Most house rules get ignored because they're written like legal notices. Here's how to write rules that guests respect — and that protect your property.
Open any holiday rental listing and scroll to the rules section. What you'll typically find is a list of prohibitions dressed up as a legal document:
"No parties or events. No smoking or vaping anywhere on the premises. No pets without prior written consent. No additional guests beyond the booked number. Guests are responsible for any and all damage. The property must be left in a clean and tidy condition. Failure to comply may result in forfeiture of the security deposit."
Every rule is a no. Every sentence implies distrust. There is no sense that the property owner has thought about the guest as a person — only as a potential liability.
The irony is that these rules are often completely ignored. Not out of malice, but because they feel like the terms and conditions nobody reads. Guests skim them to tick a box, retain nothing, and then are genuinely surprised when they're penalised for something they technically agreed to.
Good house rules are different. They're short, clear, written in plain language, and framed positively wherever possible. They anticipate the most common misunderstandings rather than trying to cover every conceivable scenario. And they're presented in a way that signals respect, not suspicion.
This guide will show you how to write house rules that actually work.
The vast majority of your guests will be decent, considerate people who have no intention of throwing a party or leaving your home in ruins. Most house rules are written to address the worst-case 5% — but in doing so, they alienate the 95%.
Write your rules for the kind of guests you actually get. Address the scenarios that actually come up. Save the punitive language for your terms and conditions (which you absolutely should have), and let your house rules be a guide for considerate people who want to know how to behave well.
Every rule you add reduces the chance that guests will read the ones before it. A list of five clear, specific rules will be read and remembered. A list of thirty rules — covering every conceivable scenario — will be scrolled past.
Ask yourself: what are the five things that, if guests got wrong, would genuinely cause a problem? Start there.
There's a meaningful difference between:
"No noise after 10pm."
and
"Please keep noise to a minimum after 10pm — our neighbours are a great part of what makes the village feel special."
Both communicate the same restriction. The second one does it in a way that feels human, explains the reason, and leaves the guest feeling like a neighbour rather than a suspect.
People comply more readily with rules when they understand why they exist. "No shoes in the house" is easy to ignore. "No shoes past the hallway — the floors are original Victorian tile and scratch easily" gives the guest a reason to care.
This doesn't mean explaining every rule at length. A single phrase — "to protect the floors," "out of consideration for neighbours," "for safety" — is usually enough.
Your rules should appear in your listing, in your booking confirmation, and in your welcome pack. The rules guests are most likely to forget — check-out time, quiet hours — should also appear in your final-night reminder message.
Repetition is not nagging. It's clarity.
This is the rule that causes the most friction when unclear. Be exact.
"Check-in is from 3pm. Check-out is by 10am. If you'd like to arrange an earlier arrival or later departure, please let us know in advance — we'll do our best to help."
If late check-out is genuinely possible (because you have flexibility on turnaround day), say so. If it isn't possible, say that too — but without sounding harsh. "Our cleaning team arrives at 10.30am, so we really do need the property clear by 10am" explains the constraint and makes guests feel like adults rather than children being told off.
Be specific about the number and who counts:
"The cottage sleeps a maximum of six guests. This includes any infants or children. Unregistered guests are not permitted to stay overnight."
If you allow day visitors (e.g. friends joining for a barbecue), say so and set any relevant parameters. If you don't, say that too. Ambiguity is where problems start.
If you allow pets:
"Well-behaved pets are welcome! Please keep dogs off the furniture and out of the bedrooms. A dog towel is provided in the boot room for muddy paws. Please ensure the garden gate is closed when letting dogs out."
If you don't:
"We're afraid we can't accept pets at [Property Name] — the property contains wool rugs and soft furnishings that are difficult to clean thoroughly. We appreciate your understanding."
Both versions are respectful and clear. Neither version is "No pets." Two words tells guests nothing except that you've not thought about them.
"[Property Name] is a non-smoking property. A designated smoking area is outside the garden gate. Please dispose of cigarette butts responsibly."
If there is genuinely no outdoor smoking option, say so. If there is, make it welcoming — providing an ashtray rather than grudging tolerance makes compliance more likely.
This requires careful phrasing:
"Please be mindful of noise levels, especially after 10pm — the village is peaceful and our neighbours are part of what makes it wonderful. We ask that music and gatherings stay inside after this time."
"[Property Name] isn't suited to large gatherings or parties. If you're planning a celebration and would like to chat about what's possible, please get in touch before booking."
The second version doesn't ban celebrations outright. It opens a conversation — which means groups with legitimate purposes (a family birthday dinner, a small anniversary gathering) will reach out rather than assume they can't stay.
"The BBQ is set up on the terrace and is ready to use. Please allow it to cool completely before covering it, and leave the grate clear for the next guests. Charcoal is provided in the shed."
"The wood burner is a focal point of the cottage. Please use the kindling and logs provided, and let the fire die out completely before going to bed. The guard must be in place when the fire is lit."
Practical and positive. Not a list of prohibitions.
Hot tub rules are some of the most commonly ignored — and the most consequential when broken:
"The hot tub is set to 38°C on arrival. Please shower before use and avoid bringing glass near the tub. Children under 5 should not use the hot tub due to temperature sensitivity. Please keep the cover on when not in use — it retains the heat overnight. We ask that guests do not adjust the chemicals in the tub."
UK guests in particular can be confused by different councils' recycling arrangements. Make this concrete:
"Recycling bins are in the utility room — blue lid for mixed recycling, green lid for glass, black sack for general waste. Bin collection day is Wednesday morning. Please put bins out on Tuesday evening."
This section often reads like an accusation. Reframe it:
"We don't expect you to leave the property spotless — our cleaning team takes care of that. We do ask that you:
- Load and run the dishwasher before leaving
- Put any used towels in the bath
- Bag up and leave rubbish in the bin store
- Lock all doors and windows
- Return keys to the key safe
That's all — thank you."
This version communicates the same expectations while making it clear you're not expecting guests to scrub the oven.
For a typical holiday cottage or apartment: one A4 page printed, or the equivalent in digital form.
For a complex property (hot tub, wood burner, boat, outdoor kitchen, multiple outbuildings): up to two pages, with clear sections.
If your rules are longer than two pages, you're either including information that belongs in the property guide (how to use the Aga) or you're covering scenarios so unlikely they'll never arise. Cut them.
Platforms like Airbnb, Booking.com, and VRBO all have a house rules section. Use clear, plain language here — guests are making a booking decision partly based on whether they feel comfortable staying with you.
Include a summary of the key rules: check-in/out times, maximum occupancy, pet policy, smoking policy. Not the full list — just the decisions guests need to have made before they arrive.
A printed copy of the house rules should be visible in the property. Not buried at the back of a manual, but on the kitchen table or in a visible folder.
Check-out time and the check-out checklist (not the full rules, just the practical points) should be restated in your check-out reminder the night before departure.
Your house rules are not your legally binding contract — they're a guide for guests during their stay. Your terms and conditions (or rental agreement, or damage deposit clause) are the legal protection.
Keep these separate:
Guests should sign or click-agree to the T&Cs at booking. The house rules should feel entirely different in tone — a welcome, not a warning.
The way you write your house rules tells guests a great deal about who you are as a host. Rules written in suspicion attract guests who resent them. Rules written with warmth and clarity attract guests who respond in kind.
Think of your house rules not as a defensive legal measure, but as the opening of a relationship. You're saying: here's how we'd like this to work, and here's why. We trust you, and we hope you'll treat our home accordingly.
That's the kind of rule guests actually follow.
LetPilot lets you store your house rules centrally, attach them to your digital check-in guide, and include them automatically in pre-arrival messages — so the right information reaches every guest without you having to remember to include it each time. Try LetPilot free at letpilot.co — no credit card required.