Request for 5 month booking

[Stephanie2567]

A new host here - I was just requested to potentially book for 5 months, different language - asking what other requirements they would need to book for 5 months. Can I request a credit/background check? 5 months is a lot of $$ to rent an Airbnb home. Am I being paranoid? I did ask what the need to book for 5 months is.  Kind replies and suggestions are appreciated. 

[Nur785 · Accepted solution]

I've been hosting only for five months or so. For what it's worth, this is what I've learned: I ask for a LOA prepared by an attorney that states the person is a guest and not a tenant and as such not afforded tenants rights for anyone who is staying more than 28 days. Where I live, being a tenant vs. a guest makes a huge difference. 

Second, do not agree if they want to see the apartment before they book and/or try to get you to let them rent it outside the airbnb platform. 

I've gotten a few requests that started this way and morphed into, let's make deal without airbnb. In which case, I simply report the conversation and the person. 

Hope this helps, 

[Nur785]

Just checked out your place btw. It's beautiful! I want to stay there.  But I agree 5 month request is a bit too long for a house that big. 

That said, I did rent a place for 6 months in another country while I was finishing up my dissertation, because I need someplace quiet to just stay in and write. Having a nice view and beach nearby helped me to stay focused. It might be something like that.

Nevertheless, I would be cautious of this request. 

[Helen3]

Hello @Stephanie2567 

As a new host I wouldn 't accept a long term booking. I would set your listing to only accept a maximum of say two or three week stays to build up your experience of hosting.

Do you have vetting questions that you ask guests to see if they are a good fit for your listing. If not incorporate these into your booking process.

You can't ask to credit check a guest and for ID unless you state in your house rules that this is a condition of booking with you.

You need to check whether long stays in your area give guests tenancy rights. 

If you are going to accept a long stay then I would edit your listing to say you do personal check in's for long stay guests, have CCTV at your property and include a monthly clean in your costs. Only accept long stay guests with positive reviews. 

[Kia272]

@Stephanie2567  Don't do it- it's likely a scam. Scammers target new hosts. 

I noticed you have a $700 cleaning fee. I don't think that's going to go over very well. Most (new) hosts don't understand that they don't have to charge guests the exact amount that their cleaners are charging them. It's way better to work some of the cleaning costs into your nightly price. Between your nightly rate and the cleaning fee, I don't know how you'll do. 

Do you have a dining table that will seat 16 guests? I didn't see one. 

Your property looks really nice, but it screams party house. I'd be really careful about vetting guests and definitely keep your cameras on. I hope you live close enough to handle any issues, or at least have a co-host that does. 

Good luck, Kia

[Fred13]

@Stephanie2567  At 16 people x $1500 a night x 5 months = approximately $225k. This is in the big league rental territory (i.e. a legitimate corporation or genuinely very wealthy people).  You just happened to be new (aka magnet for scammers). This fantastic offer requires some serious background checks. Perhaps best to start a tad 'smaller' vs. with such a big bang (no punt intended).

[Pat271]

Along the lines of what @Nur785 said, I would get a bit more formal with this booking and have the guest fill out and sign a 5-month lease. Also run credit and background checks, and require a hefty security deposit. There are several apps you can use to run the checks and generate the state-specific leases, as long as you are a bonafide potential landlord. 

Also as @Nur785 said, for $225,000, it might be worth it to see a lawyer to draw up legally-binding documents specific to your state and property.

If you tell your potential guest these requirements, and they balk, you should question the authenticity of the booking request. The guest should expect this kind of verification with a stay of this level of commitment, duration and cost.

[Fred13]

Best to keep in mind, that yes the legalities are important, but the affordability of the applicant is the tell-tale clue. If they do not have the means then it could only be a scam of sub-letting / delay payment to you / collect meantime / when way ahead > run and disappear.