Host Guidelines
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HOST PROTOCOL
Practical Standards for Professional Hosting
Hosting is more than renting a room—it’s providing a service and an experience. Core practices from established hospitality industries (such as hotel management) exist for a reason: they create consistency, reliability, and trust. Guests rely on these standards to feel secure in their booking and confident in your professionalism.
While OHK understands this is your home and comfort matters, running a hosting business requires reasonable adjustments to meet guest expectations. Our guidelines exist to support you in achieving that level of care.
Host Communication
As a host, you are effectively a business owner and manager. Professional communication helps maintain trust and solve issues efficiently.
Best practices include:
• Respond promptly to inquiries and concerns.
• Provide solutions, not blame.
• Offer clear, helpful information.
• Resolve issues without charging guests for normal wear and tear.
Broken items like a glass, dish, or malfunctioning appliance are considered part of doing business. Higher-quality items typically reduce these issues.
Exceptions: In cases where a guest deliberately damages property, compensation may be required. This can be evaluated case by case through insurance policies or deposits.
Note: Membership confirms that you’ve reviewed and agree to OHK hosting guidelines and our Terms & Conditions. These outline what’s expected to ensure consistency and a great guest experience—please read them carefully before creating a listing.
FULL SPACE ACCESS CLAUSE
Apartment Rentals (separate rentals, not attached to a house with shared spaces)
Full Access to the Advertised Space
Hosts must provide guests access to the entire property as advertised in the listing.
If a listing states that the guest is booking an entire apartment, house, or unit, the guest must be given full use of all rooms and areas within that unit.
Hosts may not:
• lock bedrooms, (if only 2 guests are renting a 3 bedroom, they can use all the bedrooms)
• remove amenities, furniture, or appliances (stated in the listing)
If the host wishes to limit access to certain areas, being used for storage this must be:
1. Stated in the listing description,
2. Shown in the photos (clearly marked), and
3. Confirmed with the guest
Update listings accordingly if items have changed; guests have an expectation based upon the listing information. Any undisclosed restriction added after booking is considered out of compliance with OHK standards and may result in listing removal.
Listing Detail Guide Document:
The PDF document provides a comprehensive guide to the various details and options that may be available for your listing, listers are required to use this guide with all the details necessary to be included, so PLEASE USE THIS SAMPLE GUIDE when creating your listing.
“Know the address, meet the owner, visit the property, verify photos, feel confident— before you pay.”
There's a pool or gym?- check it out!
OHK believes Owner Protection, is important, so there's value in meeting a potential guest. We appreciate respectful and responsible guests. We want members who understand that its important to take care of the places they stay in- remember, you are renting in someone's home and/or personal property, we do NOT allow listings for hotel rooms, apart-a-hotels or resorts.
Please note, we comply with consumer anti discrimination laws, OHK has a zero tolerance policy against housing discrimination. Complaints or claims regarding this matter will be taken seriously and thoroughly investigated. Guilty parties may have their listing and membership removed permanently.
Use OHK Guest Vetting Sheet, to assist guests to inspect the property properly.
The guide has been created form many experiences where information wasn't considered to vet for.
We suggest inspection of walls, bedsheets appliances to furniture, so you’ll know exactly what you’re getting.
Our guidelines verify more than photos (and/or video) that are required, so there are NO surprises.Our research shows
Room (ONLY) Listings:
OHK welcomes room-only listings in homes where the host lives on-site and can offer a more personal, attentive experience. To keep stays comfortable and well-managed, we limit room-only listings to a maximum of two rooms per home.
This approach helps us support quality hosting while being thoughtful about the impact short-term rentals can have on neighborhoods, housing, and local communities. OHK values connection, care, and a human touch.
Listings that operate like high-volume room rentals, similar to hotels or hostels, aren’t a fit for our platform.