Putting together a list of clear and concise Airbnb house rules is essential if you want to keep your Airbnb business running smoothly.
Most guests are happy to comply and will respect your property, but there’s always the odd one or two that seem determined to push the boundaries! Still unsure what to include in the list of your house rules? Allow us to give you a few ideas:
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Do Not Upset the Neighbors!
The first on our Airbnb house rules list is nice and simple – do NOT upset the neighbors! Your neighbors can be great allies when you are running an Airbnb business. If you get on well you could approach them to see if they are willing to contact you in a case of emergency, or if they witness any dubious activity – such as a loud, riotous party going on until 5 am!
Explain that you will lay down clear house rules for guests, asking them to be respectful in terms of parking considerable and avoiding excessive noise. You can even expand on your Airbnb house rules e.g. by stipulating where guests should and shouldn’t park, and specifically asking them to keep the noise to a minimum after certain time e.g. 11 pm.
Maintaining good relations with neighbors also has other advantages. For instance, they will be more likely to approach you if they have any concerns, rather than immediately file a complaint that could see you getting into trouble. Remember that disgruntled neighbors can make life very difficult for you as a host!.
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Say No to Parties
Unless you have specifically purchased your vacation rental with large celebrations (e.g. weddings) in mind, you should consider putting this one somewhere near the top of your Airbnb house rules – no wild parties thank you very much!
Failure to mention you do not want loud parties on-site could land you in trouble. Guests might assume parties are allowed if they are not listed as prohibited.
It’s no fun cleaning up and carrying out repairs after guests have thrown a wild shindig, plus your neighbors won’t thank you for the noise and fuss. We suggest you consider including the following to discourage parties:
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Ask locals to contact you prior to making a reservation
Locals might be looking for a larger property to serve as a party pad for the weekend. Discourage those types of bookings by clearly stating that you “unfortunately cannot accommodate parties” in your Airbnb house rules.
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Set occupancy limits
Clarify exactly how many people you will allow staying at your vacation rental property. Setting a maximum occupancy will dissuade large groups showing up.
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Clarify Extras and Fees
Nobody likes unexpected fees, so make your guests aware if you charge anything extra should there be any breakages or other damage to your property. All fees should be clearly stated in the Airbnb house rules section. If you charge a smoking fee or a fee for lost keys, mention in your listing how much your guests have to pay if they violate the rules. Don’t worry about your listing coming across as less attractive. If you communicate this information in the correct way guests won’t be put off. Remember: be firm, friendly, and honest!
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Don’t Forget About Safety
Take a minute to think about potential dangers and risks to guests. Formulate Airbnb house rules pertaining to this and include them in your Airbnb welcome book. Here a few things to consider:
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Swimming Pool
Establish restrictions regarding the time of the day your guests can access the pool and clearly state anything that is prohibited i.e. jumping, diving, etc.
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Barbecue
Explain how to safely use, and properly clean the barbecue.
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Balcony
If your vacation rental is kid-friendly include rules on how to use spaces such as this in a safe way.
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Specify Who Can Stay at Your Vacation Rental
Guests might be looking for something specific for their vacation. They might want to take their lovable dog, in which case they will need to find pet-friendly accommodation. If your vacation rental is not properly equipped for pets, you should make sure your settings reflect that.
It’s a good idea to think about who your rental would best suit. Is it great for parents with young children? Or more suited to mature couples with no kids? Or is it the perfect place for a group of friends? Transparency is key, if you don’t think your place is safe for little ones, then make it clear e.g. we have steep stairs and an unfenced pond.
There’s also a healthy debate on how best to accommodate smokers. You might choose to not accommodate them at all by setting a firm “no smoking” rule on and around your rental. Clarify what you do and don’t allow in your Airbnb house rules.
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Establish Check-in and Check-out Time
Not all hosts feel comfortable with adding rules about check-in and check-out to their listing. However, for some travelers, this could be of huge importance. If your pad doesn’t offer self-check-in/check-out you will need to outline and perhaps negotiate, guest arrival and departure times. For example, if your Airbnb rules for guests say that check-in is after 4 pm, Airbnb travelers hoping for an earlier arrival will probably want to see if there is anything you can do to get them in sooner.
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Communicate Parking Rules
Many guests travel by car, be it their own or a rented vehicle. However, finding a parking place in a new city can turn into a real headache for travelers. That’s why vacation rental houses with available parking are so popular among Airbnb guests. If you are a lucky host with a free parking lot, make sure you tell potential guests about it. And make sure they park in the right spot! House rules for Airbnb guests will also come in handy to communicate how many vehicles are permitted, and whether or not family vans can be parked in your area.
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Use Your Airbnb House Rules to Protect the Environment
Worried about our planet and looking for ways to reduce the carbon footprint? Don’t be shy about asking your guests to join your initiative. It’s good to go green! You can start by leaving a note in your Airbnb welcome book explaining how to recycle the rubbish. You can also ask guests if they would be so kind as to avoid purchasing drinks wrapped in plastic.
Lastly, if your property is stocked with all the necessary tableware, inform your guests that no disposable dishes are welcome. Let your guests know that your vacation rental is eco-friendly in the Airbnb house rules section. This could attract more customers, after all, people are more aware than ever about making positive changes to ease the burden on our world.