Long bookings and over occupancy?

[Helen3369]

Hi there, total newbie here.

Have recieved a booking for a month for a family of 4 relocating from abroad. 

My property is 2 bedrooms both with double beds and has maximum occupancy of 4. I assumed maybe the 2 kids might be sharing a double bed? And it up to booker to ensure the sleeping arrangments meet thier needs. 

Today i received a message stating that the guest is pregnant and has been unwell, therefore they will be bringing mum along too. Should i be worried about the occupancy number and who is going to end up on the sofa?!

Appreciate your thoughts, and welcome any advice. 

Thanks 

Helen

[Ruth413]

@Helen3369   Yes, I would be worried about the occupancy number as the house is just for 4 people.

You need to think that this is your house, your home or your investment.  Also can the house cope with that many people for a month ?

Personally I would write back to the guests, explain nicely about the sleeping arrangements and see what they come back with.

If at any time you are feeling unsure about the booking.  You can contact Airbnb and explain that you can't occupy 5 people as there is no bed space for the extra person.  Personally I would try and sort any problems out myself and contact the guest directly and I would explain that there isn't any extra room for a 5th person, unless you are happy with them sleeping on the sofa.

But if you aren't happy with the extra person and the guests are demanding that they arrivewith an extra person.   I would contact Airbnb and ask them to cancel as the occupancy is going to be exceeded.

Hope this helps.  Ruth

[Kia272 · Accepted solution]

@Helen3369 The guests don't get to announce to you that they are bringing another person, which puts them over your occupancy. It's your house and your rules. 

With you being a brand new host, it's generally ill-advised to take a longer booking like that. It's best to stick with shorter stays, so you can build up some reviews. Also, shorter stays are like a test run to see if everything is going well, and your place is adequately stocked and functional for guests. 

Also, scammers do target new hosts. These people may be legit, but personally, I'd advise you to pass on this one, due to the length of the stay and the capacity issue. 

You now have a perfectly valid reason (over occupancy) to cancel this reservation. Definitely call AirBnB- don't try to cancel on your own or you will be penalized. 

Best of luck with your future hosting. Kia

[Helen3369]

Thank you for your reply. Its much appreciated! I was thinking, at least they are being honest rather than sneaking mother in but i have concerns over the capcity and impact on my property. 

You have renewed my confidence to say no. 

Do you have example of typical scams to look out for? My first first arrives tomorrow and Im a little anxious given the context of thier visit. 

Thanks

[Helen3]

I would let your guest know that  you can only accommodate a maximum of four guests and have no room to accommodate their additional fifth guest. @Helen3369 

personally I would suggest they would be better looking for a three bedroom home as they have changed their requirements.

you could offer a penalty free cancellation 

(I would then edit your settings so you only accept shorter term bookings until you're more experience as a host ) 

I highly doubt if you let the booking carry on that they will only bring the original four booked .

[Kia272]

@Helen3369  You're welcome. It's important to be cautious when you're a new host for precisely these reasons. I think a "no" in this case is definitely prudent. 

Once you have some more hosting under your belt, you'll be able to make informed decisions about who you will host. Definitely trust your gut if something doesn't seem right. Read the reviews in the guest's profile, as well as reviews they have left for other hosts. (You'll need AirReview or a similar browser extension)

But any time you get an inquiry or a booking with a message that is asking to break your rules, i.e. "can you make an exception for my very well-behaved dog", or "we are bringing six people" to your two bedroom house, you have to think of what the future holds with entitled people, or people who assume that they can break your rules before they've even arrived. 

There are many lovely guests out there, so don't get the impression that all guests are challenging. It's just that the bad ones leave a big mark in our memories. 

Always keep in mind that it's your house and your rules. 

Best of luck with your hosting journey. I hope your first guests are good ones! Kia