How to Write Your Airbnb Rules
BY MIKEL HUBBARD
FORMER HGTV PRODUCER | CO-FOUNDER, THE HOST CO |
OWNER, TIMES EIGHT PROPERTY & DESIGN
Ok, no one enjoys telling their guests what they CAN’T do when they rent your Airbnb, but setting boundaries is a good thing for you AND your guests.
For the most part, you know what you don’t want to allow, but what sort of rules do you need to remind people of that maybe you’re not thinking of?
READ MORE: HOW TO AVOID BAD GUESTS
Point out the obviousNOISE AND PARTIES
No one wants people to throw a rager at their Airbnb or be super loud. That’s obvious, right? Wrong. More than anything, it gives you recourse if the guests do so and claim they didn’t know it was against the rules. So set quiet hours especially and be clear the number of additional day guests that may visit, so they don’t tell you later they had no idea they couldn’t get married at your house with 100 friends and family. Even better? Let them know the costs and consequences ahead of time for breaking those rules.
Oh, it’s our own responsibility if we hurt ourselves? Good to know.LIABILITY
Be sure to list a liability provision in case guests injure themselves and later come back and try to sue you for it. Here’s an example of the type of clause that should be in your Airbnb house rules:
By accepting a reservation with us, guest acknowledges that use of amenities such as hot tubs, pools, spas, fireplaces, decks, and the like may be potentially dangerous and involve potential risks if improperly used, particularly with regard to children and such use is at the guest’s own risk.
This may not seem necessary, but it will be when you’re standing in front of judge because someone claims they didn’t know it was dangerous to jump from the roof into your pool.
Many companies film interviews or photograph portraits in hotel rooms all the time without permission. They may not even realize it’s unacceptable in your Airbnb.FILMING/PHOTOGRAPHY
You would be surprised how many reputable companies rent vacation rentals for movies, television or commercial photo shoots without telling the owner or providing additional compensation. And if you bust them? They can say they didn’t know it was against the rules. Make sure to provide a clause such as:
No commercial use, commercial photography, or commercial filming on the premises without written consent of the owners.
They may still do it, but if you catch them, you can file a cease and desist and attempt to recoup location fees for filming or photographing on the premises without permission which can be thousands of dollars per day.
READ MORE: MUST-HAVE RESOURCES FOR EVERY AIRBNB HOST
I brought my cat cuz you said you were pet-friendly…WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU MEAN BY PETS?
You may say you’re pet friendly or not pet friendly. If you say you allow pets, be clear what that means in the rules. How many pets, what kind of pets, what size and can they jump on the couch? People will take pet-friendly to mean all sorts of things, so don’t give them leeway or you may wonder why there are pig hoof prints all over your backyard.
READ MORE: SHOULD YOU MAKE YOUR AIRBNB PET-FRIENDLY?
You’ll be cleaning up confetti for the next three years. Ole!JUST SAY NO TO PINATAS, CONFETTI, FIREWORKS, ET AL
People often rent a vacation home to celebrate a birthday or for New Years or 4th of July. What does that mean? They will set off fireworks that anger the neighbors. They will throw confetti on New Years you’ll be finding stuck in the baseboards for months. But the worst? A pinata in your backyard. Why? Pinatas aren’t just candy anymore. They’re often full of mylar confetti that then blows all over your property, doesn’t degrade and is literally impossible for the guests, your landscaper or anyone at all to clean up.
FIRES
If you don’t allow backyard fires, mention it. If you do, make sure you let them know where they can be done, how big they can be and that they have to put it out before they go to bed. If the place burns down, the last things you need from a guest is “I had no idea that…” And for real, it helps to let people know not to burn garbage, pine cones, aerosol or garbage. Really? Yes, they will do that and you will need the recourse.
Remember when people smoked inside? Oh, well it’s weed… It’s different?SMOKING
It may seem obvious, but be clear about the consequences of smoking cigarettes and marijuana inside your Airbnb if you catch people. We think a fine of $200 or more is totally acceptable. Also, it’s ok to make rules around smoking in the yard or on the balcony, especially to warn guests about leaving cigarette butts anywhere but the trash. It’s your place. Your rules.
What rules do you find are super helpful to mention? Share in the comments!