Vacation rental house rules are the surest way to guarantee a safe and enjoyable experience for all guests who stay at your rental. Having a vacation rental house rules template to work from will save you time and ensure you are covering all your bases. Keep reading to learn more about why having house rules in place matters and how to write your own rules with our step-by-step examples.
What Are Vacation Rental House Rules?
Simply put, vacation rental house rules are the rules set out by Airbnb hosts that their guests need to follow at their rentals. Nobody loves to hear the term “rules” but they are essential to ensure guests understand what they are and aren’t allowed to do in your vacation rental. House rules offer both host and guest protection and aim to prevent any guest troubles from occurring.
What to Include in a Vacation Rental House Rules Template?
1. A Welcome note
You can use your welcome note to welcome your Airbnb guests to your property and let them know you have a few rules in place for their and your benefit. Remember to keep your tone friendly.
Hi [guest name],
Welcome to [your rental property name]! I hope your trip here was a comfortable and stress-free experience. My name is [insert your name], and I’m pleased to have you as my guest.
Before you get settled, please take a moment to read through my house rules. They will explain everything you need to know about the property.
I want your stay to be as pleasant and enjoyable as possible, so please contact me if you need anything at [insert your contact details]. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you have a question or need assistance. I would be more than happy to help.
Wishing you a wonderful holiday!
[your name]
2.Check-in and checkout rules
To prevent guests from arriving too early or leaving too late, your vacation rental house rules must clearly state when they should be checking in and out of your short-term rental.
Please take note of the following check-in and checkout times:
Check-in is any time after [insert your time] local time. Checkout is at [insert time] sharp. Please ensure you have checked out by this time, as the cleaning time will be arriving then. Before checking out, please make sure you [insert a request] and [insert a request].
3. Rules regarding damages
Whether it’s by accident or on purpose, guests can, unfortunately, damage or break things. This is why you need to include rules regarding damages in your vacation rental house rules template.
To avoid incurring any damages which could result in a deduction from your security deposit, kindly take note of the following rules:
1. The smart TV in the living room is mounted on the wall. Please do not attempt to unmount or move it.
2. When using the stove in the kitchen, please do not leave it unattended. The stove must be switched off immediately after you have finished using it.
3. [Insert rule 3]
4. ……………..
4. Indoor and outdoor rules
This is the place where you can discuss rules relating to different parts of the house, for example, if you don’t allow smoking inside the house.
I have a few rules regarding the indoor and outdoor parts of the property:
Indoor:
1. No smoking is allowed indoors. Please only smoke outside on the patio.
2. Please only enjoy your meals in the kitchen or living room. No eating is permitted in bedrooms.
3. Please close all windows before you leave the property.
4. Please switch off all lights and the air conditioning before leaving the property.
5. Please leave all furniture and furnishings in the same way you found them.
6. …………………….
Outdoor:
1. Please pack away all pool floatables away in the shed after using the pool.
2. Please close the barbeque machine after you have finished using it.
3. Please turn the patio light off before going to bed.
4. Please lock the patio doors before going to bed.
5. ……………
5. Rules regarding cleaning
Even though your guests pay a cleaning fee, and you will likely have a cleaning team come in, you may still want your guests to do a bit of cleaning. If you have several cleaning requests, order them in a list.
There are a few cleaning rules, please:
1. Wash and pack away all dishes before checking out.
2. Take out your used trash bags and place them in the large garbage and recycling bin outside.
3. Place all used towels in the wash basket in the bathroom.
4. If you run out of any cleaning supplies, kindly let me know so I can replace them before the next guest arrives.
5. ………………..
6. Rules for noise levels
Although you want your guests to have fun and enjoy their stay, you also need them to have respect for neighbors and the surrounding houses in the area. To prevent any complaints from your neighbors, include rules for guests related to noise in your Airbnb house rules.
While I want you to have a great time, please also be mindful of the neighbors on both sides of the house. Quiet hours are between 10 p.m and 9 a.m. All music must be switched off by 10 p.m, and noise levels are to be minimized.
If you experience any issues with the neighbors, let me know as soon as possible. Please note that if a neighbor submits a noise complaint, it could result in a termination of the booking, and you will be asked to leave the property.
7. Friends and visitors rules
Strictly speaking, your guests should not be bringing unregistered visitors and extra guests onto your property. Not only do you lose out on potential revenue when this occurs, but it also raises the risk of parties or events happening. Some hosts do allow extra guests at an additional fee per guest and sets an extra guest limit.
Inviting unregistered guests onto the property without permission is not allowed. Doing so could result in your booking being terminated, and you will be asked to leave the property. If you would like to invite friends or family members over, kindly contact me first to let me know. A maximum of 3 visitors is allowed per day, and overnight visitors should pay an extra nightly rate.
8. Safety rules
Safety rules are key for a successful stay, so it’s a good idea to add them to your vacation rental house rules, especially if your guests are bringing children.
I want you to be as safe as possible during your stay, so please read the following rules relating to safety:
1. [Insert rule about appliances]
2. [Insert rule about outdoor amenities]
3. [Insert rule about programing and setting security systems]
4. [Insert list of emergency contact information for the police, the ambulance, fire department, and your private security company].
9. Rules for pets
You need to make it clear whether or not you offer a pet-friendly vacation rental. If you don’t, ensure you emphasize this in this section and highlight the penalties for breaking this rule. If you do allow guests to bring pets, lay out the conditions for guests having pets at your property.
If you don’t allow pets:
While I do love furry friends, this is not a pet-friendly property. Please do not bring your pets to the property. Doing so could result in your booking being terminated, and you will be asked to leave.
If you allow pets:
Please note this is a pet-friendly property, so you are welcome to bring your furry friends! Please contact me beforehand to make arrangements and pay the required pet fee.
In the kitchen, you can find food and water bowls, and in the living room, there are dog and cat beds. Toys can be found in a box in the hallway closet. Please ensure you clean up after your pet. Take note pets are not allowed to sleep on beds.
10. Rules for parking
Parking catastrophes can become a nightmare to deal with, especially if you manage your vacation home remotely. Make sure your guests know where to park so they don’t accidentally park in a neighbor’s parking bay or outside their garage.
Please park your vehicle directly outside my garage or in the driveway. If you need to park on the street, please park right outside the property if possible. Do not park in places that will limit or block neighbors’ access to their parking.
Where to Leave Your Airbnb House Rules?
You want to be certain that your guests won’t miss your vacation rental house rules, so you need to keep them in a visible place. Somewhere like the kitchen or living room is a safe bet, as guests will likely use these rooms. Putting it in a bedroom or on the hall table, on the other hand, runs the risk of guests missing it. You can opt to include your house rules in your welcome book, as it increases the chance of both of them being read.
Conclusion
Working from a well-structured vacation rental house rules template ensures your rules are clear and concise for your guests. This will help prevent unpleasant accidents at your rental and ensure your guests’ stay will go smoothly and stress-free for you as a host.