I thought if I had too long of a list of house rules, people may not take the time to read it all and may overlook some. Also if there’s too many rules, that may turn guests away from booking. I have the important ones on…no pets, no young children, no late-night cooking (and no cooking of spicy foods), no smoking inside, and to use water/utilities conservatively.
Thanks for sharing these tips.
Having an extensive rule book is not a good idea in my opinion. It is quite patronizing for guests and if you come across as very demanding, people will be turned off. The last thing they want is to have every move monitored by their host.
Obviously things like smoking indoors and not having extra people turn up should be on there but telling people to fold their sheets and remove makeup before bed is a little too much in my opinion. You’re offering a vacation experience, not running a dorm in a boarding school.
Obviously, this is your home and you want people to respect that. But there is also some basic tidying up that you have to do as a host. Guests will inevitably be intrusive to some degree, and it’s hard work taking care of them – that’s what they’re paying for. It’s been a while I’ve been an Airbnb host (now outsource to Pillow Homes) and it’s not always easy but you need to make feel like they are welcomed and valued and not as an inconvenience.
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I have almost a 2 page house rules and I am fully booked year round. People dont even bother reading the listing so the house rules imagine…I learned that once you have to deal with Airbnb, better be prepared for a few sleepless night. I had the case of a guest claiming there was a bedbug at my listing, immediately Airbnb wanted to cancel all my future booking and suspend my account. The claim was false and almost costed me 10.000+ usd for pest control, loss of revenue etc… Now I have adapted my house rules so in case of bedbugs etc the guest has to provide some solid proofs and not just words. You might feel its too much but believe me, you dont want airbnb to suspend your account when you are a full time host.
“Any claims in relation to any kind of insects/animals/ pest (for exemple bedbugs, mice, vermin etc…) has to be documented as per below house rule: for any type of complaint, a formal message should be sent to the host via the Airbnb messaging system at the latest 12 hours after official check out time. Any type of complaint should (without exception) be documented by at least three reports established by a third party such as a doctor (in case of any type of health issue for exemple) , the police (in case of damage, theft etc…) or any relevant third party. It must be documented with pictures and sent in English at the latest 12 hours after official check out time. Failure to comply will void the eventual claim from the guest and refund(s) will not be provided. The reports will be sent to my email cxxxxxxxxxxxxx he police report and doctor reports are mandatory for every case. All documents submitted after the deadline will be void and the guest claim cancelled.
Besides the police and medical report, in case of bedbugs claims, the guest has to get a proof from a pest control company that there are bed bugs at my listing. All costs related to those claims have to be paid by the guest and not the host. In no case will my listing and/or account be suspended, or my Airbnb activity damaged in the case of alleged bedbugs. Proofs have to be delivered and future bookings will not be suspended.”
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Do you think having it in your rules will help?
I heard people using " bed bugs" issue often when they want to get out of reservation .
What I don’t get how to rent out filthy apartment is ok but bed bugs are not ok. I stayed in 2 Airbnbs in SF recently and they were disgusting. How do hosts get away with that but because of bed bugs listing can be even closed
I prefer this also. I do not always have other guests coming and I may be busy with work, so I prefer not to strip the bed until I am about to clean the entire upstairs where guests stay.
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@dcmooney, love the original post, and may borrow a few phrases!
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This is just silly since you have no control over this.
I commented on the other thread about how making a guest pay for bedbug treatment would cause me to not book. In fact having all this in the rules makes me think that you did have bedbugs and so I’d keep looking. Since you are booked most of the time I would very interested to know if you experience a decline in bookings due to this new draconian language.
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Not sure if it will help but its probably better for me to include it rather than not include it as i am fully booked year round anyway. You got a point with filthy apartment indeed.
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No I did not experience any decline in bookings. I am fully booked year round and I also have video surveillance in my listing so those rules have zero impact on me. I dont know if I will ever use this rule but I prefer to include it to my house rules just in case. If people are not fine with my house rules they can go somewhere else. I hosted over 1500 guests, glowing reviews (around 400) so I guess it compensates and some people told me they booked because I have strict house rules and it means that I am serious about hosting.
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Hi @konacoconutz,
Seriously belated reply, but anyway…
I think everyone on the planet wealthy enough to travel would know what ‘girlfriend’ means. It’s one of those words that has really caught on. Even when referring to elderly couples. Ditto for ‘mom’, really. Even Indians would get it. Yes, that last bit is snarky, and meant to be. Just my 2 currency units.
Personally, I think that bit, at least, is charming. @dcmooney has her own style, and clearly it works for her.
This was such a long time ago, I can’t even remember the topic?
Yes, that’s just me, reading old threads…
The reasoning is: you can leave filth behind, but the bedbugs go home with you
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Nice info! Hosting is good if we are serious about it.
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I have revised my rules to the following:
“This is a shoe free house, please leave your shoes under the console table at the entrance to the house
No pets (cleaning fee $250)
No smoking (cleaning fee $250)
No illegal activities
No parties
No firearms
No guests i.e. Anyone not registered as our Airbnb guest in your reservation. (Arriving at the home at any time with more, or different, guests than are on your reservation, including babies and small children, violates airbnb rules and our policy. (Can you believe guests actually try to do this? Yep! It’s true!) If you arrive with more guests than you booked for at any time, the reservation must be changed to reflect the proper number of guests before you will be allowed in/to stay, if at all. Please book for the correct number of guests.)”
Thanks for sharing this information.
So much insight and many good points here.
As a newbie, my only rules were: You’re welcomed to my food, but don’t drink my last beer.
My rules are evolving now. It is a balance between scaring off potential guests with too many rules and “assuming” that people come with the same expectations as mine. I’ve added “the don’ts” to my rules now. “Wifi is available, but don’t use my computer and don’t come into my bedroom or bathroom.” I have worded it more nicely than that.
My place is more a corporate rental situation, as I am not a destination location. So far I’ve only had business guys as guests (with one exception) and they have been very low maintenance and none have even had a cup of coffee either from the coffee maker in their room or from the coffee pot in the kitchen, which is full each morning and afternoon. All have enjoyed beer after work, but most brought and shared their own!
I might add a rule- If you choose to do heavy cooking, you must share with the host!
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I say that we need to negotiate taking over the kitchen during my cooking hours. One negotiation just might be, they teach me their cuisine [me as sous chef] and then we get to eat with you! But it isn’t a rule, it is in the listing long description. Last night I had a guest who used the microwave! First one! Doesn’t look like I will need to fight to use my own kitchen.
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I was curious. I always wash the blanket and comforter with each guest, IMHO… What does everyone else do? You stated to fold it. So you must not wash it. I just figured I should, cause i would want mine washed.