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Hi all
We have two guests staying four nights in January to visit family. They have asked if it is alright for their daughter, her partner and 3 year old to visit and use the pool. I’m going to say 'No". It can be very hot at that time of year and I really don’t want 5 extra people in the pool.
I’m thinking of saying our insurance only covers booked guests. Will this make it awkward?
What are your actual concerns? Five people using a pool doesn’t seem like too much.
I love guests who are here to visit family. They tend to be extra careful about my house. They don’t need suggestions for restaurants and where to go. They want to return so they are particularly nice and clean.
Do you let guests use the pool or not? This statement sounds like “no.”
Many hosts do not let unregistered guests even walk onto the property much less use the amenities. But if you didn’t already have that in your rules then it’s a little awkward to change the rules now.
I don’t think that would be a lie. I would just tell them exactly that. Five people, especially kids, DO impact a pool. Just say that the pool is for registered guests only and suggest a municipal pool that might be available then. Your house, your rules.
I knew that I would be in the minority.
I vote no.
It’s not just extra people in the pool, it’s extra people tramping through your house all wet to use the toilet (and shower probably). Extra towels. More opportunities for things to get broken (not mentioning the extra wear and tear).
And the biggest one of all… liability.
And the second biggest reason is just…because! - - 
I don’t even understand how I am as a guest would ask my hosts to bring my whole family into the house.
When I was renting my pool house by room in September I had a mother and a daughter book one room. I had 3 more guests in a house . Fortunately all of them were working people and were not in a house during the day.
Mother invited without my knowledge her other daughter with 18 months baby into the house. Not only that: when other daughter left for work, the mother babysat baby in my house , going with her to pool and then washing all the baby clothes and drying them in my machines.
The rate for the room was 40$ because it was the slowest time of the year.
One of my other guests who came home for lunch saw all of this and because he stayed in a house for 3 weeks at tht time and we developed very good relationship, he called me and sad:
Yana, you should check it out. The whole family is here and the lady babisits a baby in the house.
I came over and the baby was still in the house . Her toys are in a living room all over, her clothes in dryer. Kitchen is all messed up with baby food.
I asked the mother what does she think she rented for 40$, a whole house? And why she brought such a small child into the house that doesn’t belong to her with 3 other people staying here and never even notified me.
And why is she using my laundry. I told them in a beginning I don’t allow free laundry under 5 days stays. So I made them
Pay additional 10$ for laundry, told them
To never bring a child here again as I don’t even have a fence around pool , and if they want to stay act like they rented just a room with limited use of kitchen.
They stayed 4 more days and all went fine from then on.
I don’t think it’s nessesary to lie about insurance. Just tell them
How it is. It’s your home, and you can’t have so many people here .
Because I said so. 
I just love the way you tell these stories!!! 
Thank you! Glad I can be entertaining 
I missed where this was a shared house space. That does change the equation.
Liability would be my big NO. Our very reason for not allowing children to stay at the Poolside Cabana With Gourmet Flair – I don’t want to walk out and find a face-down floater in the pool…
Yes for sure. But anyway most hosts don’t like extra people in the house. We rentesnplenty od cabins and apartments and firatvthing a host asks is how many people there will be
My situation is different because I rent the entire condo. My rental in NC is two doors down from the condo I live in. Like @anon67190644, I like guests who are in town to visit with family. This is not an area with much guest draw potential so family visits are a large portion of my bookings.
The condo has plenty of entertainment space and has been used for a couple of family events (grandbaby’s first birthday, daughter’s bridal shower). They have taken wonderful care of my unit. I don’t mind family gatherings but I do ask they ask me about it first (unit is listed as NO parties).
About the pool, they must sign a liability waiver before I give them access. In the liability waiver, it states they are assuming the responsibility for their guests or family members who join them in the pool & they must be accompanied by Airbnb booking guest.
Just a thought. I wonder if you should pay a few hundred to an attorney to write that for you, if you haven’t already. It’s too big of a liability to leave to chance.
Thanks for all your advice. It is a seperate granny flat for two in the garden. They don’t share the house and are able to use the pool. We would just prefer not to host extra people during this time. We have already allowed their dog. The guest was happy with my explanation of no. We are two mins walk to the river if they want to swim.
We ran the liability issue through our insurance company. We do not allow unregistered guests, parties, or dogs. So no visitors for the guests. Plain and simple. On the listing in ‘short’ form as well as in detail. A cover letter goes out to the person renting the accommodation along with several attachments- Farm Products List, Guidebook, and FAQ- prior to the visit. This was the statement our insurance company had us put in the listing : "Assumption of Risk – Release of Liability & Indemnification Agreement:
By signing this Agreement, you are aware of and assume the risk for yourself, any children, and for all guests or invitees during your stay at Cair Paravel. Cair Paravel is not responsible for any accidents caused by Guest and all individuals in Guest’s party. You also agree to indemnify and hold harmless Cair Paravel from any and all liability resulting from harm or injury caused by Guest and all individuals in Guest’s party using Cair Paravel’s pool and/or spa and equipment.
By completing the Airbnb reservation the Primary Guest acknowledges and agrees to comply with this agreement.
Additionally, Primary Guest shall comply with the following requests and/or instructions:"
It seems to work well. We have had some folks ask if they can have friends up to visit and they have accepted the"no" very gracefully.
Wow I love that and am going to steal it.