Even though the rise in short-term rentals has truly changed the way that people travel, don’t be mistaken – this does not mean that the short-term rental market has not seen its fair share of difficulties.
Some localities have tried to raise taxes on properties that are used as short-term rentals, while certain homeowner associations or similar organizations have moved to ban rentals from their community completely.Â
Worst of all you, as a rental owner, may find yourself as a victim of disruptive renters who take advantage of your property. While there are strict rules and policies for renting through companies like Airbnb, oftentimes renters do not follow them.Â
Here are several tips:
Short-term rental owners often face disrespectful guests who disregard house rules and corporate policies, such as smoking, partying, and making excessive noise, which can cause damage to the property and upset neighbors. This puts owners in a difficult position as they may need to file insurance claims, repair damages, and provide evidence of renters’ responsibility.
To address these challenges, innovative companies like WYND have created solutions to protect short-term rental properties from bad renters. WYND’s Sentry is a monitoring device that can detect and identify cigarette smoke and excessive noise. With its sensor technology, owners can remotely monitor their property, proactively respond to unwanted disturbances, and use the reporting as evidence for incident claims.
When it comes to smoking in short-term rentals, owners are required to set guidelines for renters to follow, including whether smoking is permitted on the property. Sentry’s smoke detection technology can identify cigarette smoke, vape smoke, or marijuana smoke and notify owners in real-time. This allows owners to deal with the issue directly or collect evidence when making an insurance claim for damages.
Another rule that is often broken by renters is the “no parties” policy. Sentry’s noise-detecting feature alerts owners if it sounds like more than the registered number of guests are at the property. This can provide the necessary evidence to receive a payout from insurance and ensure the renter is removed from the platform for violating rules. Additionally, owners can use this feature to notify neighbors and preempt any complaints or further escalations.
Sentry is a game-changer for short-term rental owners, providing immediate and accurate results about noise and smoking to stop problems before they happen. It can also provide the required evidence needed to get paid by the insurance company and prove to the corporate platform that rules have been broken. With annual and monthly payment plans available, Sentry may become one of the best investments for short-term rental owners.
Rachel Jones is an award-winning writer and editor from Oklahoma City, OK. Her work has been published on influential sites, including Entrepreneur and International Business Times. She spent several years in property management and leasing, handling short-term rentals, student housing, and community rentals. Rachel is also experienced in staging and real estate photography. With a B.A. in English in her back pocket, Rachel combines her passion for property management with her storytelling ability to offer Airbnb hosts helpful advice as they monetize their homes.