How to Write House Rules for a Short-Term Rental Guests Follow
Welcome Books · · 7 min read · By the Welcome Kit Pro team at PropKitCo
If you want to know how to write house rules for a short-term rental guests follow, the short answer is this: keep the list short, explain the reason behind each rule, and write it as a friendly, specific instruction. Then share those rules in several places guests actually look, from your listing to a sign by the trash cans, so nobody can say they missed them.
Most guests want to do the right thing. They just need to know what "right" looks like in your home. This guide walks you through the principles, the rules worth including, sample wording you can copy, and how to handle it when someone doesn't follow through.
Why guests ignore house rules and what makes them stick
Guests rarely break rules on purpose. Usually one of these things happened:
- The list was too long. Twenty-five rules read like fine print, so guests skim and miss the three that matter.
- The rule was vague. "Be respectful of neighbors" means different things to different people. "Quiet hours are 10 pm to 8 am" doesn't.
- There was no reason given. A rule with no "why" feels arbitrary and easy to bend.
- They saw it once, days ago. Rules buried in a listing description are long forgotten by check-in.
- The tone felt hostile. All caps and "NO" after "NO" put people on the defensive.
Rules stick when they're few, clear, explained, and repeated at the moment they apply. A trash rule works best when guests read it in the welcome book and again on a small sign by the bins.
How to write house rules for a short-term rental guests follow: 7 principles
- Keep it to 8 to 12 rules. If everything is a rule, nothing is. Move "how things work" details, like the thermostat, into a separate section.
- Be specific. Use times, numbers and places. "Maximum 6 guests, including children" beats "No extra guests."
- Give the reason in one short phrase. "Please park in the driveway only. The street is permit-only and cars get ticketed." People follow rules they understand.
- Lead with what to do, not just what not to do. "Please take shoes off at the door" reads warmer than "No shoes inside."
- Use a warm, plain voice. Write like you're talking to a friend staying at your place. Skip legal language and all caps.
- Put the most important rules first. Occupancy, parties, smoking and pets usually belong at the top.
- Mention consequences only for serious rules. A fee notice belongs next to smoking or unauthorized pets, not next to "please load the dishwasher."
Which house rules every short-term rental needs and which to skip
Every property is different, but most hosts cover the same core topics. Check your city or county rules too, since some local ordinances set occupancy limits, quiet hours or parking requirements that you'll want to reflect.
Rules most rentals need
- Maximum occupancy and whether visitors are allowed
- Parties and events
- Smoking and vaping (indoors and outdoors)
- Pets
- Quiet hours
- Parking
- Trash and recycling
- Check-in and check-out times
- Safety rules for pools, hot tubs, fire pits or balconies if you have them
Rules you can usually skip or move elsewhere
- Common-sense rules like "don't damage the furniture." They add length without changing behavior.
- Appliance instructions. Put these in a "how things work" section instead.
- Check-out chores. Keep these in their own short list. Our check-out instructions template has wording you can copy.
- Rules you won't enforce. If you'd never charge for it or mention it, it probably isn't a rule.
Sample house rules wording for noise, parking, trash, pets and parties
Adapt these to your home. Swap in your own times, spots and fees.
Noise
Quiet hours are 10 pm to 8 am. Our neighbors are families with early mornings, and sound carries from the deck, so please bring conversations inside after 10. Thanks for helping us stay good neighbors.
Parking
You have two spots in the driveway. Please don't park on the street or in front of the neighbor's mailbox. Street parking is permit-only and cars get ticketed or towed.
Trash and recycling
Trash goes in the black bin and recycling in the blue bin, both beside the garage. Bins go to the curb Tuesday night. If your stay includes a Tuesday, we'd be grateful if you rolled them out. Please bag all trash so animals stay out.
Pets
We welcome one dog under 40 pounds when it's included in your booking. Please keep pets off beds and furniture and pick up after them in the yard. Unregistered pets may result in an extra cleaning fee as listed in our booking terms.
Parties and events
No parties or events, and no guests beyond those on the reservation. This is a quiet residential street and the home is set up for up to 6 people. If you're planning a small gathering, message us first and we'll let you know what works.
Smoking
This is a smoke-free home, including vaping and cannabis. You're welcome to smoke at the end of the driveway, away from open windows. Smoke odor requires deep cleaning, so a cleaning fee applies if we find evidence of smoking inside.
Where to share house rules so guests read them: Airbnb, VRBO, welcome book and signage
Repetition is your friend. Each channel catches guests at a different moment.
| Where | When guests see it | What to include |
|---|---|---|
| Listing house rules section | Before booking | Deal-breakers: occupancy, pets, parties, smoking |
| Booking confirmation message | Right after booking | A short reminder of the top 3 to 5 rules |
| Pre-arrival message | A day or two before check-in | Parking, quiet hours and a link to your full guidebook |
| Welcome book (printed and digital) | During the stay | The full list with reasons |
| Small signs | At the moment the rule applies | One rule per sign: bins, hot tub, thermostat, parking |
Airbnb and VRBO each have their own house rules fields and settings, and these change over time. Check the Airbnb Help Center and VRBO's help pages for how to set them up on your listing. For message timing, our guest communication timeline shows when each reminder fits best.
Your welcome book is where the full rules live during the stay. A printed copy on the counter plus a mobile version guests can open on their phone covers both readers. If you're building one from scratch, see how to make an Airbnb welcome book. If you manage several homes, standardizing your welcome books across properties keeps rules consistent so guests and cleaners aren't confused.
Enforcing house rules: fees, deposits, reviews and platform policies
Good rules prevent most problems. When something still goes wrong, a calm, documented response works best.
A simple enforcement process
- Remind first. If a neighbor mentions noise, send a friendly message: "Just a heads-up that quiet hours start at 10. Thanks so much!" Most guests fix it right away.
- Document everything. Take dated photos of damage, smoke evidence or extra guests' belongings, and keep messages inside the booking platform.
- Use the platform's process for charges. Fees, deposits and damage claims work differently on each platform. Follow the steps in the platform's help center so your request is handled properly.
- Stay factual in reviews. If you leave a review about a rule issue, stick to what happened. Other hosts appreciate honesty, and a measured tone reflects well on you.
Fees and deposits
Only charge fees you've disclosed in advance, in the amount you disclosed. Listing them in your house rules and booking terms makes them easier to apply fairly. Keep fees tied to real costs, like a deep clean after smoking, rather than punishment.
Consider noise and occupancy monitoring carefully
Some hosts use noise sensors or exterior doorbell cameras. If you do, disclose them clearly and follow each platform's rules on devices, which you'll find in their help pages. Never place recording devices in private spaces.
Frequently asked questions
How many house rules should a short-term rental have?
Aim for 8 to 12 clear rules. Put the most important ones, like occupancy, parties, smoking and pets, at the top, and move appliance instructions into a separate section.
Should I explain the reason behind each house rule?
Yes, a short reason makes rules feel fair and easier to follow. One phrase is enough, such as "the street is permit-only and cars get ticketed."
Can I charge a guest for breaking a house rule?
You can generally request charges for fees you disclosed in advance or for damage, but the process depends on the platform. Check the Airbnb Help Center or VRBO's help pages, and keep photos and messages as documentation.
Where should I post house rules inside the rental?
Keep the full list in your welcome book, both printed and on a mobile guidebook link. Add small single-rule signs where they apply, like by the trash bins or hot tub.
Should house rules include the door code and WiFi password?
No, keep access details out of your public listing. Put door codes and WiFi passwords in your printed welcome book and private guidebook link only.
Next steps: put your house rules in a digital welcome book
Once your rules are written, the easiest way to keep them in front of guests is a welcome book they can hold and a guidebook they can open on their phone. Welcome Kit Pro turns your rental's address and house details, including house rules, parking, check-in and check-out, into a print-ready PDF, a live mobile guidebook and a QR code for the fridge or a welcome sign.
It also fills in nearby restaurants, things to do and essentials from your address, which you can review and change. When a rule changes, like new trash days or updated quiet hours, edits to the live guidebook republish right away, and printed QR codes keep working. It works on the web and the iPhone app, for Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com and direct bookings.
Your first welcome book is free. Create your first welcome book free and give your house rules a home guests will actually read.