House Rules & Compliance Basics for QLD Short Stays

Good house rules protect your property without scaring off bookings. The trick is being clear, consistent and realistic for holidaymakers—in plain Cairns English.

House rules that actually work

Guest limits & visitors — Max guests per booking. No unregistered overnights. Day visitors by prior approval only.
No parties or events — Quiet hours 10pm–7am. Please respect neighbours; sound carries in the tropics.
Smoking / vaping — No smoking inside. If allowed outside, use ashtray and keep doors closed.
Pets — Only if confirmed at booking. Keep off beds and pick up after your pup.
Parking & strata — Use your allocated bay only; no parking on lawns or common areas.
Balcony & pool safety — Supervise children; no glass outside; follow posted pool rules.
Rubbish & recycling — Bin night and sorting rules (posted in the kitchen note).
AC & humidity — Keep doors/windows closed with AC on; “Dry” mode helps in the wet.
Damage & breakages — Please report immediately so we can fix it for you and the next guest.

Guest onboarding: where to show rules

Listing — Put the short version under “House rules.”
Pre-arrival message — 3–5 bullet reminders plus parking diagram.
Digital guide — Full rules + map + rubbish/bulk pick-up notes.
In-home sign — One A4 “Welcome & House Essentials”—not a wall of text.

ID, bonds and problem prevention

Verified ID — Require platform-verified ID for the booker; decline third-party bookings.
Bond / deposit — A modest, clearly stated bond deters risky behaviour.
Neighbour line — Provide a number/message channel for quick noise or parking concerns.

Building, body corporate & local basics

Every building and area can be different. Read your body corporate by-laws, building signage and strata rules, and follow any local council requirements that apply to short stays. If you’re unsure, get a quick written confirmation from the manager—saves drama later.

Printed house rules next to keys and a welcome card — Short and friendly wins: guests actually read it—and you can enforce it.

Messaging templates (copy/paste)

Pre-arrival rules snippet: “Quick heads-up: quiet hours 10pm–7am, no parties, no smoking indoors, and please use your allocated park. Full details in the Welcome link. Shout if you need anything!”
Noise nudge: “Hi! A friendly reminder about quiet hours (10pm–7am). Please bring the volume down—neighbours can hear more than you think at night. Thanks heaps 🙏”
Visitor policy: “Just checking—overnight guests must be on the booking. Day visitors are fine with prior OK.”

Review protection & fairness

Keep rules aligned with the platform’s policies to avoid disputes.
Document issues with photos/time stamps; be polite, brief and factual.
If you charge from bond, show the line-items and receipts where possible.

Minimum stays, noise and your bottom line

Very short stays can attract party risk and chew through cleaning. Use 2–3 night minimums on weekends and event weeks, and keep single-night stays for mid-week gaps only. Protects neighbours and your net income.