Good house rules are short, calm and about what you need. Airbnb lets you pick standard rules and add your own. Use the standard boxes first. Put the rest in the additional rules, one line each, with the reason.
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| How many | 6 to 10 lines |
| Tone | A request with a reason |
| What must be in it | Quiet hours, guest number, smoking, pets, bins, check-out |
12 rules you can copy
Twelve rules you can copy for a UK holiday let on Airbnb, Vrbo and similar sites. Choose only the rules you will really enforce. Replace every [BRACKET] with a real fact.
Jump to: Noise and visitorsSmoking, pets and smellsCare for the houseArrival and leaving
- Quiet hoursQuiet hours are [TIME] to [TIME]. The walls are thin and the neighbours are [DESCRIBE, FOR EXAMPLE, A FAMILY WITH YOUNG CHILDREN] on both sides. Please keep voices low outside after that.
- Number of guestsPlease keep to [NUMBER] guests. The house is set up for [NUMBER]: beds, bedding and hot water.
- Parties and visitorsNo parties or events. [VISITORS: DAY VISITORS ARE WELCOME BY ARRANGEMENT / NOT ALLOWED.] Please message us first.
More examples, by situation
Smoking, pets and smells
- Smoking and vapingNo smoking or vaping inside. You are welcome to use [SPOT] outside, and there is an ashtray there.
- PetsPets: [WELCOME WITH LIMITS / NOT ALLOWED]. [IF WELCOME: Dogs only, please keep them off the beds and sofas and tell us how many are coming.]
- Candles and smellsPlease do not use [CANDLES / INCENSE / WOOD BURNER] without asking. [ADD IF TRUE: The smoke alarm is very sensitive.]
Care for the house
- ShoesPlease take your shoes off at the door. The [FLOOR / CARPET] is [MATERIAL] and shows every mark.
- BinsPlease leave the bins out on [DAY] for collection. The [COLOUR] bin is for [WHAT], and the [COLOUR] bin is for [WHAT]. There is a guide in the kitchen.
- If something breaksIf something breaks, tell us. Things happen. We would rather know than find out later.
Arrival and leaving
- Check-in and check-outCheck-in is from [TIME]. Check-out is by [TIME]. If you need a later check-out, ask. We will say yes when we can.
- Before you leaveBefore you leave, please close the windows, turn off the [HEATING / LIGHTS / HOT TUB], and lock the door. The key box code is on the card by the door.
- ParkingParking: [WHERE]. Please do not park [WHERE NOT]. It blocks [WHO OR WHAT].
Download these examples
The same text as this page, in one file, with the gaps ready to fill in.
What to avoid
- A wall of capitals or a list of fines. A rule with a reason is followed more often.
- Rules you cannot check or will not enforce, such as "no more than [NUMBER] showers".
- Anything that treats guests differently by who they are. Airbnb says additional rules must align with its terms and its Nondiscrimination Policy.
- Safety claims you cannot back up, such as "smoke alarms in every room", unless true.
- Rules in the listing that are not in the guidebook, or the other way round.
Official pages. Rules differ by country. Not legal advice: check the rules that apply to you.
- Airbnb Resource Centre: Setting helpful house rules. The page is dated 9 March 2023, so it may have changed. It says: "It's best to avoid overwhelming guests with too many rules", "All additional rules must align with Airbnb's policies and terms, including our terms of service and Nondiscrimination Policy" and "If a guest violates a house rule, your first step should be to communicate with the guest and try to resolve the issue directly." Read 5 October 2026.
- Airbnb Help Centre: Ground rules for home guests. The rules Airbnb sets for guests. It is a second page to read. Read 5 October 2026.
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What the paid pack adds
The rules above are free. The pack writes yours from your own notes.
Host Ops Pack
How it works: You paste your rough rules. It drafts calm house rules and a house manual from your own words, and lists what is missing. Works in ChatGPT, Claude or any chatbot. No install.
What you give it: Your own words: a guest review, your rough rules, your listing text.
What you get: Six skills. Guest Review Reply: a public reply that is true as it stands, optional sentences to add once a fix is real, a private to-do list, and a flag on any review that needs your judgement first. House Rules and Guidebook: the standard rule settings to choose, calm extra rules, and a house manual built only from what you wrote, with a list of what is missing. Also a listing rewriter, a listing audit, photo descriptions and a review pattern finder.
A real run: shouted rules in, calm house rules and a list of what is missing out
The rules it was given
PLEASE READ ENTIRE LISTING BEFORE BOOKING. Peaceful, clean, comfortable room with King size bed. TV with Roku (HBO, Hulu, Prime) Private Bathroom (not shared) down the hall. [...] NO DRUGS (INCLUDING MARIJUANA) OR EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL. YOU WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE IF YOU BREAK THIS RULE Last minute bookings welcome! TWO GUESTS MAX NO EXCEPTIONS. NO PETS. INPUT CORRECT # OF GUESTS WHEN INQUIRING OR BOOKING
Additional rules (paste as is)
- No drugs, including marijuana.
- No excessive drinking.
- Two guests maximum. Please enter the correct number of guests when you inquire or book.
- Guests who break the rules on drugs or drinking will be asked to leave.
Still needed (first four of eight)
- How do guests get in (key, lockbox, door code, or meet in person)?
- What are your check-in and checkout times, and what should guests do at checkout?
- What is the wifi network name and password?
- Where should guests park?
From the pack's own test 01 for House Rules and Guidebook (final run, 4 Oct 2026), on a public listing from Inside Airbnb data. The pack's checks were run by its makers; no host has used the output on a live listing yet.
One price, no subscription. Not made by or linked to any booking site.
What house rules can I set on Airbnb?
Airbnb's resource page lists standard rules in these areas: pets, events, smoking and vaping, quiet hours, check-in and check-out times, maximum number of guests, and commercial photography and filming. You can also write additional rules.
Can I enforce my additional rules?
Airbnb's page says any rule you choose from its list of standard house rules can be enforced. For your own additional rules, read Airbnb's page and its terms, and ask Airbnb if you are unsure. Do not promise a penalty in the text.
How many rules is too many?
Airbnb's page says it is best to avoid overwhelming guests with too many rules. Our rule of thumb is ten lines.
What should I do if a guest breaks a rule?
Airbnb says your first step should be to communicate with the guest and try to resolve it directly, and to contact Community Support if you cannot.
Questions people ask
What do I do with the [BRACKETS]?
Replace each one with a real fact. If you cannot, delete the line. Never leave a bracket in what you post.
Is a house rules page the same as a house manual?
No. Rules say what you ask of guests. A manual says how things work. Keep them separate and link them.
More
Sources
- Setting helpful house rules, read 5 October 2026
- Ground rules for home guests, read 5 October 2026