Help > HOST

Yes – it’s 100% free to join and list as many accommodations as you like!

Hosts – we charge you 10% of the total price transacted through the site.
For example: if a Guest books 5 days at £100 the total price is £500. The fee on this booking is: £500 x %10 = £50.

Everyone needs a Profile! It’s your face in our community and allows Guests and Hosts to see who you are. It allows other members with similar interest to see what you’re about, what Groups you like, what Events you like and if you’re the kind of person they want to stay with, or have to stay. Your profile says a lot about you so make it speak about the real you!

Here’s Click here for our 5 step guide!

Good question. It’s very important you spend some time on this to get it right. The better the profile the more booking and the more suitable the guests that you have to stay. Here’s the answer.

Ideally, a kind and generous person, but ultimately someone with space to rent for you to lay your head! Anything is possible but the price must reflect the ‘space’ for it to be attractive to Guests.

Every Member has a profile – simply click the Add Accommodation button and fill in the details; such as Property Description, Property Photos, Price, Facilities – that kind of thing.

1. Register on the site
2. Add your Personal Details (Age, Interests etc)
3. Add an accommodation and become a Host!
4. Invite Friends to join you on the site.
5. Start accepting bookings!

Why? Here are 4 reasons, there maybe be more.

1. “Mates Rates”

If you have a property that you’d like to make a little money from to cover costs, but don’t want to offer it to the general public, then this might be the solution…
What are the advantages?
1. charging Mates is difficult but having a second home costs money. ‘Mates Rates’ make it a business proposition.
2. by ‘renting’ your property through a website your friends are more likely to respect your property as it feel more ‘official’.
3. as the site grows and you friends use it more regularly they will be reminded about your property as well. Therefore increasing bookings.
4. you don’t need to manage your own separate website and the associated costs.
5. you can make you Accommodation Profile public should your circumstances change.

2. Do it for Charity!

Charge your friends a nominal fee and give the money to charity…
In return, we will give 50% of the Host Fees made through ‘Private’ profiles to charity.
PLEASE LET US KNOW THAT YOU’RE DOING THIS AND WE”LL PAY OUR 10% CUT TO CHARITY AS WELL!

3. Free accommodation!

Your friends will still be charged the £3 | €4 | £5 Booking Fee but we will give the money to charity!

4. You Choose…

Target specific audiences with your ‘Badge’ by placing it on your blog or website and then take bookings from individually approved Guests

• MyFriendsHotel.com have implemented security measures to protect all of its members. However we do ask that you use your common sense!
• All bookings are made using PayPal which prevents fraud and ensures the traceability of all payments.
• Host and Guests are required to add personal details before a booking can be made.
• MyFriendsHotel.com provides the ability to communicate with Hosts / Guests, to view profiles, Guestbooks etc. Also, please use these facilities and also check other Social Profiles that a member might have – for example on LinkedIn.
(for more details about have to use this site safely click here).

That is entirely up to you and dependent on the quality of the property and service that you have to offer. Unlike Hotels private properties are all unique but then again so are expectations. Prices are pretty transparent on the internet so you won’t get away with charging over the odds. What is sure, the more competitively you price you property the more likely you are to receive bookings in these price sensitive times. And remember, if your property is ‘significantly not as described’ then you are likely to receive a negative review which will certainly have a detrimental impact on your accommodation profile.

To be featured on the Home Page you need some good quality images and have fully completed both your Accommodation and Personal Profiles (and added a clear photo of yourself). Whenever someone clicks on your accommodation photo on the Home Page, it directly links them to your Accommodation Profile. Remember, the better the photograph the more likely people are to click on it and photographs increase bookings by 400%!

There are a number of reasons why your property is not getting bookings and here are some steps you can take take to increase demand.
1. Increase the traffic to your Accommodation Profile by using the “Share this Property” links and post to Facebook, Twitter or Email your friends.
2. Increase the traffic to your Personal Profile by using the “Share this Property” links and post to Facebook, Twitter or Email your friends.
3. Use the HTML Badge (see next section) to promote your accommodation listing on your Blog or Website.
4. Reduce the cost of your accommodation listing.
5. Ensure that your Personal Profile is complete and that you are looking friendly in your photograph.
6. Make sure your Accommodation Profile is detailed and complete.
7. Check sure all photographs are great and that text is interesting and informative.
8. Please read the above section “How to write a great accommodation listing” to ensure that’s what you have!

Of course! The more the merrier.

Simple: My Profile > Edit Accommodation > Delete Accommodation
If you do decide to leave us it would be good to know why, so please drop us a line here.

This is a Profile Badge:

To find your profile badge please log into your account: LOG IN > MY ACCOUNT > EDIT PROFILE (scroll to bottom for HTML code).
This HTML code can be placed in any blog or website enabling our members to promote their property anywhere it suits them. It will help you to drive traffic to your Listing, to target specific audiences, such as local events, attractions or groups. It’s a great little tool if you use it correctly!

Of course you can – it’s your home, you make the rules! Be nice about it though as some people take rejection badly.

Absolutely! We recommend that you and your Guest are fully comfortable with the arrangements and with each other. Communication is central to happy Hosting!

You are renting out your private space so you must lay down the ground rules.
Rules might cover: Keys, Check Out (What time the leave), What to do with Sheets, Washing up, Access to the Fridge, Food (provided or not), Bed-time, Parties, Guests, Clothing…it’s could go on for ever but most people are polite and respectful.

You make the rules and on the whole Guests will respect them as long as they are well communicated and understood right form the start. Feel free to communicate ‘House Rules’ before confirming a booking to make sure Guests know what to expect. Obviously the lengthier and more draconian these rules the less likely they are to book with you!

As a Guest I would appreciate breakfast – even if it’s just bread and water! It’s asking a bit much for them to cater for breakfast and it’s not very friendly really is it? (Unless of course it’s a private rental in which case you would expect them the cater for themselves!) Use of the Kitchen / Fridge, well, that’s between you and your Guest. It’s best to discuss these things before the booking so it’s all clear on arrival.

You can choose to Accept or Decline the booking – the decision is yours.

The sooner the better to ensure that the Guest does not book elsewhere or indeed if you need to decline the request a prompt response will also be helpful.

Payments are handled through our online line booking system which is run by PayPal.

1. A booking is made by the Guest through the MyFriendsHotel website.
2. PayPal registers the booking and the Guest receives a Verification Code.
3. On arrival or during the stay the Guest gives the Verification Code to the Host which will allow the Host to access the Rental fee via PayPal.

The deposit, by the I mean money held against possible damages, is to be managed directly between the Host a Guest. We recommend that this requirement is detailed in the description section of your Property Profile and that it is handled at time of check-in. On your Accommodation profile you are able to indicate if a deposit is required or not. Managing the security deposit is at your discretion and to avoid confusion your individual ‘terms & conditions’ should be laid out in writing and agreed with your Guest PRIOR to confirming a booking. In addition, the guest would expect to receive a receipt stating the value of the deposit made. A hand written receipt is perfectly acceptable.

It increases security for Hosts and Guests. PayPal has access to all bank details should this be necessary.
It prevents unethical Hosts from exploiting member of this site as Guests do not have to entrust each individual Host with their money.
Guests are assured their money is secure until they have received the keys for their accommodation or have arrive at their Hosts house.
Hosts are guaranteed payment in accordance with our terms and conditions.
Any disputes are handled by MyFriendsHotel.com in accordance with our terms and conditions.

MyFriendsHotel.com is part of Second Parallel Ltd which has been trading since 2003 and these are our official details:

Data Protection Registration: Z1982972
Company Registration: 04852991
VAT Registration: 823759995
Address is: 37 Tonbridge Road, Maidstone, Kent, ME16 8SA, UK
© 2010 Second Parallel Ltd, trading as MyFriendsHotel

PAYPAL is a globally recognised, trusted and reliable.

Guests are protected against fraud.

All members bank details are held with PAYPAL and these records can be accessed if required.

These terms and conditions will be enforced for the benefit of all members.

GENERAL CANCELLATION TERMS

• A cancellation is only official once a confirmation email has been received from MyFriendsHotel.com.
• To make a cancellation go to ‘Booking Requests’ – if a confirmation email is not received please contact us here: Contact Us Subject: Cancellation.
• Booking Fees are non-refundable.
• Complaints by Host and / or Guest must be made to MyFriendsHotel.com with-in 24 hours of the incident. Where necessary MyFriendsHotel.com will mediate and all decisions are final.

CANCELLATION TERMS

1 DAY (‘Flexible’)

• 100% REFUND (MINUS FEES) UP TO 24 HOURS BEFORE ARRIVAL. 50% REFUND AFTER THAT. Conditions apply – see below.
• MORE THAN 24 HOURS NOTICE. Cancellation must be made 24 hours prior to 12:00AM (Hosts local time) on the day of check in. Ie: If Check-In is on a Saturday cancellation must be made Saturday 12:00AM – 24 hours = Thursday 12:00AM.
• LESS THAN 24 HOURS. Cancellation is less than 24 hours before arrival. The first night is still charged.
• AFTER ARRIVAL. A Guest decides to leave early. The 24 hours cancellation notice still applies. A full refund will be given for remaining days after.

5 DAYS (‘Moderate’)

• 100% REFUND (MINUS FEES) UP TO 5 DAY BEFORE ARRIVAL. 50% REFUND AFTER THAT. Conditions apply – see below.
• MORE THAN 5 DAYS NOTICE. Cancellation must be made a full 5 days prior to 12:00AM (Hosts local time) on the day of check in. Ie: If Check-In is on a Saturday cancellation must be made Saturday 12:00AM – 5 days = before Monday 12:00AM.
• LESS THAN 5 DAYS . A Guest cancels less than 5 days before arrival. The first night is still charged in full. Outstanding days are refunded at 50% of daily rate.
• AFTER ARRIVAL?. A Guest decides to leave early. A 24 hours cancellation notice still applies and a 50% refund is applied to the outstanding nights.

7 DAYS (‘Strict’)

• 50% REFUND (MINUS FEES) UP TO 7 DAYS BEFORE ARRIVAL. NO REFUND AFTER THAT. Condition apply – see below.
• 7 DAYS NOTICE OR MORE?. Cancellation must be made a full 7 days prior to 12:00AM (Hosts local time) on the day of check in. Ie: If Check-In is on a Saturday cancellation must be made Saturday 12:00AM – 7 days = before Saturday 12:00AM one week prior.
• LESS THAN 7 DAYS. A Guest cancels less than 7 days before arrival. The first night is still charged in full. Outstanding days are refunded at 50% of daily rate.
• AFTER ARRIVAL?. A Guest decides to leave early. A 24 hours cancellation notice still applies and a 50% refund is applied to the outstanding nights.

21 DAYS (‘Very Strict’)

• 50% REFUND (MINUS FEES) UP TO 21 DAYS BEFORE ARRIVAL. OTHERWISE NO REFUND. Condition apply – see below.

• 21 DAYS NOTICE OR MORE?. Cancellation must be made a full 21 days prior to 12:00AM (Hosts local time) on the day of check in. Ie: If Check-In is on a Saturday cancellation must be made Saturday 12:00AM – 21 days = before Saturday 12:00AM 3 weeks prior.
• LESS THAN 21 DAYS. There is NO refund.
• AFTER ARRIVAL?. There is NO refund.

Feedback is 100% genuine because the website only allows Hosts and Guests who have booked through the system to write in each others Guestbooks. Hosts will be reviewed by Guests and Guests will be reviewed by Hosts. Feedback is to help subsequent members so please, if things didn’t work out, then don’t make the comments personal. Maybe you just we’re meant to be together!