For many of us, staying at an Airbnb is a relatively new thing — after all, most of us have spent more time in hotels. So, although some differences are obvious (we typically stay in someone’s home or private space), does this mean we should behave differently? And do we have different responsibilities? In short, yes, the rules are a bit different, and consequently, this brings a few minor differences in what we need to do, too.
Here’s what you need to know.
Treat the home as if it were your own
Airbnb guests must understand that they are staying in someone’s home, not a motel, and treat it accordingly. Essentially, imagine you’re staying in a good friend’s home. If you’re staying with your besties, would you be happy to stain the carpets or furniture or leave a mess in the kitchen? Of course not. Similarly, do your best to adhere to any recycling rules to stay in everyone’s good books.
No unregistered guests
If you only take away one rule from this article, take away this one: only registered guests are allowed on the property. It is a basic courtesy to tell your host how many people will occupy the area. Unregistered guests can cause real problems by breaching local government rules and booking platform rules, creating additional noise, increasing the chances of breakages, leaving extra rubbish and creating additional cleaning expenses. Airbnb accommodation is not a party house and shouldn’t be treated like one.
Arrive and leave on time
Ensure you arrive after check-in time and not before, and always leave before checkout time. Arguably, this is a standard hotel rule. Still, it pays to remember that Airbnb accommodation often has same-day bookings that take considerable change-over time, so every minute of the day counts. And when you leave, contact the host and let them know. They’ll appreciate it.
Only bring approved pets
Pets should not be allowed unless they have been approved by the host beforehand. Hosts have good reasons to set their pet policy (noise, potential neighbourhood complaints, odour, possible damage), and these policies must be adhered to.
Leave all dirty laundry in the requested designated space
If your host requests that you leave all dirty towels in a basket or the bath, ensure you do. It’s doubtful you’ll be asked to strip the bed. Still, leaving all dirty towels in a designated area removes the guesswork for the cleaners and helps avoid unnecessary laundering — which is good for the environment.
Empty the fridge & bins
Guests should remove all food items from the fridge and kitchen area and place all rubbish in the outdoor bins. It’s a simple sign of respect that helps minimise cleaning time — and the less cleaning time, the less expense for everyone concerned. Think of it like IKEA: prices are cheap because customers have to do a little more.
Load or run the dishwasher
While Airbnb cleaners are capable of loading or running the dishwasher, this extends cleaning time, which, as mentioned, can add to the cleaning cost.
Return all furniture to its original position
Returning all furniture to its original position removes any confusion for cleaners who may not be familiar with the house. Again, this rule makes even more sense if you imagine that you’re staying at a friend’s home.
Report broken or missing objects
Unlike hotels with a seismic amount of supplies, the average Airbnb usually does not. So if you break two champagne glasses or snap the toilet seat, you’ll need to let the host know — immediately. Put it this way: if they’re left in the dark and guests arrive the day you check out, you could all make the situation highly stressful and difficult to remedy. Trust us — they’ll appreciate your honesty. After all, everyone makes mistakes; things break, life goes on. Also, depending on the booking platform, the host will likely receive compensation for any breakages anyway. So just let them know.
Wipe down kitchen surfaces
You don’t have to roll up your sleeves and get scrubbing, but wiping away basic food stains and crumbs helps everyone by keeping odours at bay, cockroaches and moths away — and again, you’ll make life easier for the cleaners.
Adhere to the smoking policy
Guests must understand if the property is for smoking or non-smoking, vaping or no vaping. Breaching the rules today is considered highly offensive no matter where you are, but Airbnbs are often located close to permanent residents who won’t appreciate breaches in neighbourhood rules.
No eating or drinking in bed
While this may sound a little Draconian for some hosts or guests, it’s not unusual that hosts request that guests don’t have meals in bed. It can save a lot of headaches. Last-minute discoveries of red wine stains, food stains and crumbs in all the wrong places can be unnecessarily stressful and time-consuming to remedy.
Turn off the A/C when leaving the building
Turning off the air conditioner when not required is a sign of respect — for both the host and the environment.
Take care of the keys
Keys must be returned to their original place, such as a safety deposit box, when guests leave. Failure to do so may involve a replacement cost.
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