Hausregeln für Ferienwohnungen: So stellen Sie die richtigen Erwartungen ein (+Vorlage)

Protect your property and ensure your guests have a safe stay with our list of the most important vacation rental house rules.
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December 6, 2023
9
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Hausregeln für Ferienwohnungen: So stellen Sie die richtigen Erwartungen ein (+Vorlage)

You’ve probably heard some hosting horror stories like guests throwing parties that get out of hand or clogging up the plumbing and causing thousands of dollars in damage. While there are certainly some disrespectful guests out there, we believe that most people are considerate and will take good care of your property when asked. 

To set the right expectations, you need to create comprehensive vacation rental house rules that ensure you and your guests are aligned. While house rules vary from property to property, there are some main categories every host or property manager should include in their guidelines. 

To help you write your house rules, this article explains what house rules are, why they’re so important for vacation rentals, and what to include in your house rules. We then provide you with a customizable template so you can get started creating your own house rules in minutes. 

What are vacation rental house rules?

Vacation rental house rules are a set of guidelines hosts and property managers create to keep their guests and properties safe. They’re often shared before or upon check-in, informing the guests of rules about details like: 

  • Check-in and check-out times
  • Noise levels and extra guests policy
  • Occupancy limits
  • Cleanliness
  • Smoking 

Why are house rules important for vacation rentals?

While you may assume it’s common sense for guests not to throw parties or smoke in your unit, you can’t make any assumptions when it comes to guest behavior. “When people go on holiday, they tend to leave their common sense at home, so it’s important to remind them in a firm but friendly way what’s expected of them,” says Daniela Derin, Holiday Rental Manager at Skol Apartments Marbella

Even if their actions aren’t malicious, some of the guests you host may have little experience staying in short-term rentals, so being transparent about your house rules can help you prevent misunderstandings and preventable issues. 

House rules are so important for vacation rental properties because: 

  • They protect your property. From specific guidelines for using the jacuzzi to rules about maximum occupancy and parties, house rules help save your property from reckless and unintentionally harmful behavior. 
  • They protect your guests. Danielle, an Airbnb Superhost in Pensacola, Florida, states that her top house rules are “anything related to safety.” House rules can help protect your guests and neighbors from dangerous behavior and physical harm. 
  • They protect your homeowners. When you manage units for homeowners, they want to know their properties are in good hands. Having vacation rental house rules reassures them you have things under control. 
  • They protect you in the case of a guest dispute. You can’t claim your guests broke your house rules if you don’t have any. So if a guest throws an unauthorized party and you have proof, you can leverage your house rules to receive fair compensation to cover the damages and extra cleaning fees. 

What to include in your house rules

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to vacation rental house rules, and what you specify in your guidelines will be influenced by factors like property type, location, appliances, and amenities. 

To write your house rules, “start with the basics, take a look at your competitors' rules, and tweak them as needed,” recommends Dawn, a Superhost in Sierra Vista, Arizona. “I find it’s just best to be straightforward and firm in my delivery.”

With that in mind, here are five basic categories every host should include in their Airbnb house rules. 

Pro tip: Mike and Jane, Superhosts from England, “suggest you search for similar listings to yours in the locality and see what others feel are needed” to help inspire your house rules. 

Check-in and check-out time

“It’s very important to clearly specify check-in and check-out times—over the years, we’ve had some guests expecting to check out at midnight,” says Daniela. So, make your check-in and check-out policies clear within your house rules to maximize transparency. 

That way, you avoid misunderstandings and guests showing up to a property before it’s ready or a cleaner showing up to a unit that’s still full. Here’s an example of what you can say (including a possible upsell): 

Please note that check-in is after 3 p.m. and check-out is before 11 a.m. If you want to arrive early or need more time to get things together before leaving, reach out to us in advance to see if we can accommodate you.  

Rules about noise levels and parties

Misty, a Superhost in Burbank, California, lists noise levels as her top house rule. Depending on where your unit is located, you could face serious fines if guests get out of hand, not to mention disgruntled neighbors. 

“I received a $1,000 fine for just 6 guests talking too loud on a balcony at night,” says Misty. “Since then I had to make signs reminding guests of quiet hours. Double ask them [at the time of] booking that they realize how serious not being loud at night is…Noise is top priority.”

This ties right into guests hosting parties, which will almost inevitably lead to a noise issue. So be sure to include a line such as the following one in your house rules to make sure guests understand why they need to keep noise levels to a minimum: 

Don’t forget, we have neighbors! So please be respectful and keep the noise to a minimum, especially at night. Out of respect for neighbors and our property, we also ask that you don’t throw parties or organize unauthorized gatherings.

guests having an unauthorized party
Pro tip: Even if you include guidelines about noise levels and parties in your house rules, this doesn’t guarantee guests will comply. To keep an eye on what’s going on at your units, use a noise monitor like the Minut sensor. 

And let your guests know! If you inform guests within your house rules that you use a privacy-safe noise and occupancy monitor to ensure neighbors aren’t disturbed, they’re far less likely to create a problem.

Learn more.

Rules about occupancy

Be explicit about your occupancy rules to make sure guests are on the same page as you. There are a few details you should list when stating your occupancy rules to make sure guests understand what is and isn’t allowed. 

Huma, a Superhost in London, UK, states that her number one house rule is “no visitors without prior permission.” Guests may assume they can invite friends over during the day, but that may not be okay with you, so be transparent. 

Additionally, emphasize that only the number of guests who are included in the reservation are allowed to stay overnight at the property. Here’s an example of what you can say to make sure guests fully understand your maximum occupancy rules: 

Remember, only the amount of guests you’ve listed in your reservation are allowed to stay overnight at the property. If you want to invite other visitors during the day, please check with us ahead of time. This helps us adhere to local ordinances and ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable stay. 

Rules about cleanliness 

While we definitely don’t recommend requiring your guests to vacuum and clean the property before they leave, it’s a good idea to include a few lines about your expectations around cleanliness. 

For example, it’s fair to request they don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink or ask them to turn on the dishwasher before leaving. Additionally, depending on where your unit is located, local ordinances may have strict rules about separating trash and recycling, so make note of this to your guests and request that they sort their waste accordingly.

Here’s an example of what you can say to ensure guests meet your cleaning expectations: 

Don’t worry about stripping the beds before you leave. We just ask that you clean any dirty dishes. Also, our local government is strict about separating trash from recycling. So please dispose of your organic waste, plastic, paper, and glass in the corresponding bins (they’re clearly labeled to make this as easy as possible for you). 

Rules about smoking

We don’t have to remind you how much damage smoking can cause, so be upfront with your guests about what you do and don’t allow at your property. If smoking inside is strictly prohibited, maybe you can provide an outdoor area for guests to smoke if they please. 

“We realised years ago stopping people from smoking is a problem, so what we did in my villas is create smoking areas outside, put a table and some chairs,” says Sudsrung, a Superhost in Rawai, Thailand. “All our villas have pools, and we let people smoke around the pool.” 

So include a line or two like the following to make sure your guests are clear on your smoking policy: 

Smoking inside the property is strictly prohibited, even with the windows open. We do, however, allow guests to smoke in the backyard. We just ask that you use the ashtrays provided and dispose of the ash in the trash can provided.

The Minut sensor mounted on a ceiling detecting smoke
The Minut sensor detects cigarette smoke and alerts you instantly.
Pro tip: A guest breaking your house rules and smoking in your unit throughout the duration of their stay can mean serious damage and cleaning costs. Detect cigarette smoke the moment a guest lights up with the Minut sensor.

Learn more.

Other rules hosts and property managers often include

Your house rules will be unique to each property, so you may want to include more sections than the ones we listed above. Here are some other common house rules you can include: 

  • Rules about pets: Be clear if you have a no-pets policy as this can cause allergies for guests during future bookings.
  • Rules about children: Not every property is child-friendly, so if there are hazards for small children at your unit, tell your guests up-front (and make sure they know before booking). 
  • Rules about kitchen usage: Perhaps your stovetop needs to be wiped down with a certain product or your garbage disposal is finicky. Be sure to explain these things to your guests. 
  • Rules about supplies usage: If you have a stock of cleaning supplies specifically set aside for your cleaners, make sure guests know not to use it (and explain to them where they can find the supplies they can use). 
  • Rules about parking: Depending on where your property is located, guests parking incorrectly can result in disputes with neighbors or fines. So explain your parking guidelines clearly in your house rules. 

Vacation rental house rules customizable template

An infographic that has seven vacation rental house rules.
Protect your property by sharing these house rules with guests before their stay.

Hausordnung für [Name der Immobilie]

Willkommen in Ihrem zweiten Zuhause! Wir freuen uns, Sie bei uns begrüßen zu dürfen. Um sicherzustellen, dass Sie einen fantastischen Aufenthalt haben, nehmen Sie sich bitte einen Moment Zeit, um sich mit unseren Hausregeln vertraut zu machen.

Diese Richtlinien wurden entwickelt, um Ihre Erfahrung komfortabel, angenehm und sicher zu gestalten. Vielen Dank, dass Sie ein fantastischer Gast sind und uns helfen, eine sichere und einladende Umgebung für Ihre Mitreisenden, unsere Nachbarn und unsere nächsten Gäste zu schaffen.

1. An- und Abreisezeiten:

Nur zur Erinnerung: Der Check-in erfolgt nach [Uhrzeit angeben] und der Check-out vor [Uhrzeit angeben].

Wenn Sie früher anreisen möchten oder mehr Zeit benötigen, um die Dinge vor Ihrer Abreise zusammenzustellen, setzen Sie sich mit uns in Verbindung, um zu sehen, ob wir Sie unterbringen können.

2. Parken:

Um Bußgelder und Probleme mit Nachbarn zu vermeiden, bitten wir Sie, zu parken [Parkregeln angeben.] Bitte stellen Sie sicher, dass alle Fahrzeuge von der Ankunft bis zur Abreise in ausgewiesenen Bereichen geparkt sind.

3. Geräuschpegel und Partys:

Vergiss nicht, wir haben Nachbarn! Seien Sie also bitte respektvoll und halten Sie den Lärm auf ein Minimum, besonders in ruhigen Stunden, von [Stunden angeben] bis [Stunden angeben].

Aus Respekt vor den Nachbarn und unserem Eigentum bitten wir Sie auch, keine Partys zu veranstalten oder große Zusammenkünfte zu organisieren.

4. Belegung:

Die Maximalbelegung in dieser Einheit ist [Nummer angeben.] Denken Sie daran, dass nur die Anzahl der Gäste, die Sie in Ihrer Reservierung angegeben haben, in der Unterkunft übernachten darf.

Wenn Sie während des Tages andere Besucher einladen möchten, erkundigen Sie sich bitte im Voraus bei uns. Dies hilft uns, die örtlichen Vorschriften einzuhalten und sicherzustellen, dass alle einen sicheren und angenehmen Aufenthalt haben.

5. Haustiere:

Wir sind ein haustierfreundliches Ferienhaus, aber Gäste mit Haustieren müssen die folgenden Regeln beachten. [Bitte geben Sie die Richtlinien für Haustiere an.]

6. Sauberkeit:

Wir bitten Sie, während Ihres Aufenthalts für einen aufgeräumten Raum zu sorgen. Machen Sie sich keine Sorgen, dass Sie die Betten vor Ihrer Abreise ausziehen müssen. Wir bitten Sie lediglich, das schmutzige Geschirr, das sich in der Spüle befand, zu reinigen und den Geschirrspüler einzuschalten. Alles, was Sie bei Ihrer Abreise wissen müssen, finden Sie in unseren Anweisungen zum Check-out, die Sie in unserem Willkommensbuch finden.

Außerdem ist unsere lokale Regierung ziemlich streng, wenn es darum geht, Müll vom Recycling zu trennen. Bitte entsorgen Sie Ihren organischen Abfall, Plastik, Papier und Glas in den entsprechenden Behältern (sie sind beschriftet).

7. Rauchen:

Wir haben ein striktes Rauchverbot in der Unterkunft, auch wenn Sie die Fenster geöffnet haben. Wenn Sie gegen diese Regel verstoßen, wird Ihnen möglicherweise eine zusätzliche Gebühr zur Deckung der Reinigungskosten berechnet.

Wir erlauben Gästen jedoch, an den angegebenen Orten zu rauchen.] Wir bitten dich nur darum, [Richtlinien anzugeben].

Ergreifen Sie die richtigen Maßnahmen, um Ihr Eigentum zu schützen

„Was in den Hausregeln der einzelnen Unterkünfte steht, ist weniger wichtig als die Anforderung, dass die Gäste sie lesen und ihnen in irgendeiner Form zustimmen, BEVOR sie buchen“, betont Helen, ein Superhost aus Manchester, Vereinigtes Königreich. Egal, was Sie von Ihren Gästen verlangen, stellen Sie sicher, dass Ihre Regeln klar kommuniziert und vereinbart sind, lange bevor Sie einchecken.

Und obwohl Hausregeln Ihnen helfen können, Ihr Eigentum und Ihre Gäste zu schützen, müssen Sie robuste Präventivmaßnahmen ergreifen, um Ihr Eigentum umfassend zu schützen. Sicherheitsleistungen und Haftungsausschlüsse sind eine gute Idee, aber was ist, wenn der Schaden das übersteigt, was sie decken können? Hier kann das Minut-Gerät helfen.

Mit Funktionen wie Geräusch- und Belegungsüberwachung und Zigarettenraucherkennung warnt Sie der Minut-Sensor sofort, wenn ein Gast gegen eine Ihrer Hausregeln verstößt. Auf diese Weise kannst du die Situation angehen, bevor sie aus dem Ruder läuft oder ernsthafte Schäden verursacht, und du kannst als Notfallplan dienen, falls deine Hausregeln nicht eingehalten werden.