Best Practices on How to Write Airbnb House Rules
If you've never written Airbnb rules, you may be a bit lost on where to begin. Check out this step-by-step guide, which gives you the opportunity to professionally and clearly state what house rules you need to provide for successful Airbnb business.
Whether you’re renting your home for just a few weekends of the year using Airbnb, or it’s a year-round business – all managers and owners need to have Airbnb house rules. The house rules for your Airbnb are just as important as your Airbnb listing. People just need a bit of information and direction about your home and what you allow.
If you’ve never written Airbnb rules, you may be a bit lost on where to begin. We’ve created this step-by-step guide to help you out!
What are House Rules?
House rules give you the opportunity to professionally and clearly state what the guests can or cannot do, what is expected of them, and what the possible penalties are if the rules are broken.
Before you sit down to write your Airbnb house rules, think of the type of potential guests that your home might attract and their possible demands. Will your guests tend to be grandparents, families with young children, professionals, or the under 25 party-type crowd? Be sure to write the house rules based on the type of possible guests that may rent your property.
The onus is on the owner on how to write your house rules – you may prefer serious rather than fun or formal. Regardless of the style, there are certain house rules that all hosts should address.
Tips on Creating the House Rules
💡 Tip 1. Keep the rule simple and don’t over complicate them.
💡 Tip 2. Don’t leave anything in the rules left open for interpretation. Be as explicit as possible.
What to Include in Your Airbnb House Rules
- Opening statement
What better place to start, than at the beginning of the opening statement? Here, you can set the tone by explaining why you have the guest rules, and what will happen if they are broken. - General requirements
Outline the overarching requirements that don’t belong in the clause, such as reporting disputes to property managers. - Preferences
Do you want your guests to remove their shoes before entering the property? Will your guests be allowed to use the kitchen? Are guests allowed to use the washer and dryer? Do you have quiet hours? Do you have a shower/water use limits? Do you allow food in the bedrooms? - Parking
Let the potential guests know about the parking rules before sending the copy of the Airbnb House Rules as a method of your guest qualification process. Questions to consider parking are: Are your guests able to bring their own vehicles? What is the maximum number of cars allowed? Where can they park? - Off-limit areas
Where can guests go and not go? Are there any possible penalties? - Eating areas
Are your guests able to eat in all areas of the property or do you have designated eating areas? - Laundry
Are guests allowed to use your washer and dryer? Is there a limit of how much laundry that they can do? - Visitors
Are extra visitors or guests allowed? If so, how many? What are the procedures for approval? Clearly, state the limitations on how many guests they can invite to the property. - Noise and the neighborhood
- It’s important to ensure to highlight the rules against excessive noise late at night and/or disrupting the neighbors.
- Parties, functions, and events
- Be sure to point out whether you are alright with guests holding parties, functions, and events at your rental. Clearly, state the regulations about the visitor numbers and gatherings.
- Barbeque
- If your property has a barbeque that guests can use, be sure to leave instructions on how to set it up, how to use it, as well as how to properly clean it.
- Garbage and Recycling
Include details on how to dispose of the garbage and how they should recycle. This will help ensure that your property is kept well with proper cleaning, and you’re not left with a huge pile of trash on checkout day. - Hot Tub/Swimming Pool
If your property has a hot tub/swimming pool, ensure to lay out the safety rules and restrictions regarding the time of day that they can access the pool as well as any prohibited items in the pool area. - Balcony/Deck Areas
Balcony and decks are a great space to congregate people and take in views of the city. However, they may pose a hazard to younger children. Ensure to include safety rules regarding the use of these spaces. - Smoking
Can guests smoke on your property or is it strictly prohibited? Do you allow your guests to smoke in front of your property or in the backyard? Be sure to clearly state these rules. - Pets
Let guests know the rules and/or restrictions regarding pets and pet sizes. Some hosts are alright with dogs, but require previous approval, such as photos, and size. You can also charge an additional premium for pets.
- Security
Remind guests that their belongings will be kept safe and secure if they remember to close and lock all the doors and windows before leaving the property. This would also be a good opportunity to let guests know to remember to turn off the lights and air conditioner before leaving the premises. - Damages and Breakages
Clearly state the house rules, that damages and breakages must be reported in a timely fashion. - Check-out Arrangements
Be sure to mention the cleaning, garbage disposal and recycling, and key handover procedures, and anything else that you feel would be necessary to ensure a smooth checkout process. - Emergency Contact Details
Provide emergency contact numbers in case anything was to go wrong that’s related to your property. - Compliance
Summarize the conditions of the house rules and what would be the repercussions in case of a breach in compliance.
Conclusion: Airbnb House Rules are Important
Having the right Airbnb House Rules that match your home and preferences will help avoid accidents and reduce guest damage to your property. Remember to keep your house rules simple yet explicit. When your guests understand your rules, it should give you more peace of mind and feel more in control.
Source:
https://www.airgms.com/property-management-software/airbnb-house-rules/
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