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Airbnb house manual template
The house manual is the how-it-works part of your guest information. It's where guests look when the oven won't start or the shower runs cold, so it should read like instructions, not a brochure.
The template
House manual template
Airbnb house manual template
Before you call us
Most problems have a quick fix. Try the steps below first, and if that doesn't work, message us at [contact] any time.
Heating and cooling
Thermostat: [location]. Set the temperature with [buttons / dial]. The system takes about [20 minutes] to warm up.
Air conditioning: [remote location]. Press [mode] until you see [snowflake]. Please switch it off when you go out.
Fireplace or stove: [instructions, or "not for guest use"]
Hot water
Hot water is [always on / on a timer from 6:00 to 9:00 and 17:00 to 22:00].
If it runs cold: [check the boiler display at location; press reset for 5 seconds].
Kitchen
Hob: [type, how to switch on, any child lock]
Oven: [how to set temperature and timer]
Dishwasher: [tablets location, program to use]
Coffee machine: [type, where pods or beans are]
Please don't use: [any appliance that's off-limits]
Laundry
Washing machine: [location]. Use program [name / number] for everyday washes. Detergent is [location].
Dryer or drying rack: [location]
Iron and ironing board: [location]
Entertainment
TV: turn on with [remote]. For streaming, press [input / home button] and choose [app]. Please log out of your accounts before you leave.
Speaker: [how to connect by Bluetooth]
Bins and recycling
General waste: [bin colour and location]
Recycling: [what goes where]
Collection day: [day]. If you're here on collection day, please put the bins [where] the night before.
If something breaks
Power cut: the fuse box is [location]. Flip any switch that's down back up.
Water leak: the stopcock is [location]. Turn it clockwise to shut off the water, then message us.
Locked out: [backup key arrangement or emergency contact]
Accidents happen. Just let us know about anything broken so we can fix it for the next guest.
Highlighted text in [brackets] is yours to replace. Free to use and adapt, no attribution needed.
Tips
Making it work for your guests
Name things the way guests see them
Guests don't know what a "combi boiler" is. "The white box in the cupboard next to the bathroom" is what they need.
Lead with the fix, not the warning
Every system section should end with what to do when it goes wrong. That's the moment the manual gets opened.
Update it after every repeated question
If two guests in a row ask how the shower works, the manual isn't clear enough yet. Rewrite that line.
Make it digital
Send it before guests arrive, in their language.
Paste this template into a free GuestIntro guest manual. Guests open it from a link or QR code, read it in any of ten languages, and you update it in seconds when a code changes.
Create a free guest manual →Questions
Common questions
- What's the difference between a house manual and a welcome book?
- The house manual covers how the home works: appliances, systems and fixes. A welcome book is broader and also includes arrival, rules, local tips and checkout. Many hosts fold the house manual into the welcome book as one section.
- Does Airbnb require a house manual?
- Airbnb has a house manual field in each listing that guests can see after booking, and filling it in is strongly recommended. A fuller manual with photos can live alongside it in a printed book or a digital guest manual.
- How do I add photos to a house manual?
- In a document, insert a photo next to each appliance section. In a digital guest manual you can attach photos and short videos to each appliance, which is often clearer than written steps.
More templates
Templates that go with this one
- Welcome book
The full guest-facing book: arrival, the home, rules, local tips and checkout, in the order guests need them.
- Check-in instructions
Step-by-step arrival instructions for self check-in, keys and parking, with a backup plan for when a code fails.
- Emergency info sheet
One page of emergency numbers, shut-offs, the nearest hospital and what to do in a fire, power cut or leak.
All templates are on the free host templates page.