Hi all,
I have been a landlord for 50 years for regular kinds of long term rentals - not bed and breakfasts. I know that it is impossible to eliminate the risk of bad renters. In this venue we use deposits, legally enforceable lease agreements, and notices of an impending inspection. The point is, we do not tell people how to live in the rental (other than references to illegal activities in a lease). We focus on the consequences of damaging behavior. I admit that I believe most renters are good people who follow the rules when they understand them. If I didn't believe this, renting would be wrong activity for me.
I prefer to not limit the options of good renters with minimum stays, limiting day guests, etc. I am not trying to have it every which way. I am trying to be an accommodating host for good renters. But to also reduce the risks of bad renters by focusing on the bad behavior rather than create rules/limitations that punish both good and bad renters.
Thank you for the tip on eliminating the line of I like to host parties (for my friends, not strangers). This could be confusing. You obviously invested time in looking at my listing. I really appreciate that.
Thank you for alerting me to the loss of the Airbnb guarantee when local people book my apartment for their out-of-town guests. Rather than eliminate this service for good people, I might start charging a deposit to make up for the loss of the guarantee. It would frankly be impossible to stop this practice with rules. I would have to do an ID bed check to know who is actually sleeping here, especially when the bookers open up the apartment for their out-of-town guests. And/or I would have to use surveillance cameras to always know who is on the premises. I am not ready to go this far.
I know how the Resolution Center works. I have had a much better experience with them than you seem to have had. They have reimbursed me for damage that a guest would not pay for when I have a strong argument/evidence.
I am not trying to eliminate the possibility of any parties - that seems impossible when I have a bad guest. I am looking for carrots and sticks to discourage this behavior among misinformed guests.
Thank you for the tip of where in the listing to further explain and warn against parties.
If there is someone who allows your guests to entertain grandma (who lives in town) as a day guest, what if anything do you do to reduce the risk of grandma turning into the whole clan and a party? What kind of language do you use in your rules that seems to be effective? Do you tell them up front that you will be inspecting the premises to ensure compliance? Do you charge extra deposit? Do you provide on premise lists of rules that spell this out?
Thanks in advance for your advice.