Home Sharing and Short-Stay Hosting

Hosting is a small business inside a home. Before photos or prices, confirm that you are allowed to host and that your household agrees.

• Check three things: owner or landlord permission, building or society rules, and local registration, tax and safe-stay rules.
• Ask the household: noise, shared spaces, privacy, who cleans, who greets guests.
• Write a one-page go or no-go note with the rule you checked and the date.

Activity. Write your go or no-go note with three rules checked and one household agreement.

Standard to meet. Give each rule a source (document or office) and a date, and write no guess as a fact.

A listing wins when it fits a real guest: a worker on a short job, a family visiting relatives, a student on an exam trip.

• Read 10 public listings near you; record price per night, what is promised, and what guests praise or complain about.
• Pick one main guest type and write three needs (quiet, kitchen, near transport).
• Write a promise you can keep every time.

Activity. Build your table of 10 listings and your one-line promise.

Standard to meet. Show price with currency in the table, and write a promise that is specific and testable by a guest.

A pleasant stay is a safe stay. Safety items are not optional extras.

• Fit and test smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms where relevant; show exits; keep a first-aid box and emergency numbers on the wall.
• Check electrics, gas, locks, stairs, balcony rails and water heating; log the date and who checked.
• Protect guest privacy: tell guests about any cameras at the door and never place them inside rooms.

Activity. Complete the safety checklist for your space and attach photos of each fix.

Standard to meet. Check that all items pass, give every fix a date, and confirm there are no hidden cameras anywhere in guest areas.

Words and photos are a promise. Honest, bright and specific beats fancy.

• Title: place type, area, one benefit. Description: the first three lines answer who, where, what is included.
• Photos: daylight, tidy, each room, outside entrance, and the view from the bed. No editing that hides flaws.
• List house rules kindly and clearly: quiet hours, smoking, visitors, check-in and check-out.

Activity. Write the title, a 120-word description, a photo list of 12 shots and five house rules.

Standard to meet. Describe the stay so that a stranger can picture it, and promise nothing that you cannot deliver.

Price is not what you hope for; it is what covers cost, fits the market and leaves a margin.

• Costs per month: cleaning, laundry, power, water, internet, supplies, platform fee, tax, repairs, your time.
• Break-even nights = monthly cost divided by profit per night. Compare to realistic occupancy from your 10 listings.
• Use weekday, weekend and long-stay prices; review every two weeks.

Activity. Build a monthly sheet with all costs, three prices and break-even nights; write the currency next to every number.

Standard to meet. Calculate sheet totals correctly and compare break-even with real local occupancy.

Guests judge the whole journey, not only the room.

• Before: a welcome message, directions, check-in time, rules. During: a quick check-in message and one way to reach you. After: thanks, a review request and lost-items check.
• Self check-in must be secure: change codes every guest and never share master keys.
• A turnover checklist: strip, wash, clean, restock, test, photo, lock.

Activity. Write your four standard messages and a turnover checklist.

Standard to meet. Write polite messages, under 60 words each, that name one clear action.

Problems will happen. Fair, calm replies protect your name and the guest.

• Answer every review within two days: thank, state facts, say what you changed.
• For damage or disputes, keep dated photos and messages; use the platform process; stay respectful.
• Treat all guests equally; never refuse a guest for protected reasons such as race, faith or disability (check what your local rules protect), and never discriminate.

Activity. Write replies to two real or practice reviews and a one-page problem protocol.

Standard to meet. Write replies that are factual, polite and show a change; name in the protocol who does what within 24 hours.

Run a 30-day pilot and turn data into a better stay.

• Log nights booked, income, costs, guest scores and complaints.
• Fix the top 3 complaints; repeat what guests praise.
• Write a 90-day plan: price, calendar, upgrades, and one sustainability step such as saving water or helping a neighbour start hosting.

Activity. Present your pilot log and 90-day plan to your peer circle.

Standard to meet. Use real numbers with matching totals, and date three fixes and one improvement plan.

L1: learner can name the rooms, entrances and exits of a guest space and list five basic cleaning steps. Focus module: Is hosting right for you, and are you allowed? (Understand, 4 h). Hosting is a small business inside a home. Before photos or prices, confirm that you are allowed to host and that your household agrees. Key points: Check three things: owner or landlord permission, building or society rules, and local registration, tax and safe-stay rules. Ask the household: noise, shared spaces, privacy, who cleans, who greets guests. Write a one-page go or no-go note with the rule you checked and the date.

Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. A tenant in a flat finds the lease bans sub-letting. She writes to the owner, receives written permission for short room stays, files the paper, and only then takes photos. Go decision dated 3 March. Then set the activity: Write your go or no-go note with three rules checked and one household agreement. Mark against the standard: Give each rule a source (document or office) and a date, and write no guess as a fact. Check at this level: Name three checks before you list a home. Model answer: Permission (owner or landlord), building rules, and local registration, tax and safety rules.

L2: learner can say why registration and permission matter and can find the local rule. Focus module: Knowing your guest (Analyse, 5 h). A listing wins when it fits a real guest: a worker on a short job, a family visiting relatives, a student on an exam trip. Key points: Read 10 public listings near you; record price per night, what is promised, and what guests praise or complain about. Pick one main guest type and write three needs (quiet, kitchen, near transport). Write a promise you can keep every time.

Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. Ten listings near a hospital show most complaints are about noise and late check-in. The host chooses visiting relatives as guests and promises: quiet after 9 pm, self check-in from 2 pm, a kettle and a tea set. Then set the activity: Build your table of 10 listings and your one-line promise. Mark against the standard: Show price with currency in the table, and write a promise that is specific and testable by a guest. Check at this level: Why must cameras never be inside guest rooms? Model answer: It breaks privacy and is unlawful in many places and always a breach of trust; check the local rule, and use only a declared door camera outside.

L3: learner can complete a safety checklist and write an honest listing. Focus module: Safety first (Apply, 6 h). A pleasant stay is a safe stay. Safety items are not optional extras. Key points: Fit and test smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms where relevant; show exits; keep a first-aid box and emergency numbers on the wall. Check electrics, gas, locks, stairs, balcony rails and water heating; log the date and who checked. Protect guest privacy: tell guests about any cameras at the door and never place them inside rooms.

Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. A host tests the alarm on 5 May, finds a dead battery, replaces it and writes the new date on the checklist. A loose stair rail is tightened and photographed before the next guest. Then set the activity: Complete the safety checklist for your space and attach photos of each fix. Mark against the standard: Check that all items pass, give every fix a date, and confirm there are no hidden cameras anywhere in guest areas. Check at this level: Define break-even nights. Model answer: Monthly cost divided by profit per night, the nights you must book to cover cost.

L4: learner can host a full guest journey with messages and turnover. Focus module: The listing and honest photos (Create, 6 h). Words and photos are a promise. Honest, bright and specific beats fancy. Key points: Title: place type, area, one benefit. Description: the first three lines answer who, where, what is included. Photos: daylight, tidy, each room, outside entrance, and the view from the bed. No editing that hides flaws. List house rules kindly and clearly: quiet hours, smoking, visitors, check-in and check-out.

Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. Weak title: "Lovely home". Strong title: "Quiet room 8 minutes from the hospital, own bath, self check-in". The description ends with: "Street is busy until 8 pm; the room faces the garden." Then set the activity: Write the title, a 120-word description, a photo list of 12 shots and five house rules. Mark against the standard: Describe the stay so that a stranger can picture it, and promise nothing that you cannot deliver. Check at this level: Give two items on a safety checklist. Model answer: Smoke alarm tested, gas or electrics checked, first-aid box, exits shown, stair rails safe.

L5: learner can price by season, manage reviews and handle disputes. Focus module: Pricing and true profit (Evaluate, 6 h). Price is not what you hope for; it is what covers cost, fits the market and leaves a margin. Key points: Costs per month: cleaning, laundry, power, water, internet, supplies, platform fee, tax, repairs, your time. Break-even nights = monthly cost divided by profit per night. Compare to realistic occupancy from your 10 listings. Use weekday, weekend and long-stay prices; review every two weeks.

Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. Costs 18,000 INR a month; profit per night at 2,000 INR is 1,300 INR after cleaning. Break-even is 14 nights. The area average is 12 nights, so the host raises the long-stay discount carefully and watches for 30 days. Then set the activity: Build a monthly sheet with all costs, three prices and break-even nights; write the currency next to every number. Mark against the standard: Calculate sheet totals correctly and compare break-even with real local occupancy. Check at this level: What belongs in the first three lines of a listing? Model answer: Who the stay suits, where it is, and what is included.

L6: learner can manage several rooms, a cleaner and a calendar without double booking. Focus module: Reviews, problems and fairness (Evaluate, 5 h). Problems will happen. Fair, calm replies protect your name and the guest. Key points: Answer every review within two days: thank, state facts, say what you changed. For damage or disputes, keep dated photos and messages; use the platform process; stay respectful. Treat all guests equally; never refuse a guest for protected reasons such as race, faith or disability (check what your local rules protect), and never discriminate.

Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. A guest writes that the towels were thin. The host replies: "Thank you; we replaced the towels with new ones on 12 May." The next three reviews mention clean, soft towels. Then set the activity: Write replies to two real or practice reviews and a one-page problem protocol. Mark against the standard: Write replies that are factual, polite and show a change; name in the protocol who does what within 24 hours. Check at this level: How do you handle a poor review? Model answer: Reply within two days with thanks, facts and what you changed.

L7: learner can audit another host and teach the safety and fairness standard. Focus module: Pilot, measure and improve (Create, 6 h). Run a 30-day pilot and turn data into a better stay. Key points: Log nights booked, income, costs, guest scores and complaints. Fix the top 3 complaints; repeat what guests praise. Write a 90-day plan: price, calendar, upgrades, and one regeneration step such as water saving or helping a neighbour host.

Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. After 30 days: 11 nights booked, average score 4.6 of 5, top complaint is hard-to-find entrance. A sign and a new photo are added; the next 5 guests find it with no call. Then set the activity: Present your pilot log and 90-day plan to your peer circle. Mark against the standard: Use real numbers with matching totals, and date three fixes and one improvement plan. Check at this level: Why change door codes for every guest? Model answer: It keeps the home secure and guests safe.