Top 7 Ways to Prevent your Airbnb guests from bringing extra visitors
Do you always struggle with guests bringing additional visitors to your property without informing you to avoid paying for an extra person? This is one of the most common challenges every rental owner struggles with while renting out their property. It's undeniably unacceptable and a massive pain point for hosts. If you had a similar experience before and are fed up with guests breaking the rules, we have listed some measures you can put into practice to ensure no uninvited guests on your property.
Why should you not allow additional visitors to your property?
Your property already has a particular maximum occupancy limit for a reason. If your property is built for a certain number of people, you need to stick to it as you don't want problems with the neighbors in terms of noise or pay additional utility bills, resources, and cleaning.
Some government and federal laws also state to register each person who visits your vacation rental in terms of unforeseen accidents or any disaster. If the unauthorized guest gets injured, they can easily sue you.
Ways to Prevent Your Airbnb Guests from Bringing Additional Visitors
There are different ways you can ensure that your property is devoid of additional visitors who are not paid for. We have segmented the essential tips into two categories: Before the guests arrive and During their stay for better convenience and implementation. Let's check them out.
Before the Guests Arrive
Before allowing your guests to your property, the first step is to make them aware of your policy concerning bringing unauthorized guests. Let's take a quick look at how you can do that.
1.State your Policy On Extra Visitors in your House Rules
Your house rules typically include the rules on noise, smoking, parties, pets, garbage, check-out time, parking, etc.
You also need to state the maximum occupancy limit of your property. If the reservation is for 4 people, there cannot be 6 guests during the stay.
Apart from Airbnb, you can also list your house rules on your vacation rental website. Visitors who book your property have to abide by these rules. This also makes them aware of penalties imposed if any of your house rules are broken.
2. Include Every Guest Name in the Rental Agreement
A rental agreement is necessary to protect both parties in case of any discrepancy or dispute.
Rental agreements always vary per host and business but usually cover the maximum occupancy limitations, minimum stay requirements, house rules, rental rates, additional fee information, and others.
Once the expected guests have arrived, ask them to always note down all the names of the occupants in the rental agreement. And this way, you will know who is staying on your property, and the guests will no longer be able to justify any unauthorized visitors to your property as per the rules.
3. Take a Deposit Beforehand
Once you have stated the rules and guidelines for additional guests on your property, you also need to add some impactful consequences that, when breached, can cause penalties.
A security deposit can be a great way to safeguard your property from any violation of rules.
You can take a certain amount of deposit which can range from some hundreds to thousands, from your travelers and return it to them by the end of their stay only if they have not breached any rules. This will more likely prevent your guests from bringing any additional or unauthorized visitors to the property, knowing they will be charged for it.
4. Include Additional or Unauthorized Guest Fees
If you allow additional guests, start charging a certain fee for the same. Airbnb allows you to add a fee for additional travelers to their listings. However, the fee cannot be applied once the guest has arrived at the property. This is another effective measure to make your upcoming guest always well aware of the charge for additional visitors.
During Their Stay
Apart from implementing the tips and guidelines mentioned above, there are still chances of unauthorized visitors sneaking into your property which can be detected using the following ways:
5. Install a Systematic Camera Surveillance
Installing a camera surveillance system outside the house, especially towards the entrance, will allow you to control who is entering and leaving your property.
Alongside, you can also include a smart doorbell with a camera which is usually installed in front doors that automatically notifies you through your smartphone about any guests entering through the door. You can see them live and even speak to them if you wish.
Needless to say, you should always disclose the presence of security cameras or smart doorbells on your front door to the guests, as this will put them away from bringing any extra guests to the property.
6. Take Help From Your Neighbours
Another incredible way to keep an eye on visitors is to ask your neighbors to be on guard. Offer them a schedule of your rental to help them understand whenever it is occupied with a certain number of people.
As soon as your neighbors spot any additional unauthorized visitors, they will give you a call, and you can take the necessary steps accordingly. This step is extremely beneficial, especially if you manage the property from another city, as having friendly relationships with neighbors is quite handy!
7. Report Them To Airbnb
If your guests have booked your rental through Airbnb and have breached the rules, you should always report them to Airbnb.
Ensure that you have all the evidence as required. You may want to take screenshots from the surveillance camera or have conversations between you and your travelers. You can also collect a report from your neighbors and use it as evidence.
Airbnb will open a case and take the necessary steps for the travelers by charging them an additional fee or taking away a part of their deposit.
Conclusion
There is no better way to handle unwanted visitors to your property. Make sure that your guests know all the rules regarding inviting unauthorized guests and pets before they book your rental property every time, as this will save you from the hassle later. Always take an assurance(security deposit) from their end, which can be leveraged later if they breach the rules. Either way, you need to do everything to keep your property safe and secure from any extra visitors. The first step to kickstart the process is to edit your policy, make it easy to understand and place it upfront on your website. By following these tips, you can finally prevent your guests from disrespecting your maximum occupancy and property rules.