This forum is dedicated to connecting hosts with other hosts. Sign up to get the latest updates and news just for AirBnb hosts! Note that we are not affiliated with Airbnb - we are just passionate hosts!
First winter I’ll be having guests over the winter. I don’t live at the house, so me removing the snow myself isn’t a possibility. We’re supposed to get a fair amount of snow this winter, apparently. And because I dont’ anticipate having that many guests in Jan/Feb, and they price is already 80% less than the summer price, hiring a snow removal service isn’t just worth it. But if i have to, I have to.
Just wondering how others deal with snow. Do you put a “snow removal will be at the discretion/responsibility of guests; host does not provide any snow removal service” policy on your listing? Or do you provide for snow removal service?
I think you need to arrange to have the snow removed unless you are prepared for a liability suit. As I mention in my post, by law I must have my sidewalks cleared by 4 hrs after the end of the snow “event” or risk being fined a large amount.
Hmm, interesting. Yes, we have a similar by-law in Toronto, but luckily my side of the street has no sidewalk. But there’s still the driveway, a landing area, a few stairs, and another landing area before you get to the entrance door. So far in all my messages, prior to approving any reservations, I’ve been saying that guests understand that snow removal is not the responsbility of the host, that the host does not provide snow removal service, that snow removal is at the discretion of the guests, and that should a bodily damage/injury or mental distress or a loss of income or income opportunity occur to a guest as a direct or indirect result of snow or ice on the property, the host is not liable for any said damages/injuries or distress or loss of income or loss of potential income.
But of course I don’t know if saying it on the listing as well as in the communicated messages and having the guests agree to it in the messages is enough to release me from any potential liability.
I rent my cottage in Catskills and I have an arrangement for snow removal - whether we use the place or guests - but there is a grey area. It has to be over four inches to bother. The neighbor who snow-blows and shovels for me just uses his best judgement or checks in with me. I leave a snow shovel on my porch along with snow melt and I let guests know that unless the accumulation over 4" or so, there will be no clearing. They are welcome to shovel the short walk way to the driveway if they like. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t.
Yeah, I’m in a different situation. The house is in a big metropolitan city, not in the wilderness. It’s a city house and not a cottage, so people come here for work, to visit family, etc.
I honestly don’t think you can ask guests to shovel. They won’t want to, probably won’t, and will leave you open to community or HOA fines. Although, they surely can’t expect their cars to be dug out.
I assume you do not receive mail at this location, or papers. No deliveries of any kind? If your front walk/stairs are not shoveled, who is at risk of falling?
We’re basically on a mountain top in Colorado. You’re going to be walking on snow and ice.
As for getting here, from Nov 1st to May 31, I pretty much require my guests to have an AWD or better vehicle, with good traction tires (not all-season). We only have our road plowed if it’s too much for an AWD car to handle, or if the snow has drifted.
Because of where we’re situated, plowing can be like throwing money into the wind. It can cost upwards of $300 to plow our road, so it has to be really bad for me to even consider it.
I clear the patio and walking path from the parking spot to the entrance and around the hot tub, that’s about it.
They won’t want to, probably won’t, and will leave you open to community or HOA fines. Although, they surely can’t expect their cars to be dug out.
