guest renting a hot tub

[Nora50]

Hi, I would love input from other hosts.  We have a beach house that has an airbnb guest in it for the month of September.  My neighbor mentioned that the guests must have rented a hot tub and have their three cars parked in the front (bay side of the house, not driveway side) to block it from view.  Two issues:

1-I had messaged the guest before they arrived to let them know I have two sprinklers on timers In the front yard as we are planning to plant grass seed there next month and we are trying to improve the soil/sand there.  The three cars are completely blocking half the area being sprinkled, I messages him twice since I found this out and he has not responded to my messages (previously he has responded quickly). (not to mention that the hot tub itself will kill any grass under it since it will be there for 1 month.

2-I spoke with a company that rents hot tubs - it takes 300 gallons of water to fill one of these tubs and then power to keep the water at the desired temperature, so it is always running.

Would you charge the guest extra for this unexpected/added expense?  I am just shocked that a person would do this without even asking/mentioning it to the homeowner.  I appreciate input from other hosts!  thanks

[Emiel1]

@Nora50 

IMO the guest has to pay for the extra use of water and energy, especially as it can be very significant amount of money. This is not something which is calculated in the renting price.

So now you (and maybe may other hosts) have to change houserules:

- hot tubs not allowed

- cars only to be parked in parking places

For now the hot tub is already there, so i think it will be difficult task to have it removed just because of the grass not growing. And the sprinklers are now filling the hot tub with water, reducing some extra costs (and maybe also extra sensation for the person in it)  ;>)

best regards,

Emiel

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Nora50 How ridiculous. I really don't see how hosts can cater in their rules for any madness that a guest might come up with. @Anonymous , as the expert on the rules - Do we have protection from guests doing bizarre things like this?

[Ann783]

You absolutely need to charge to cover water and electric use. But, I would lean towards getting them to amend their stay and leave. Not responding to your messages and disrespecting your property... it’s probably not going to end well. I would get out of the stay if you can.

[Nora50]

Thanks.  So how do I end the reservation. ?  Do I have Airbnb cancel it?  Do I ask them to leave?  And then do they get their money back?   

[Ann783]

@Nora50 I would message the guest on the app AND call Airbnb. 

[Emiel1]

@Nora50 

I would communicate with the guests first to make clear you do not allow the hot tub and also about the costs. If no success take next steps. I fear Airbnb will not side with you, at least not on short notice, so maybe best thing to do is try to shorten the reservation ("change" option)

[Katrina79]

@Nora50 @If you end the reservation early, you will not get paid for the nights they don’t stay. You will get a bad review from these guests. You must weigh your options here. The water has already been used, the grass seed will need to be replanted and the energy consumed to initially heat the hot tub has been used. You are already out these costs. Personally I would phone the guest and initiate a rational conversation. You’re best bet at this point is to get the guest to agree to pay an extra fee to cover the cost. You can request the cash through Airbnb by bringing up the current reservation. Don’t take the guest’s actions personally and don’t show any emotion when discussing a resolution with the guest, be kind, courteous and firm. Best of luck! 

[Amanda660]

@Nora50 

Wow!  The exact same thing happened to me this week - nice booking for 6 guests came in for a weekend in October.  Guest then immediately messages to say that they’d hired a hot tub and that the company would need access the day before to set it up as it needed 24 hours to come up to temperature.  Erm no!

This is obviously becoming a’thing.  I asked them to cancel and blamed insurance/liability issues and stated that my insurance company would require such an appliance to be on a separate breaker etc.

 They were quite taken aback when I mentioned other hosts wouldn’t be keen. 😝

[Anonymous]

@Nora50  Are you or a locally based co-host able to visit the property to see what's going on?  The neighbor's report is alarming, but I would only take action on this after confirming that there is a hot tub (or something else) on site. 

Adding a structure or appliance to the property without permission would surely be fair grounds for kicking the guests out, but it's uncertain that Airbnb would side with you in a damage claim for excess water use and/or lawn abuse.

[Debra300]

@Nora50,

In addition to whatever action you take regarding this situation, I recommend that you update your house rules.  In mine, I state that guests are not allowed to start any services at my apartment.