Perplexed and need Perspective

[Normen0]

My husband and I live in the unit below my rental which I like because it usually keeps people respectful.
I have a return guest for three nights for the second week.  He booked last week for one person but clearly he had a female guest arrive late for two of the three nights. After he left I found a lighter at the bottom of the hot tub and plastic bottles around the tub with cigarette butts in them. As he had rebooked for this week, I messaged him about the lighter particularly - but also the garbage. I did this in a polite and professional manner. He apologized and we moved past it.  We had agreed that since he has a contract for the remainder of the year in town, he would book weekly for a reduced rate which is great for us as Mon-Wed bookings are random. 
He arrived again this week. And the girl has been here as well. Last night, showering in the apt starts before 9 pm (sewer pipe runs through my unit so I can hear - no big deal) at approx 9:20 both guests go outside and get into the hot tub.  Shower is still running hot water.  I wait 10 minutes before I message him and ask if there is a problem as the water is running and no one is in the apt. Also that we are on a septic system and normal usage is fine but this is not. Another 10 mins go by and I hear them close the hot tub go inside and shower for another 20 mins.  So in total the shower ran for over an hour, at least 20 mins of which no one is actually in it. 

Awhile later he responded that he was sorry, he understood. His fiancé is sick we can talk in person if you have a problem and “ I pay $300 for 3 nights - just sayin” 

I’m certain I’m cancelling this agreement with him to come back weekly.  But, I’m perplexed at how this person thinks because they are paying they have the right to abuse. 
In fact, I charge minimum $120/nt normally and people seem to have better judgement.

Normally we would both have headphones on watching tv in the evening so as to be very quiet and we don’t hear our guests much which works out well for us but my husband’s headphone batteries died so we turned the tv off and the sounds from upstairs were clear. 

A) Am I expecting too much of people and is this part of renting that I should be used to? 

B) Am I too nosey? 

[Anonymous]

@Normen0  I think most people would agree that the guest has taken a lot of liberties for a short-term stay, but he probably believes that your arrangement entitles him to behave more like a long-term tenant. And the fact that his behavior during the first stay didn't stop you from accepting a rebooking also sends a message.

I do think you have a right to expect that your renters adhere to the terms you communicate to them. If you have a policy on additional guests, that should be honored. If there's a charge for a second guest, it should be paid. If you have specific rules about water usage and rubbish in the spa area, they should be followed. 

But communicating your boundaries and expectations is a big part of your job. As a guest, I'd much rather have a host who is clear about these things upfront than one who complains about them later. That would bother me a lot more than TV noise from downstairs.

[Normen0]

Thank you Andrew! We don’t have a charge for second guest. I usually ask people if there is one just to know what I’m expecting. In this case it was a work trip so I didn’t ask. It’s not a huge point but goes towards the lack of communication. 
We don’t have a specific water usage policy - in. my mind this is unusual and wasteful and if repeated, harmful to the septic system. 
I agreed to rebook him after checking the apt which was fine last week. It wasn’t until later in the day, due to a big snow storm that I had checked the hot tub and communicated the issues with him. He was apologetic. I felt it was not done on purpose and wouldn’t repeat. Now with the shower running wastefully and his comment that basically he believes he can be wasteful because of the amount he is paying, bothers me. I am expected something else in future. 100% cancelling future bookings.  
No matter what you pay per night, respect is still required.  

[Anonymous]

I agree, I also would not want to host a person with this kind of attitude. But if any of his bookings have already been placed via Airbnb, you'll have to call CS to present your case for averting cancellation penalties.

You may not feel it necessary to supply guidelines on water usage, but I don't think it would have a negative impact upon your business to do so. Even luxury hotels post notices in the bathrooms requesting guests to take certain measures to conserve water.

[Normen0]

Yes, you’re right. We do have information in our guest book about being on well and septic and how to treat it. Our book says we have plenty of water but be respectful of the environment and that nothing should be flushed other than toilet paper. We have been doing this for five years and I still am surprised on occasion with something new I have to write a rule about. Common sense is not so common.  

[Emilia42]

@Normen0I would also be extremely peeved with your guest's response to the excess water usage. Even though your house rules don't mention anything specific, doesn't mean that people should ignore the simple unwritten rules of being a good neighbor or being environmentally responsible. 

[Normen0]

In addition to just running wasteful water, the fan is on a timer and kicked off. Water from the steam ran down all the walls and stained all the baseboard trim.  This happened right before the pandemic started and we realized that our place is in much more demand, being on the water. We have also realized that our standards for clientele is much higher and raised our prices. Higher prices doesn’t necessarily get us better people but it helps to pay for damages and painting baseboards and updating the place.  Thank for your help, one year later. 🙂