 8 years.

[Michelle3595]

Hi Dave, thanks for listing your rules. Recently I added no vaping or e-cigarettes. Guests were repeatedly vaping in the bedrooms and it took a couple of days to get rid of the scent.

[Ricardo85]

@Dave-and-Deb0 

"• All children are considered guests and must be included in the occupancy count which cannot exceed 8, including infants. (added this as Airbnb does not consider children under 2 in the guest count)"

Airbnb allows you to make a reservation in your listing for 4 adults, 4 children and 5 infants, making a total of 13 people.

How do you deal with such a situation?

Ricardo

[Dave-and-Deb0]

That is exactly why I have this as a rule.  I do not have instant booking turned on so I vet every request and my main message to them is, "Please confirm that this booking is for a maximum of # guests, no pets and no parties".  This way they are not only accepting my house rules when they book but I also have them confirming the amount of guests in the messaging system which is key.  Have not had any issues  in many years, likely also because we do not have an extra guest fee.  When we had an extra guest fee, that is when we would have issues with people booking for two and twelve show up.  

[Ricardo85]

@Dave-and-Deb0 

"• The booking guest must be staying for the duration of the booking as per the Airbnb Terms of Service. (included this as many are not aware and may book for their parents, children, etc.)"

Could you indicate in which part of the terms of service this obligation appears?

Ricardo

[Mar125]

@Ricardo85 

Airbnb terms of service section 2.1

hosting contract is “between guest and host”, any 3rd party that doesn’t come together with the booking guest is 3rd party. 

the @Dave-and-Deb0 ‘s house rule is absolutely fine.

in my view,  this rule actually doesn’t have to be listed out in the house rule, since 3rd party booking isn’t supported by Airbnb any way. In other words , once booking guest has the key, you can’t control if he’s staying or not…..

it’s a futile rule, since it won’t get supported by airbnb or any other law.. however, 3rd party booking guests probably will get deferred by that rule even if it’s actually not legal..

[Ricardo85]

@Mar125 

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/2908#2

"...

2.1 Searching. You can search for Host Services by using criteria like the type of Host Service, travel destination, travel dates, and number of guests. You can also use filters to refine your search results. Search results are based on their relevance to your search and other criteria. Relevance considers factors like price, availability, Reviews, customer service and cancellation history, popularity, previous trips and saved Listings, Host requirements (e.g. minimum or maximum nights), and more. Learn more about search results in our Help Center.

..."

Ricardo

[Mar125]

@Ricardo85 

2.2 Booking. When you book a Listing, you are agreeing to pay all charges for your booking including the Listing price, applicable fees like Airbnb’s service fee, offline fees, taxes, and any other items identified during checkout (collectively, “Total Price”). You are also agreeing that Airbnb via Airbnb Payments may charge the Payment Method (as defined in the Payment Terms) used to book the Listing in order to collect Damage Claim (as defined in Section 15) amounts. When you receive the booking confirmation, a contract for Host Services (a "Reservation") is formed directly between you and the Host

[Richard2868]

Dave and Deb,

Thanks for you insights - really good ideas for us as we are new to hosting. Thanks!

Rich & Laura

[Mar125]

@Dave-and-Deb0 

I only added 3 requirements in house rule that I deem are really necessary and helpful in my evolution of airbnb hosts.

1. all adult guests to provide IDs

2. refundable deposit requirement for risky guests (underage, last minute etc.)

3. late check out fee charges.

1 is so helpful, and i recommend all hosts do it.

basically i learn from Marriot on the check in process..

[Mar125]

@Dave-and-Deb0 

can you elaborate a little more about the innkeeper act? 

how does it deter squatters? that is a really cute rule