Post by High Priestess on Oct 1, 2015 13:47:51 GMT
Denise shared in SEpt 2015
Neighbor Asking for Detailed Information of Guests
I have a difficult neighbor in ________ who gets upset when anyone parks in front of the public street in front of her house. I have asked my guests to please avoid parking in front of her house, and most have. All of my guests have been quiet and extremely polite and wonderful. I just had one couple who smoked strong cigarettes outside of the unit (since smoking is prohibited inside). I got an email asking from this neighbor to please have the people smoke inside because the smoke was wafting into her house with her asthmatic kids and it was too hot for her to close the windows. I asked the guests to please try not to smoke anywhere near her house outside, apologized and gave them a Starbucks gift card for the trouble.
Today a guest parked in front of her house. Her husband wrote me a note asking for the names, age, race, number of guests, arrival & departure times, model and makes of the their cars for all guests. I find this outrageous, and wonder how others have dealt with touchy neighbors especially given all the news in the papers about cities cracking down on Airbnb and nightmare guest stories. Any suggestions on how to respond?
Deborah:
What your neighbor is asking for is, indeed, outrageous, but in my opinion the best way to respond is to not be outraged. I encourage hosts making neighbors feel that they are heard and valued, their needs understood and respected. So I would advocate a polite but firm response, along the lines of, "I understand that it upsets you when someone parks in front of your house, and I am quite willing to respond immediately to any such parking issues ---- feel free to call me/text me if this happens and I will ask my guest to move their car. However I cannot give you detailed information about all my guests as this would be a violation of their privacy, and also this information is not needed to resolve a parking issue. Please do let me know when you have any parking issues again, and as I said, I will get on it right away.
It may be difficult for guests to understand why it matters where they park or where on the sidewalk they smoke, but do try to highlight the importance of this for all guests. Continuing to give gifts (albeit perhaps with gritted teeth) to your neighbors may help prevent too many ruffled feathers.
Denise:
Good suggestions Deborah. Thanks as always for your reasoned and well-thought out responses to sticky situations.
Denise:
I wrote a polite email to the neighbors, asked the guests to move the car (which they already did). I brought over a cake to the neighbors. The neighbors still want to know when new guests are arriving and departing if "I am going to running a short-term rental in what is a residential neighborhood." They feel that is fair even though I asked them to contact me via text, cell phone or email if there is any parking or security issue.
Jordie:
I would politely tell them that you are happy to respond to any issues that arise but that notifying them of guest's comings and goings is beyond what is a reasonable request...perhaps try to get at what their underlying concern is...likely it is just that they want to know how often they can expect someone new might violate the parking rule. Again, assure them that you have everyone's contact info and if your neighbors call/text/write you, you will be able to take care of it right away. Perhaps you can put up a new sign or reminder somewhere to alert guests even MORE blatantly to the parking situation and let the neighbors know that you have done this? Just a few thoughts. Cheers!
Deborah:
It sounds like you made a valiant effort, Denise, to respect their concerns and try to smooth things over. Unfortunately, many people seem to view those doing short term rentals as people transgressing neighborhood social mores, or doing something illegal. In many places where short term rental regulations have not yet been passed, this demi-illegality can tempt neighbors to bully each other, which is really what you are experiencing. Which is why cities passing regulations that protect you and your business can be such a good thing.
I recommend continuing to politely say no, be polite but firm, you will not be giving the neighbors information about your guests' coming and going. It would be tempting to get sarcastic or snap at them but I would suggest trying to avoid that. It could result in an escalation of the situation .
Just wish them "good day" and then be off with a smart bye bye,, ....
Neighbor Asking for Detailed Information of Guests
I have a difficult neighbor in ________ who gets upset when anyone parks in front of the public street in front of her house. I have asked my guests to please avoid parking in front of her house, and most have. All of my guests have been quiet and extremely polite and wonderful. I just had one couple who smoked strong cigarettes outside of the unit (since smoking is prohibited inside). I got an email asking from this neighbor to please have the people smoke inside because the smoke was wafting into her house with her asthmatic kids and it was too hot for her to close the windows. I asked the guests to please try not to smoke anywhere near her house outside, apologized and gave them a Starbucks gift card for the trouble.
Today a guest parked in front of her house. Her husband wrote me a note asking for the names, age, race, number of guests, arrival & departure times, model and makes of the their cars for all guests. I find this outrageous, and wonder how others have dealt with touchy neighbors especially given all the news in the papers about cities cracking down on Airbnb and nightmare guest stories. Any suggestions on how to respond?
Deborah:
What your neighbor is asking for is, indeed, outrageous, but in my opinion the best way to respond is to not be outraged. I encourage hosts making neighbors feel that they are heard and valued, their needs understood and respected. So I would advocate a polite but firm response, along the lines of, "I understand that it upsets you when someone parks in front of your house, and I am quite willing to respond immediately to any such parking issues ---- feel free to call me/text me if this happens and I will ask my guest to move their car. However I cannot give you detailed information about all my guests as this would be a violation of their privacy, and also this information is not needed to resolve a parking issue. Please do let me know when you have any parking issues again, and as I said, I will get on it right away.
It may be difficult for guests to understand why it matters where they park or where on the sidewalk they smoke, but do try to highlight the importance of this for all guests. Continuing to give gifts (albeit perhaps with gritted teeth) to your neighbors may help prevent too many ruffled feathers.
Denise:
Good suggestions Deborah. Thanks as always for your reasoned and well-thought out responses to sticky situations.
Denise:
I wrote a polite email to the neighbors, asked the guests to move the car (which they already did). I brought over a cake to the neighbors. The neighbors still want to know when new guests are arriving and departing if "I am going to running a short-term rental in what is a residential neighborhood." They feel that is fair even though I asked them to contact me via text, cell phone or email if there is any parking or security issue.
Jordie:
I would politely tell them that you are happy to respond to any issues that arise but that notifying them of guest's comings and goings is beyond what is a reasonable request...perhaps try to get at what their underlying concern is...likely it is just that they want to know how often they can expect someone new might violate the parking rule. Again, assure them that you have everyone's contact info and if your neighbors call/text/write you, you will be able to take care of it right away. Perhaps you can put up a new sign or reminder somewhere to alert guests even MORE blatantly to the parking situation and let the neighbors know that you have done this? Just a few thoughts. Cheers!
Deborah:
It sounds like you made a valiant effort, Denise, to respect their concerns and try to smooth things over. Unfortunately, many people seem to view those doing short term rentals as people transgressing neighborhood social mores, or doing something illegal. In many places where short term rental regulations have not yet been passed, this demi-illegality can tempt neighbors to bully each other, which is really what you are experiencing. Which is why cities passing regulations that protect you and your business can be such a good thing.
I recommend continuing to politely say no, be polite but firm, you will not be giving the neighbors information about your guests' coming and going. It would be tempting to get sarcastic or snap at them but I would suggest trying to avoid that. It could result in an escalation of the situation .
Just wish them "good day" and then be off with a smart bye bye,, ....
