Post by High Priestess on Oct 14, 2015 12:33:57 GMT
Surveillance camera issues
One of the biggest problems in renting out an entire space where you as the host do not also live, is that many guests will be dishonest, and either invite more people over to the place than you have stated you permit, (I recommend not allowing guest to bring ANY additional people over, who are not named and paid for in advance, including visitors or friends or other "guests") or will have a party or event at your home in violation of your no-parties rule. We have heard far,far too many stories of hosts saying "Two people booked but 8 people stayed there!" or "The guest booked for 4 people....my neighbors called the police and there were 20 people there having a party/wedding reception/etc."
Having that happen at your listing can not only cause problems at the listing, such as damage to your property, but could also quite possibly result in your neighbors getting so angry that they try to shut you down.
See this story as an example of a host whose neighbor shut him down (no more short term rentals) after an out of control party at his place:
globalhosting.freeforums.net/thread/757/london-apartment-trashed-airbnb-guest
As well, many cities are very much in the beginning stages of coming up with short term rental regulations, and all they need is ONE OR TWO stories of an out of control party at an Airbnb listing to decide to prohibit all short term rentals in the entire city. So your failure to control what happens at your own property could effect not only you, but potentially all the other short term rental hosts in your city.
HEnce, consider security cameras, which can help you monitor who is actually coming to your property, and deter guests from dishonesty or from parties. It is possible to put security cameras in common areas inside the property, but this is not recommended, as it can make guests feel uncomfortable. It's preferable to put security cameras outside, such as by the front door (so you can see who goes in, or at least, make your guests think you can see who goes in) or side door, back door, front driveway, etc.
One of the biggest problems in renting out an entire space where you as the host do not also live, is that many guests will be dishonest, and either invite more people over to the place than you have stated you permit, (I recommend not allowing guest to bring ANY additional people over, who are not named and paid for in advance, including visitors or friends or other "guests") or will have a party or event at your home in violation of your no-parties rule. We have heard far,far too many stories of hosts saying "Two people booked but 8 people stayed there!" or "The guest booked for 4 people....my neighbors called the police and there were 20 people there having a party/wedding reception/etc."
Having that happen at your listing can not only cause problems at the listing, such as damage to your property, but could also quite possibly result in your neighbors getting so angry that they try to shut you down.
See this story as an example of a host whose neighbor shut him down (no more short term rentals) after an out of control party at his place:
globalhosting.freeforums.net/thread/757/london-apartment-trashed-airbnb-guest
As well, many cities are very much in the beginning stages of coming up with short term rental regulations, and all they need is ONE OR TWO stories of an out of control party at an Airbnb listing to decide to prohibit all short term rentals in the entire city. So your failure to control what happens at your own property could effect not only you, but potentially all the other short term rental hosts in your city.
HEnce, consider security cameras, which can help you monitor who is actually coming to your property, and deter guests from dishonesty or from parties. It is possible to put security cameras in common areas inside the property, but this is not recommended, as it can make guests feel uncomfortable. It's preferable to put security cameras outside, such as by the front door (so you can see who goes in, or at least, make your guests think you can see who goes in) or side door, back door, front driveway, etc.