By The Hospitable Team
Airbnb house rules are just as important as an attractive description, clear photos, and a catchy headline for your Airbnb listing. Guests just need a bit of information and direction about your home and what you allow.
Besides, your Airbnb rules for guests are part of your marketing. They let travelers know if your space is the right accommodation for them—and if they’re the right guests for you. For example, people who travel with pets will look for properties that allow the fluffy ones.
So, your house rules may turn away some potential guests, and that’s fine. You should clearly state what the guests can and can’t do and what is expected from them. In this way, you can ensure that your property is booked by the right people and hopefully prevent many problems before they have even occurred.
Pro tip: Use your Airbnb house rules as an opportunity to demonstrate your commitment. If possible, try to phrase the rules to tell your guests what they can do, instead of what they can’t do.
It’s up to you how you write your house rules. You might prefer them fun rather than formal or serious, but there are certain areas all hosts should address.
Airbnb House Rules: The Dos and Don’ts
Airbnb provides some suggested rules you may want to set in your listing. Here are some common house rules examples that many Airbnb hosts include in their listing pages:
- No loud noise after 11 pm
- No food or drinks in bedrooms
- No parties or events
- No smoking
- No pets / Pets allowed
The sky’s the limit, and you can add some more rules on top. Remember that writing a memoir of restrictive rules is among our list of renter’s sins. Keep your rules simple and specific, and don’t leave anything open for the interpretation.
You may tailor your house rules communication to the type of guests. For example, if you’re about to host a couple of millennials, it’s best to remind them of your “no-party-in-da-house” policy.
Tailoring your messages doesn’t mean writing all the time.
You have the right to set any rules you wish, but it’s important to consider the balance between protecting your properties and encouraging bookings. Set rules that demand reasonable behavior from your guests but make sure you demonstrate a sincere interest in providing a pleasant experience.
Remember that travelers are looking for a relaxing vacation and not a long list of dos and don’ts. Strive to be concise, clear, positive, and welcoming.
There’s so much you need to do and NOT do in the short-term rental business. We collected a list of worst Airbnb hosting blunders that you definitely want to avoid. Do yourself a favor and learn from the mistakes of others.
What to Include in Your Airbnb House Rules
What do you want your guests to know to give them a preview into your hosting style and set clear expectations about their stay? Here are some common topics you can address when creating your house rules for Airbnb.
Parking
Include any information about parking that is relevant to your guests. Specify where exactly your guests can park. If you have a parking space associated with your property, you should clearly define which space is theirs.
Off-limit areas
Even if you rent out the entire property, there might be some areas that you want your guests to avoid. Clearly outline which areas are off-limits to your guests so they can feel comfortable using the proper spaces.
Check-out
Make it clear to your guests that they must adhere to the set check-out time. That will allow you to plan everything after they leave your house and schedule the time for the cleaners to arrive.
Pets
Think about whether you allow pets on your property. Many people are traveling with their furry friends today, so it makes sense to consider making your Airbnb pet-friendly. That can help increase your bookings.
But there are also some cons to take into account. Pets are more likely to cause damage and mess to your living area, and your property might require extra cleaning. Besides, travelers with pet allergies won’t book your rental space.
Smoking
Whether you are a smoker or not, we recommend you seriously consider banning smoking at your rental property. The odor of smoking is extremely difficult to remove, and this could potentially turn away many future guests who don’t smoke. Unfortunately, you cannot impose a smoking fee.
Parties and events
Parties and gatherings are always associated with the risk of a loud noise that will drive your neighbors crazy and a mess that you want to avoid at all costs. That’s why adding the “no parties” rule to your house rules list is better.
Visitors
Think about if you’ll allow any extra visitors or not. Unregistered guests at your rental can be a burden, leading to more wear and tear on your property and increasing the risk of damage. But if you are fine with your guests bringing visitors along, limiting their number is still a good idea.
Noise
To avoid complaints from your neighbors, set rules against excessive noise. Emphasize that your guests must keep noise to a minimum, so they don’t disturb your neighbors, especially during nighttime hours.
Garbage and recycling
Many cities have specific rules in place regarding waste disposal and recycling. Make sure to include in your house rules the details on how your guests have to dispose of the garbage and where exactly they need to throw it out.
No shoes inside the house
This rule is a great way to keep your floors clean and reduce the amount of dirt and dust tracked in. It will help preserve your floors and carpets and significantly reduce your cleaning time and costs.
Airbnb House Rules Template
Hosts often ask for sample house rules for Airbnb guests. Time to put all that theory into practice! Here is a short Airbnb house rules template to help you get started.
When sending the rules, it’s better to personalize them. This gives a feeling of a welcoming message rather than a restrictive copy-paste. In the example below, we use short codes that help every message sent through Hospitable look genuine and personal.
Dear %guest_first_name%,
I am so happy you chose my %listing_type% for your trip. I hope you’ll make the most of this cozy home, its amenities, and your opportunity to relax and visit the surrounding area.
I would appreciate it if you took a moment to read these house rules at the beginning of your stay and follow them. If anything is unclear, please contact me so I can explain in further detail to avoid any misunderstandings.
I’ve put a lot of effort into making this %listing_type% into a lovely space. Please treat it with the same respect as you would do your own home. Please don’t rearrange our furniture, don’t eat in the bedroom, and clean the kitchen after you use it.
Make sure to turn off the lights, air conditioning, and any electronics when you leave the house. Don’t forget to close the windows and lock the door.
Our neighborhood is important to us, and most residents live here full-time. Please respect the community and try to avoid making loud noise between 11 pm and 8 am.
Smoking is not allowed inside the home, but you can smoke in outdoor areas such as the balcony.
Pets are welcome at our home, but please don’t let them up onto the furniture, especially sofas and beds.
Thank you in advance for being a super guest!
Cheers,
%host_first_name%
You can use this template for creating your own house rules, personalizing it to your property. Remember to include your house rules into your home guidebook.
Keep in mind that your rules may change over time, so if there is something that you consider super important, you should communicate it to your guests via messages.
How to Communicate Your House Rules to Renters?
First, make sure you’ve indicated your property’s restrictions in the Airbnb listing. Once a guest has booked your property, you should continue to communicate your requests with other messages such as Airbnb welcome letter.
As a rule of thumb, you should connect with your guest at the four touchpoints:
- pre-booking
- between booking and check-in
- during the stay
- after the stay
The first two phases are best to remind your guests about your Airbnb house rules. Don’t forget to mention the most important rule of all — have fun!
Lots of communication occasions
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Conclusion
Be selective when setting your house rules in the Airbnb listing and limit their number to the top 3-5 most important to you. You can communicate the other expectations during the pre-arrival phase and the check-in process. Besides, you can include other rules in the home manual you develop and refer your guests to it.
Be polite and try to phrase the house rules in a way that will resonate with your Airbnb guests. If you do it right, your guests will see your rules as an effort to create a great space that they will benefit from.
Keep learning. Making long and over-restricting house rules is one of the many horrible mistakes that Airbnb hosts make.
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Airbnb Welcome Letter: Tips and Templates
what if I tell you that you can win your guests before they arrive just by sending them an awesome Airbnb welcome letter?
A warm welcome letter will frame their opinion of your place and make a great first impression. It will show your guest that you care about them and their wishes.
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To avoid the worst mistakes that Airbnb hosts make