Seven Layers of Vacation Rental Safety

Vacation rentals have opened up a whole new way to travel for people all over the world. Through platforms like Vrbo and Airbnb, travelers rent lofts, apartments, cottages, and ski chalets instead of a traditional hotel room. These options are very popular and can become a booming business for property owners. However, they come with their own set of risks to deal with. Property owners can take a well-rounded approach to guest and property safety by using Ooma’s pyramid chart, which displays the layers of vacation rental safety. They list the most important protections first and finish with insurance protection to top it all off.

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Here are the seven layers of safety according to Ooma:

• Access Control
• Life Safety Systems
• Perimeter Awareness
• Digital Protection
• Real-Time Monitoring
• Guest Education
• Liability Protection

Each layer comes with specific suggestions to implement safety precautions. Here’s the full list for property owners to check off:

1. Keyless entry system, cloud-based access control software, physical key hidden away, reset lock access
2. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, first aid kit, landline or VoIP service, fire code compliance, fire extinguishers
3. Outdoor cameras, outdoor lighting, smart doorbells, fencing, and gates
4. Secure Wi-Fi networks specific to guests, Wi-Fi password protection, and turn off unused smart devices
5. Noise monitoring, occupancy monitoring, utility monitoring, environmental monitoring
6. Guest safety guide, house rules, appliance instructions, emergency contacts, evacuation map
7. Vacation rental insurance, local compliance, document safety steps

Short-term rentals come with some unique risks that owners must account for. Property damage is common when inviting strangers to stay in your home. These can be mild accidents, like stains from spills, or major issues, like appliance and utility malfunctions and damage. If guests are injured, owners are liable and must be covered by insurance. Wi-Fi networks can leave guests vulnerable to identity theft, so they must be properly secured. Guests should be aware of house rules, but may abuse them anyway, so activities like noise and occupancy levels should be monitored. Rental homes might be vulnerable to theft and squatters, too.

The team offers additional tips for each layer of safety. They suggest providing easy-to-find first aid kits for guests, following all fire code compliance, setting up outdoor cameras and motion-activated lighting, smart doorbells, turning off unused smart devices, creating a guest rule book, posting an evacuation map and emergency contacts, and documenting each step you’ve taken to provide a safe guest experience.

On top of all this, vacation rental owners need to make sure they keep up on cleanliness and safety inspections. Guests should also be aware of hazards that could cause a slip and fall accident and make sure they’ve taken due diligence in securing their property. All of these steps can help property owners run a successful vacation rental business while keeping guests safe and the property in peak condition. All vacation rental owners can learn something from the team’s layered approach to vacation rental safety.