House rules guests actually read and follow

A list of thirty rules is read as hostility and followed by nobody. Eight to twelve clear rules, written as expectations rather than threats, get much higher compliance.

Cover the decisions, skip the obvious

Rules exist to settle genuine ambiguity: smoking, pets, parties and events, noise and quiet hours, maximum guests, visitors who are not staying overnight, parking, and what checkout looks like. You do not need a rule telling adults not to break the furniture.

Give the reason once

"Quiet from 10pm — the neighbours upstairs have young children" is followed far more reliably than "quiet hours 10pm–8am". One short reason turns a rule into a request between people.

Be specific about numbers and times

• Maximum guests: give the number, and say whether children count.
• Quiet hours: give both ends of the window.
• Visitors: say whether daytime visitors are allowed at all, and the cutoff.
• Checkout: give the time and the three or four things you actually want done.

Match the tone to your property

A family cottage reads well in a friendly tone. A city apartment with strict building regulations needs a professional one. A high-value property with a strict no-party policy is best served by firm but polite language — direct about consequences, never rude.

Put them where they will be seen

In the listing, in the pre-arrival message, and in the welcome guide. Rules a guest first sees on a frame in the hallway are rules they agreed to without knowing.