STR contracts - do you think they are necessary on AirBnB?

[Carrie Foley]

I just wanted to see what the STRers out there are doing. I've heard some folks on BP comment that when they are listing their STR on AirBnB (which I'm about to do), they feel comfortable that the legal contracts on AirBnB will be sufficient. But others are asking their guests to sign their own short term rental contract as well.

What do you think? If you are an STR host using AirBnB, do you use an additional STR contract or not? Why or why not?

[Ken Boone]

We have our guests sign a digital rental agreement after they book as well.  We have indoor pools in some of our STRs and the insurance company gives us specific verbage they want in those contracts.  When we have the guests sign our digital rental agreement, it is more than just sign at the bottom and move on.  They have to initial every page and they have to list the names of the guests that will be staying at our cabins.  They have to initial next to the item that states no one else is allowed on the property without owner's approval.  They have to initial by the statement that the insurance company wants in the contract concerning the pool.

I use the same process and digital rental agreement for both platforms and I feel this protects me a little better from a liability perspective but also gives me more grounds to throw people out when they bring too many guests.  Just recently evicted a party of 21 from a cabin that sleeps 8.  Some people I swear!