How to Handle an Overcrowding Situation

In December, we discussed how to prevent overcrowding in your vacation home. But what happens if you discover an overcrowding situation with your current guests? Read on for ROVH's tips to handle an overcrowding situation.

1. Communicate with your property management company. A day or two after arrival, or during the guests' stay, check in with your property management company. In addition to any issues with check-in, your property managers can advise if it seems that there are too many guests staying at your vacation home. Your resort staff and maintenance crews can keep an eye on your home and instances of overcrowding, too.

2. Talk to your guests. If an instance of overcrowding is brought to your attention, talk to your guests first. They may have a credible explanation for the apparent overcrowding. During the conversation, remind your guests of your Overcrowding Policy, agreed upon when your guests signed the Rental Agreement and Terms & Conditions.

3. Ask additional guests to leave. Kindly ask unregistered guests to vacate the premise, reminding them that their presence is a fire code violation. Your property management company or resort staff may need to supervise the departure to avoid property damage. In extreme circumstances, you may need to involve the police.

4. Wait it out. Some homeowners prefer to let additional guests stay in order to avoid negative online reviews or disruptive scenes to the resort. If your guests seem unlikely to cause significant property damage, this may be your best solution. Ensure you don't re-book these guests in the future!

5. Charge the guest. Your vacation home's Terms & Conditions should contain an Overcrowding Clause, such as: "The maximum occupancy of the cottage is 6. Exceeding this at any time without notification will result in an immediate charge on your damage deposit of $150 per person, and you may be asked to vacate the property immediately with no refund."  If your guests break this rule, feel free to charge their credit card.

Looking to re-book your vacation home more often? Check out ROVH's 3 tips for making your vacation home more attractive and 5 tips for welcoming your guest into your vacation home.