Short-Term Rental House Rules: Mandatory Mentions and Practical Template

The house rules are the silent contract between you and each traveler. They set what is allowed, what is prohibited, and what happens in case of breach.

In short-term rentals (STR), this document is not just a formality to "look serious." It supports your claims with platforms, your exchanges with the building manager in co-ownership, and your insurance steps during damage. In 2026, a generic copy-paste set of rules does not protect; rules adapted to the accommodation and the building do.

This article lists useful mentions (mandatory or strongly recommended), proposes a template structure, and explains how to integrate it into your welcome book and your daily operations.

In Brief

STR house rules complement platform conditions by specifying maximum occupancy, silence rules, party prohibition, co-ownership constraints, and proportionate sanctions. Have the document accepted by a timestamped click before sending access codes: this proof will be useful in case of a dispute. Structure it into eight short blocks (five to ten lines each) and version it ("Rules v2026-06"). Integrate it as the first section of the digital guide and simultaneously align the listing, platform, and co-ownership.

House Rules vs. Platform Conditions vs. Lease

Three distinct layers:

1. Airbnb / Booking General Terms: Cancellation policy, platform community rules
2. Host House Rules: Specific rules for your property and your building
3. Lease or Rental Agreement (long stays): Rare in classic STR, but exists in mobility

House rules complement the platform. They can notably prohibit parties, even if the platform does not specify it in your listing; set the silence hours imposed by the co-ownership; and detail the use of parking and common equipment.

They must remain proportionate and applicable. Prohibiting "all activity" without precision makes the document fragile in a dispute.

Strongly Recommended Mentions in 2026

Occupancy and Identity

Specify the maximum number of travelers (adults and children). Prohibit subletting or hosting undeclared persons. Remind them of the obligation to present an ID if required by law (guest register).

Hours and Noise Nuisance

Indicate the silence periods (often 10 PM-8 AM in co-ownership). Prohibit parties and events. Detail television / music instructions and the use of common areas.

Cross-reference with noise and neighborhood for technical measures (sensors, automatic messages).

Smoking and Pets

Define your tobacco policy (indoors prohibited in principle). Specify your pet policy: prohibited, accepted with a supplement, or case-by-case — aligned with the listing.

Common Areas and Co-ownership

In collective buildings, take up the sensitive points from our co-ownership and STR guide: behavior in elevators and halls, trash and sorting, visitor parking, and host or concierge on-call number.

Safety and Equipment

Prohibit polishers on unprotected parquet. Specify barbecue use (balcony, garden). Mention pool or spa if applicable. Remind them of heating and energy-saving instructions.

Departure and Inventory

Set the check-out time. Detail expectations for dishes, trash, and linen. Remind them of the return of keys and codes. Provide for extra cleaning fees in case of non-compliance.

|> Take Action — Integrate your rules into a Majordia guide or create your account.

Sanctions and Consequences: Writing Without Abusing

The rules can provide for a deposit withholding or billing of fees (cleaning, replacement), an eviction of the traveler in case of a serious breach (with platform assistance), or a report to the building manager or law enforcement if necessary.

Avoid unreasonable penalties (€500 per minute of delay) which can be reclassified as unfair clauses. Align with actual amounts: reinforced cleaning, replacement of torn-off detector, etc. — see also deposit and damage.

Practical Template: 8-Block Structure

Here is a reusable skeleton to personalize:

1. Purpose and acceptance
2. Maximum occupancy and use of the accommodation
3. Quiet, neighborhood, and hours
4. Common areas and co-ownership
5. Pets, smoking, parties
6. Safety, equipment, waste
7. Arrival, departure, keys
8. Breaches and emergency contact

Each block is 5-10 lines long, clear, without excessive legal jargon. Version the document ("Rules v2026-06") and archive old versions.

Integrating Rules into the Guest Journey

Rules hidden in a PDF attachment are useless. Effective journey:

1. Listing: Essential rules visible (no parties, max 4 people)
2. Confirmation Message: Link to full guide
3. D-1: Silence hours + trash reminder
4. Check-in: QR code to guide with rules section at the top
5. During stay: Automatic reminder if noise sensor trips or neighbor messages

The digital Airbnb welcome book on Majordia allows placing the rules in the first section, multilingual if needed. The AI Majordomo (Individual and Pro plans only, not on the Lite plan) answers questions like "Can I have friends over at 11 PM?" based on your rules. Individual plan: up to 4 properties; Pro plan: 5 properties and more.

House Rules and Co-ownership: Mandatory Consistency

If the General Meeting or co-ownership rules impose constraints, your guest house rules must reflect them — otherwise, you are promising travelers a right you cannot keep. Example: if the building prohibits pool access to short-term tenants, do not leave the pool as a hero photo without mention.

In case of conflict between co-ownership rules and the listing, the listing and the guide must be updated before the next booking.

Translations and International Audiences

International travelers sometimes ignore French customs (meal times, Sunday silence in rural areas). Offer the rules in English at a minimum; Majordia facilitates multilingual in the guide. Visual icons (trash, silence, non-smoking) complement the text.

Updates and Proof in Case of Dispute

Keep the version of the rules in effect on the date of each booking, the trace of acceptance (guide log, message, checkbox), and photos in case of a breach (party, damage).

For serious incidents, cross-reference with the stay incident protocol and contact /support if you use Majordia to document exchanges.

House Rules Errors to Avoid in 2026

1. Rules too long (no one reads 12 pages).
2. Contradictory rules between listing and guide.
3. No mention of co-ownership in collective buildings.
4. Sanctions out of proportion with the actual harm.
5. No dated version or tracked acceptance.
6. Forgetting to remind of the rules after booking (D-1, check-in).

Examples of Clear Wording (to Adapt)

Occupancy: "The accommodation is rented for a maximum of 4 registered persons. Any additional undeclared person may lead to immediate termination of the stay without refund, in accordance with platform conditions."

Silence: "Between 10 PM and 8 AM, we ask to limit footsteps, conversations, and music, out of respect for neighbors and co-ownership rules. Parties and events are prohibited."

Departure: "On the day of departure, please vacate the accommodation by 11 AM, start the dishwasher if used, take out the trash according to guide instructions, and lock the front door."

Co-ownership: "You are staying in a residential building. Please limit noise in common areas, respect trash sorting hours, and contact the on-call number in case of a problem with a neighbor."

Pets: "Pets are not accepted, unless prior written agreement is given. Any undeclared pet may lead to additional cleaning fees."

These wordings are templates: have them reviewed if your activity exceeds a certain volume or if you are in a tight co-ownership.

House Rules and Platforms: Policy Consistency

On Airbnb, the house policy and accommodation rules must reflect your house rules. On Booking, property conditions play the same role.

A discrepancy creates disputes where the traveler claims "it was not indicated on the booking." Update simultaneously listing, platform, and guide during a change: pet policy (allowed, prohibited, supplement), silence time and party prohibition, parking rules and common areas in co-ownership, maximum number of travelers per property.

In case of a negative review related to a breach of rules, a timestamped acceptance of the rules strengthens your public response and your request for removal if the comment is unfair.

Link with Administrative Compliance

House rules do not replace the guest register or town hall declarations. They do, however, strengthen your image as a responsible landlord — useful in discussions with the building manager and in case of a check.

Documents to keep with each version of the rules: screenshot of the listing aligned with the rules, traveler acceptance log (guide or platform), dated photos in case of a noticed breach, correspondence with the building manager if an incident affects the co-ownership, and history of STR house rules versions archived by date.

Tool rates: /pricing. Personalized exchange: /visio.

FAQ

STR House Rules: Are they mandatory in France?

Not always legally imposed in the same way as the register, but strongly recommended; some cities or co-ownerships impose equivalents via orders or GMs.

Can I refuse a traveler who has not read the rules?

You can condition access to codes on acceptance; in case of violation after entry, apply platform rules and your document.

Can parties be prohibited even if the listing doesn't say so?

House rules can specify a prohibition; the listing should be aligned to avoid bad surprises at booking.

How to have rules accepted by Airbnb groups?

Send the guide to the booker and remind them that the entire group is responsible; add a D-0 message on the neighborhood.

Is a paper PDF enough?

Better than nothing; digital with acceptance trace is superior for proof and instant updates.

Does Majordia host my house rules?

Yes, in the guide per property; features, /contact for setup.

Conclusion: Effective STR house rules are short, consistent with your co-ownership and listing, and integrated into the guest journey via a digital guide. Version, have accepted, and align your sanctions with real facts — you will gain peace of mind with neighbors and platforms.

Adapt Rules to Each Property Type

A studio in a Parisian co-ownership and a house with a garden in the province do not call for the same rules. For the studio, insist on the neighborhood, silence hours, and the use of common areas. For the house, detail the garden, barbecue, parking, and trash. Generic copy-paste rules leave gray areas that the traveler will interpret at their convenience.

Keep Rules Alive After Acceptance

Initial acceptance is not enough. Remind of essential rules at D-1 (silence, trash, number of people) and integrate them into your guide consulted during the stay. The AI Majordomo can answer last-minute questions based on your rules, which avoids contradictory messages between team members.

Use Rules as a Mediation Tool

In case of a neighbor complaint or platform report, clear, accepted, and versioned rules give you a factual basis for your response. You do not defend yourself in an emotional tone: you show that the rules were known, accepted, and reminded. This professional posture carries weight in exchanges with the building manager and OTA support.