How to Prevent Overcrowding in Your Vacation Home

It’s every vacation homeowner’s nightmare.  Despite all precautions, your guest invited a constant stream of unverified friends and family, and treated your vacation home like a party place.  Now you’re left with house damages, possible resort penalties, and suspicions about your next guests.

This vacation nightmare called “overcrowding” occurs when a guest exceeds the maximum occupancy rate at your vacation home.  Not only is this situation often prohibited in many resorts, more importantly it’s a safety hazard according to county fire codes.

Read on for tips to identify and prevent guests from overcrowding your vacation home.

1.    Recognize red flags.  Some guests do have legitimate concerns, but if your guests are asking these types of questions, it may be worth investigating for an overcrowding potential.

·         How many cars can we park?

·         Are there additional beds, towels, or other amenities?

·         Can family members of friends visit us?  (But we don’t know how many people are visiting or when.)

·         What are the security procedures to check into the community?  Are they strict on passes to get into the community?

2.    Ask for guest details in your Rental Agreement.  Require your guest to list names and ages of everyone in their party, including children.  If family or friends are visiting, ensure these individuals’ names, ages, and visit dates are included, too.  Beware of guests who try to avoid providing this information.  

3.    Include an Overcrowding Clause in your Terms & Conditions to protect your homeowner rights.

“I understand that the maximum occupancy number for [Your Vacation Home Name] is [Maximum Occupancy Number] guests and I will ensure this number is not exceeded at any time.  Should the size of the guest list be exceeded, I understand I am responsible for additional costs and the possibility of removal from the property.”

4.    Involve your property management company.  Communicate to your guest that your property management company may stop by to ensure their vacation home needs are met.  Gently remind guests that your property management company, as well as resort and maintenance employees, keep an eye on your home and report instances of overcrowding.  

5.    Decline the booking.  If you have serious concerns that the guest will overcrowd your vacation home, it’s better to move onto another guest than risk an overcrowding situation.

What happens if overcrowding occurs at your vacation home?  Stay tuned for ROVH's tips to handle an overcrowding situation.