If you’re considering renting out your home on a short-term basis, it’s crucial to have a clear and concise short-term rental agreement in place. This agreement will help protect both you and your guests and can prevent any misunderstandings or disagreements down the road. In this blog post, we’ll discuss what should be included in a short-term rental agreement.

Host Tools provides an automated, unified calendar for short-term rental hosts, allowing you to seamlessly list on all major channels. Start your free trial today!

What is a Short-Term Rental Agreement?

A short-term rental agreement is a contract between a host and guest that outlines the terms of the rental arrangement. Short-term rental agreements can be used for a variety of purposes, including vacation rentals and corporate housing.

While the terms of these agreements will vary depending on the specific rental situation, they all typically include information on the length of stay, the nightly rate, and the rights and responsibilities of both parties. Having a short-term rental agreement in place can help to protect both hosts and guests by clearly outlining the terms of the arrangement.

What are the Benefits of Having a Short-Term Rental Agreement?

As a host, you might be wondering if it’s really necessary to use a vacation rental agreement. After all, doesn’t Airbnb or your chosen booking platform already have you covered?

While it’s true that these platforms do offer some protection for both hosts and guests, using a vacation rental agreement can provide even more peace of mind. Here are just a few reasons why:

1. It protects your property.

A vacation rental agreement sets out clear expectations for guests, which can help to prevent any damage to your property. Specifying things like the maximum number of people allowed to stay, quiet hours, and what is and isn’t included in the rental can save you a lot of headaches (and money) down the road.

2. It protects you from liability.

Including a clause in your vacation rental agreement that releases you from liability in case of accidents or injuries can save you a lot of legal trouble down the road.

3. It adds transparency.

You and your guests can discuss any points before putting them into writing. This can help to avoid misunderstandings later on.

4. It’s a legally binding document.

If there are any disputes, a vacation rental agreement can provide evidence of what was agreed upon—giving you a much better chance of winning in court if it ever comes to that.

5. It’s easy to create.

You don’t need to be a lawyer to write a vacation rental agreement—there are plenty of templates available online that you can use as a starting point. Once you have one, you can reuse it for all of your future bookings.

It’s important to note that a short-term rental agreement must be communicated to guests before they book your rental property. Be sure to include this information in your listing description, and consider adding it to your automated guest communications. You can upload the contract to a file-sharing site like dropbox and then include a link in your automated messages on Host Tools.

How to Create a Short-Term Rental Agreement

A short-term rental agreement will spell out the terms of the rental arrangement, including the length of the rental period, the price of the stay, and any other essential details. Having a short-term rental agreement in place will protect both you and your guests and help to avoid any misunderstandings down the road.

Here are ten items to include in your short-term rental agreement:

1. Details of the rental property: Include the address, number of bedrooms, and any other important information about the property.

2. Host and guest personal details:  Be sure to include both parties’ full name and contact information

3. Length of stay:  Include the check-in and check-out dates, as well as any early check-in or late check-out requirements.

4. Price: Outline the nightly rate

5. Maximum occupancy: Nobody wants unexpected guests, so be sure to specify the maximum number of people allowed to stay at the property.

6. Instructions for check-in and check-out: Include any special instructions for accessing the property, such as a keyless entry code or parking information.

7. Any additional fees: In addition to the nightly rate, be sure to specify any additional fees, such as cleaning fees or pet fees.

8. House rules: Include any rules or expectations you have for guests, such as no smoking or no parties.

9. Cancelation policy: Be clear about what your policy is for cancellations and whether or not you offer refunds.

10. Signatures from both parties: The agreement is not legally binding without the signatures of both the host and the guest.

A quick Google search or scan through Pinterest will reveal a variety of short-term rental agreement templates that you can use to create your own agreement. Be sure to tailor the agreement to fit your specific rental situation, and include any additional terms or conditions that you feel are important. Once you have created your contract, be sure to have both parties sign it before the start of the rental period.

Final Thoughts

Overall, having a short-term rental agreement is beneficial for both hosts and guests. It spells out the terms of the rental arrangement and helps to avoid any misunderstandings down the road.

When creating your agreement, be sure to include important details such as the length of stay, price, maximum occupancy, and any house rules or additional fees. Don’t forget to have both parties sign the agreement before the start of the rental period! By following this guide, you can create a short-term rental agreement that will protect both you and your guests.

Host Tools provides an automated, unified calendar for short-term rental hosts, allowing you to seamlessly list on all major channels. Start your free trial today!