Space rental contract and certificate of insurance

Bookings
1

My space is an historic house that’s recently been restored. I currently have it listed for sale. Because it’s listed for sale, my insurance doesn’t cover me for business activities like filming and photo shoots so I ask guests to provide a certificate of insurance. I also ask them to sign a contract that explains house rules and address the certificate of insurance. I’ve never had a single complaint from anyone about this ask, even the small 2 hour photo shoots. Today was the first complaint and the woman was angry that I’d asked for this.

I mention this cio and the contract at first contact with every booking inquiry and send it out via docusign for signatures. Am I out of bounds on this? If I can’t get the certificate and contract, I can’t do rentals.

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3

You can have any requirements you choose, period. People that refuse can take their business elsewhere if they so prefer.

4

Don’t let one angry renter throw you off. We just had a guy try to (I think) scam us by getting angry that we “dismissed his call” and trying to use that to get us to lower the rate - we didn’t show a missed call on our end and it sounds like he’s just trying to work us over so we dropped the inquiry to be safe.

Even though we really need the money, it’s not worth the risk.
Anyone angry that you’re asking them to sign a contract and provide a COI is either:

  • Trying to do something they know they’ll get in trouble for ← 90% of the time
  • Accustomed to using anger and sensationalism as a price-negotiating tactic
  • Just generally naive or ignorant about renting space and quick to anger over perceived sleights
5

I am hosting for for few years already and have it in my rules to have a liability insurance and an agreement signed. Most participate and provide it, some cancel right away when they learn about it after booking, and some ask to wave it. I learned about the option to wave the insurance but instead have them sign a waver from their side that they are personally responsible for any damage or injury and also I increase the deposit they have to pay while they shoot, usually I double the deposit and they need to pay it at the day of the shoot and get it beck either at the end of the shoot or in 3 days depending the size of the shoot. The agreement provides for a walk-through prior and post to the shoot while both sides take pictures and video. This turns to be a good solution for everyone.

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