Help! Someone Threw A Party At My Airbnb!
BY MIKEL HUBBARD
FORMER HGTV PRODUCER | CO-FOUNDER, THE HOST CO |
OWNER, TIMES EIGHT PROPERTY & DESIGN
The biggest fear a host has is that someone is going to throw a rager at their home, wreck irreplaceable, expensive things, and disturb the community. Happy neighbors are the key to running a successful Airbnb and we couldn’t run our businesses without them, and even if your home is full of guest-safe items, it’s never fun to replace just about everything.
And yet, things happen. Here are our top tips for what to do if someone throws a party at your home, and also how to avoid it altogether!
REACH OUT FIRST
As soon as the complaint comes through, immediately call the guests and threaten their security deposit and an eviction from the property. This usually gets guests to straighten up and abandon their plans. Plus, they could get an expulsion from Airbnb which is the ultimate fear tactic to shutting the party down.
CALL THE COPS
If you can’t go over in-person to stop the party, feel free to call the cops on your own guests. Usually the threat of it is enough to get them to stop in their tracks, but actually doing it will definitely end things quickly.
GET A NOISE METER
Brands like Minut make a noise meter so you can track the sound levels at your Airbnb and warn guests quickly if they’re getting too loud. No party can survive a noise meter and get away with it, plus this also helps non-partying guests who get too loud and can disturb the neighbors.
ASK FOR OTHER GUESTS INFO
If you have a party-loving house (nice flex!) or if it’s located in an area like Palm Springs with strict noise ordinances, it’s a good idea to ask for contact info for all guests so you know who else to hold accountable and can reach out to someone else if the main guest isn’t answering their phone.
HAVE SOMEONE NEARBY WHO CAN COME
If you don’t live near your Airbnb, it can’t hurt to have someone you trust nearby who can scope things out, or would be willing to go to the door in person if needed. You can offer to pay them per visit for emergencies, or a nominal fee on an as-needed basis.
EXTERIOR SECURITY CAMERAS
Although you can’t and shouldn’t have cameras in an Airbnb, you can certainly have them on the exterior, and one pointed at the driveway should definitely let you know how many additional cars are there or allow you to see when people come in and out. If your camera talks, then you can speak to them in the moment and shoo unwanted guests away.
Got great party-halting tips? Share in the comments below!