Man reads an Airbnb’s ‘crazy’ house rules. Then uncovers a $200 guest fee and $800 smoking penalty: ‘little creepy’

A TikTok video reacting to Airbnb’s house rules has gone viral, racking up 7.7 million views, 787,000 likes and around 5,000 comments. The video was posted by creator James Boucher (@surfinnovak).

In the video, Boucher reads through a list of “Additional rules” from a listing identified as “Cassie and Jon’s” Airbnb, which appears on screen as a screenshot while he speaks to the camera.

He goes through each rule one by one, reacting to the various fees and restrictions attached to them, ranging from guest limits to smoking penalties to a piano policy. The clip has since drawn a large volume of engagement, with thousands of users weighing in on the rules in the comments section.

Boucher questions the fee for unregistered guests and the camera monitoring rule

Boucher starts with the “Occupancy & Gatherings” section of the rules. It states that any guest beyond the number booked will lead to a “$200/night per guest charge.” He says, “First, for unregistered guests, it’s $200 per night per guest.” He adds that people staying without permission is understandable, but says “$200 a night seems excessive.” He also points out that the word “registered” is misspelled in the rule.

He then reads the section about security cameras, which says, “Exterior security cameras are in use for safety and occupancy compliance. We will monitor the number of guests entering the home.” Reacting to this, Boucher says, “All right, that’s a little creepy.” Hosts can face difficult situations beyond rule violations, such as a Vermont host who has video evidence of a guest stealing but is hesitant to press charges. 

Next, Boucher reads the “Smoking & Illegal Activity” rule, which bans smoking or vaping within 20 feet of the home or patio. The rule states that smoking within that distance “WILL include a minimum additional cleaning fee of $800.” Boucher says he understands the rule exists because of fire hazard concerns, but questions the fee, asking, “$800 cleaning fee? $800 for what?”

He then moves to the checkout policy, which he calls “the most ludicrous” part of the rules. The policy says late checkout without approval results in a $200 late fee, plus $50 for every 10 minutes after. It gives examples: a 10:30 a.m. checkout costs $350, and an 11:00 a.m. checkout costs $500, with “NO EXCEPTIONS.” Boucher breaks this down in the video, confirming that checking out half an hour late adds up to $350, and an hour late comes to $500.

The final rule Boucher reads is about a piano in the home. It states that children age 13 and under, along with guests who do not know how to properly play the piano, are not allowed to touch or be near it. Damage to the piano carries a minimum fee of $750, with guests responsible for the full cost of repairs beyond that amount. 

Boucher questions why the piano is in the rental at all, saying it is “unnecessary to be there in the first place” and asking, “Like, why even put it in there?”

The video’s comment section, which has around 5,000 comments, includes a range of reactions to the rules. One commenter wrote, “I genuinely don’t understand how they got any guests…” Another speculated about the property’s finances, writing, “They’re in some crazy amount of debt bc wtf.”

Several commenters focused on the piano rule specifically. One wrote, “They 100% have a hidden cam bc how tf do you know if a 5 yo is playing the piano,” while another joked, “Do I have to send in an audition tape for the piano?” Such intense monitoring can make guests feel uneasy, as in one case a host was found hiding inside a guest’s wardrobe. 

One comment took the piano rule further, joking, “imagine hitting the wrong key while playing a song and a laser is deployed and k*lls you.” Another commenter claimed to have local knowledge of the property, writing, “they live next door to the air BNB and their neighbors have said they sit outside with lawn chairs watching it when guests are there.”