House rules for your vacation rental: what to include and how to write them

Has a guest ever told you "nobody told me"? It almost always happens with something you took for granted: no loud music at night, the pool closes at a certain hour, or visitors can't stay over. For a guest, what isn't written down doesn't exist.

House rules aren't a list of prohibitions meant to scare anyone off. They're clear agreements that protect your property, your neighbors and the guest's own stay. They matter even more when you live in the US and can't step in at 11 p.m. This guide shows what to include, how to write each rule and examples you can adapt.

Key Takeaways

• Write rules about what truly matters to you: capacity, noise, visitors, smoking, pets and shared areas.
• Write each rule as one short line, in a friendly tone, with the reason when it helps.
• Include the condo or gated community rules that affect guests, so they don't hear them first from the security guard.
• A few clear rules work better than a long list nobody reads.

Table of Contents

• Why house rules matter
• Which rules to include
• How to write them, with examples
• Publish and apply your rules on SimpleStay

Why house rules matter

A rule written before the booking is an agreement. The same rule announced on arrival feels like a surprise, and sometimes like a lack of respect.

They set expectations before booking

When the guest reads your rules before paying, they decide with information. If a group wants to celebrate a birthday and your rule says no parties, that group looks elsewhere and you avoid a bad night. Rules also filter.

They protect your relationship with the neighbors

If your property is in a building or a gated community, your guests are also other families' neighbors for a few days. A noise complaint or misuse of the shared pool can turn into a problem with the building administration. Noise pollution is one of the most common sources of friction in shared living, and your rules help prevent it.

Which rules to include

You don't need to cover every possible situation. Focus on the topics where a misunderstanding could cost you money, time or a good relationship with your neighbors.

The basics

• Capacity. How many people can sleep there, including children.
• Visitors. Whether they're allowed, until what time and whether they can use shared areas.
• Noise and quiet hours. From what time you ask guests to keep the volume down.
• Parties and events. Whether they're allowed or not.
• Smoking. Where it's allowed, if at all, including balconies and terraces.
• Pets. Whether they're welcome, which ones and under what conditions.
• Shared areas. Pool hours, gym use, assigned parking.

Details specific to the Dominican Republic

Some details are worth writing down in the Dominican Republic. If you have a generator or inverter, explain which appliances shouldn't be plugged in during an outage. If water comes from a cistern, ask for reasonable use. If the air conditioning uses a lot of power, ask guests to turn it off when they go out. If the gated community requires guests to be registered at the gate, say so in your rules so nobody is left waiting at the entrance.

How to write them, with examples

The way you write a rule changes how it's received. A warning-sign tone puts guests on the defensive. A host who explains works better.

Steps for writing each rule

1. Start with what is allowed. "You can use the pool from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m."
2. Be specific with numbers and times. "Maximum 4 guests" instead of "no large groups."
3. Explain the reason when it helps. "We ask for quiet from 10:00 p.m. because the building is residential."
4. One rule per line. If a rule needs a paragraph, it's probably two rules.
5. Read the list out loud. If it sounds like a scolding, soften it.

Examples you can adapt

Illustrative example. For an apartment in Santo Domingo:

"Welcome. These are our rules so your stay and the neighbors' days stay calm: maximum 3 guests. Visitors are welcome until 9:00 p.m., without pool access. Quiet hours start at 10:00 p.m. No smoking inside the apartment or on the balcony. No pets. If the power goes out, the inverter keeps the wifi, fans and lights on; please don't plug in the iron or the microwave during the outage."

For a villa in Las Terrenas you might add pool hours, a note that young children must be supervised near the water, and what to do with trash on collection days.

Publish and apply your rules on SimpleStay

The SimpleStay listing editor has a space for house rules, and guests see them on the listing page before booking. Capacity, check-in and check-out times and minimum stay have their own fields, so make sure your rules say the same thing.

Match your rules to how you accept bookings

If you approve each request, you can read the guest's message and clarify a rule before accepting. If you use Instant Book, your written rules are all the guest has, so they need to be complete. Once a booking exists, the Inbox opens so you can remind guests before arrival. Times are rules too; to set them well, read our guide on check-in and check-out times.

When a rule is broken

Talk first, calmly and in writing in the Inbox. Often the guest didn't read the rule or understood it differently. After the stay, you can review the guest and they review you, so record the facts without exaggerating. If there's damage or a serious situation, act according to what you agreed and talk to a lawyer if needed. This article is not legal advice.

Clear rules, calm stays

Good rules go unnoticed: the guest reads them, understands them and follows them without thinking. Write a few, keep them concrete and friendly, revise them when something goes wrong, and keep them consistent between the listing and your messages. No rule guarantees everything goes perfectly, but clear rules reduce misunderstandings.

When your rules are ready, publish your listing on SimpleStay. Every new listing gets a free trial of 30 days, or 7 days for listings located in the United States. After that it's US$50 a month per property, with 0% SimpleStay commission. Stripe processing, bank fees, currency conversion and taxes may apply separately.

List your property with a free trial

Frequently Asked Questions

What house rules should a vacation rental have?

The basics are capacity, visitors, quiet hours, parties and events, smoking, pets and use of shared areas. Add any condo or gated community rules that affect guests.

How do I write house rules without sounding unfriendly?

Start with what is allowed, use specific numbers and times, explain the reason when it helps and write one rule per line. Read the list out loud and soften anything that sounds like a scolding.

Where do guests see my house rules on SimpleStay?

On your listing page, before they book. You write the rules in the listing editor, alongside capacity, check-in and check-out times and minimum stay.

Should I include the building or community rules?

Yes, the ones that affect guests: pool hours, parking, registration at the gate or gym use. That way guests don't hear about them from building staff and arrive with the right information.

What should I do if a guest doesn't follow the rules?

Talk first, calmly and in writing in the Inbox. After the stay you can leave a review of the guest with concrete facts. If the situation is serious, talk to a lawyer.