In the world of short-term rentals, it can happen that Airbnb travelers do not leave the premises at the end of their stay. This situation can be concerning for hosts who rely on income from their rental and who may have to decline other reservations due to the extended presence of guests. But what are the possible remedies in this type of situation? Our concierge agency in Le François, in Martinique, offers to break down the different options available to guests to manage this problem.
Obligations of travelers
When a traveler books accommodation on Airbnb, they agree to respect certain rules and leave the premises at the end of their stay. Generally, the length of stay is determined in advance and travelers are required to depart on the agreed date. However, it may happen that some travelers do not respect these obligations and decide to extend their stay without the consent of the host.
Guests’ recourses
If guests do not check out at the end of their stay, hosts have several options to resolve the situation. Here are some of the steps they can take:
Communicate with travelers
The first step is simply to communicate with travelers to remind them of the end date of their stay and ask them to leave, in accordance with the conditions they validated when booking. It's possible that travelers simply forgot the departure date or encountered unforeseen problems. In this case, a simple conversation may be enough to resolve the problem. Remember that during conflicts with tenants, kindness and diplomacy must be used to resolve the problems in the best possible conditions.
Involve Airbnb
If guests refuse to leave despite reminders and discussions, the host can contact Airbnb to report the situation. Airbnb has a team dedicated to resolving issues between hosts and guests. Airbnb's support team may contact guests to inform them of their obligation to leave and encourage them to follow the rules. This mediation on the part of Airbnb will naturally be welcome for you and a strong signal for tenants.
Involve the authorities
If guests still do not leave the premises despite Airbnb's intervention, the host may consider calling the authorities. In some cases, it may be necessary to call the police to enforce the rules and remove unwanted travelers. It is important to note that this option should be considered as a last resort and that it is best to attempt an amicable resolution before reaching this point. Note also that this type of situation is complex and varies greatly depending on the different contexts. The problem can then resolve itself or get bogged down, in which case you will have to be patient.
Preventing delicate situations with tenants
It is best to take preventive measures to avoid situations where travelers do not leave the premises at the end of their stay. Here are some tips to minimize risks:
Communicate the rules clearly from the start
When booking, it is important to clearly communicate the rules of your stay to travelers. This includes the end date of the stay, arrival and departure times, as well as any other rules specific to your accommodation. The clearer the rules are from the start, the less chance of misunderstandings.
Be vigilant during your stay
During the stay, it is important to stay in contact with travelers and ensure that they follow the rules. Do not hesitate to check in regularly and remind travelers of the end dates of their stay. This vigilance can dissuade travelers from extending their stay beyond the agreed date and, more generally, from exceeding the various limits set by the contract.
Use a rental contract
For additional protection, it may be helpful to use a rental agreement that specifies the rules and obligations of guests. This contract can be used as evidence in the event of a dispute and can facilitate resolution of the situation by involving Airbnb or the authorities if necessary.
Although the situation of travelers who do not leave the premises at the end of their stay can be concerning for Airbnb hosts, there are remedies to manage this problem. By clearly communicating the rules up front, remaining vigilant during the stay, and taking appropriate action if the rules are broken, hosts can minimize risks and prevent awkward situations. If there is a problem, it is important to contact Airbnb for assistance and, if necessary, involve local authorities to resolve the situation. However, as a short-term rental manager, our rental agency concierge at Le François can only underline the extreme rarity of such a situation. Although it can happen that tenants are still present on the premises after the end of the planned duration, this is most often a misunderstanding, a simple oversight or an unforeseen event on the part of the tenants. In any case, when this happens, in the majority of cases, the problem is resolved during the first discussions with the tenants.
