Most house rules are written by hosts who have just had a bad experience. A guest smoked on the balcony, so now there’s a rule. A guest had an unauthorised party, so now there’s a rule. A guest left the back gate open, so now there’s a rule. Repeat this process over a few years and you end up with a document no guest will ever read in full.
Here’s how to write house rules that are actually effective.
Lead with the things that matter most
Not everything in your rules list deserves equal weight. Put your most important rules first — no smoking, maximum guest numbers, quiet hours — and let less critical items follow. Guests skim. Make sure the rules they absolutely must know appear before they lose interest.
Be specific, not vague
“Please respect the neighbours” means nothing. “Quiet hours are 10pm to 8am — our neighbours work early shifts and the walls are thin” means something. Specificity helps guests understand why a rule exists, which makes them far more likely to follow it.
The same applies to smoking: “No smoking anywhere on the property — including balconies and the front porch” is clear. “No smoking” raises questions about whether the balcony counts.
Keep the total list short
If you have more than eight rules, you almost certainly have some that aren’t really rules — they’re preferences or nice-to-haves. Cut them. Every item you add dilutes the attention guests give to the items that actually matter.
Tone matters
Rules written in a suspicious or aggressive tone (“DO NOT under any circumstances use the BBQ without permission”) create friction before a guest has done anything wrong. Write as if you’re leaving a note for a trusted friend who’s housesitting. “We’d ask that you…” is more effective than a list of prohibitions.
Separate rules from instructions
House rules are different from how-to instructions (“to use the dishwasher, press the Eco button…”). Keep them in separate sections of your guide. Mixing them creates a confusing document where guests can’t find either thing they’re looking for.
Good house rules protect your property and set the right expectations — without making guests feel like they’ve checked into a managed care facility.