House Rules to CYA as a host

[justMandi]

I would reframe this to what the guest SHOULD do.

Personally I would not stay here. The last thing I want to see on a review was a thumbs down for talking to the neighbours.

[robin1]

Stephen, perhaps you were a frustrated contractual lawyer in a past life. Sorry, I couldn’t get past the:

@sobepuppy

Never disclose that you have paid to use my apartment.

From an ethical perspective, you are asking your guests to lie for you…it does disturb me that you are using this platform to solicit /promote dishonesty.

@sobepuppy

Just wanted to share, as I’m asked this by many fellow hosts,

I am curious though, whom it would be that would be interested in this style of business…

Perhaps you were a wee bit bored & posted this just to yank our chains!
I hope the latter is the case.

[Joan]

I fail to understand how someone, claiming 90% occupancy, simply has the time to not only bore us with such detail, but to continuously post ripostes to anyone’s obviously solicited comments.

I’m off to do something useful.

[Snowdon]

@sobepuppy What’s your %age occupancy and average rating again? I think I missed it.

[KKC]

@robin1

I am curious though, whom it would be that would be interested in this style of business…

Young “rental arbitrage entrepreneurs,” and investors with multiple listings in apartment buildings.

[Brian_R170]

@CeeBee

you stated that all but two of the 23 units in your building are STR – so why all the need for secrecy if the HOA is on board?

Don’t forget that all those rules already prevent bad guest behavior, so none of the residents will even care that such well-behaved guests are short-term renters, right?

But seriously, if there is any reason for guests not to tell people they are short-term renters, then the mere existence of that rule gives the guest the biggest extortion leverage imaginable.

[sobepuppy]

@robin1

Stephen, perhaps you were a frustrated contractual lawyer in a past life. Sorry, I couldn’t get past the:

sobepuppy:

Never disclose that you have paid to use my apartment.

From an ethical perspective , you are asking your guests to lie for you…it does disturb me that you are using this platform to solicit /promote dishonesty.

You’re wrong. Non disclosure is not a lie, a knowingly false statement is a lie. I don’t ask anyone to lie.

@robin1

I am curious though, whom it would be that would be interested in this style of business…

Perhaps you were a wee bit bored & posted this just to yank our chains!
I hope the latter is the case.

Not as bored as some who feel the need to opine on posts they disagree with, huh ?

[sobepuppy]

@Snowdon

@sobepuppy What’s your %age occupancy and average rating again? I think I missed it.

Probably distracted by all the supportive comments from fellow hosts here…

[sobepuppy]

@Malagachica

The majority of responders here don’t feel that your rules are appropriate to their particular situation and surely you can accept that? It doesn’t mean that either “side” is better - just that we are all different.!

So Vive la Difference

Differences in opinion don’t bother me at all. Open and direct criticism will always get a response from me.

Oh you wouldn’t book with me? Good, I wouldn’t host you.

You feel patronized by my rules? Develop a spine and some self respect then. - That little bit is free and unsolicited for all all jerks on this forum. Always nice to return the favor of friendly advise, isn’t it ?

[sobepuppy]

@Joan

I fail to understand how someone, claiming 90% occupancy, simply has the time to not only bore us with such detail, but to continuously post ripostes to anyone’s obviously solicited comments.

I’m off to do something useful.

Did you fail to understand this before or after you made your post ?

[sobepuppy]

@KKC

As John said, don’t post here and then whine about the commentary. Given my education and career I don’t have the same attitude toward complying with the law that a young entrepreneur does. Just because violating the law serves a beneficent end in your mind doesn’t mean it’s okay to disregard it. Everyone, even in civil or financial matters, putting themselves above the law undermines civil society. Work to change the law or move your business or both.

Indeed - and the same goes both ways. Opine in a negative fashion, be accepting of the response, right? Given my education and career i’m not inclined to bend over and accept being taken advantage of. Be it from the government or any individual.

Exposing and resisting corrupt and unfair laws is how we progress in a democratic society and become more free. Then again, I’m not of an age where I think it was normal / acceptable to sit at a counter to eat my lunch while others were the denied the same right. Its not an undermining of civil society when that same society advances unfair / unconstitutional laws.

@KKC

Your listings have warned guests for years to avoid talking to neighbors, this isn’t a new thing that developed in the last few months. You obviously don’t suffer lack of bookings from it but we have good reason to say that’s a red flag for us when looking for a place to stay.

This is true - also why anyone is free to book elsewhere.

@KKC

You have quite the blind spot.

Nope, just a knack for calling out jerks.

[Rolf]

@sobepuppy

That little bit is free and unsolicited for all all jerks on this forum

Hmmmm… calling forum members jerks, if not a TOS violation of the forum rules, is at least a window into the mindset of a small man and a striking and disturbing visual of his small…

[sobepuppy]

@CeeBee

Right. In a previous post, you stated that all but two of the 23 units in your building are STR – so why all the need for secrecy if the HOA is on board? Me thinks you might not be as “Exempt” as your listings lead people to believe.

You thinks wrong CeeBee. Your choice in seeing discretion as secrecy. Just cause all but 2 units in my building are conducting them, doesn’t prevent any of the full time neighbors from calling the City about noise, etc, and forming a basis to oppose and vote against STRs right to our board. Thx for the support.

[sobepuppy]

@justMandi

I would reframe this to what the guest SHOULD do.

Personally I would not stay here. The last thing I want to see on a review was a thumbs down for talking to the neighbours.

Thats good to know, as I wouldn’t host you.

[Rolf]

@sobepuppy

You are not staying in a hotel, but rather an actual residential home

…and of course his first statement is false.

[sobepuppy]

@Brian_R170

But seriously, if there is any reason for guests not to tell people they are short-term renters, then the mere existence of that rule gives the guest the biggest extortion leverage imaginable.

Of which I’ve had many guests who’ve attempted this banned from Airbnb. A simple screenshot of any language implying coercion works wonders for getting bad guests banned for life.

There are many reasons why one shouldn’t be advertising they are short term renters. First and foremost is to mind your own damn business. 99% of the time that avoid all kinds of problems.

[sobepuppy]

@Rolf

Hmmmm… calling forum members jerks, if not a TOS violation of the forum rules, is at least a window into the mindset of a small man and a striking and disturbing visual of his small…

Small what, I couldn’t understand what you’re implying - do you have your mouth full of something, that why you didn’t finish your thought? What again are you implying as you discuss violations of TOS ?

[GardenGnome]

See below for the strict version of my rules. I don’t put them on the fridge for every guest.

I do for one-nighters, guests who have no reviews, guests who give the impression of not being the best at reading details in the listing and anyone I get a feeling may need a firmer hand. They are the rules I care the most about.

[sobepuppy]

You just lost the potential business of the peanut gallery in this forum…

[sobepuppy]

@Rolf

…and of course his first statement is false.

Really, you know my building is zoned as a hotel? News to me. Must have learned that while removing the small objects you like to place in your mouth huh?