Imagine the possibilities when guests are allowed to do whatever they’d like at your vacation rental. Think, raucous parties, dogs sleeping on your couch, or guests smoking in your living room. Most of your guests won’t be this troublesome. However without sharing clear expectations, some guests may assume that anything goes.
This is why vacation rental house rules are so important. They define what is and what is not allowed at your vacation rental—especially when it comes to pets, events, quiet hours, and more.
Why set vacation house rules?
Airbnb house rules are a smart tool for protecting your property and informing guests ahead of time. Both Airbnb and Vrbo require guests to agree to your house rules before booking. By definitively stating your boundaries, house rules can:
- Let guests know what kind of host you are.
- Help guests gauge if your property is right for them and their travels.
- Help save you time answering questions about your property.
- Help you avoid problems, including damage to your property or angering your neighbors.
- Minimize any surprises for both you and your guests. For instance, guests will likely not smoke if they understand it’s strictly not allowed.
- Help you hold your guests accountable.
- Give you peace of mind and a sense of control.
What to consider when creating house rules
Take your time establishing how you’d like guests to behave in your vacation home. Vacation house rules are fluid and can be amended whenever and however you’d like. When creating your set of house rules, here are some things to keep in mind:
- Publish them in more than one place. In addition to listing your house rules on your vacation rental listing, include them in your welcome letter and welcome email too.
- Don’t overcomplicate things. “Absolutely no smoking” is easier to understand than “Please refrain from vaping, cigarettes, or cigars. The smell of smoke is hard to remove from linens.” This will especially make it easier for your international guests to fully grasp your rules.
- List your most important rules first.
- Use rules to guide your guests, not limit them. This is their vacation, not detention. Adding a punch of personality in your writing can go a long way to make rules feel less strict.
- Guests may still break your rules. Have a clear action plan and response when it happens. While you may not want to list all punishments in your profile or welcome letter, one option would be to expand on them in your rental agreement. Then include a note at the bottom of your vacation house rules such as “Not following the house rules can result in fines, eviction, or both. See your rental agreement for more information.”
