Legal agreements are an important part of operating a short-term vacation rental because they help ensure that both parties clearly understand the terms of the stay. Even when renting to friends, family members, or repeat guests, it is recommended to maintain signed agreements for each reservation. Doing so helps set consistent expectations, supports dispute resolution, and provides documented acceptance of rental terms. Legal requirements and enforceability may vary by jurisdiction, and this information is provided for general guidance rather than legal advice.
OwnerRez supports legal and rental agreements through built-in electronic signature functionality. Guests can review and sign agreements electronically during the direct booking process, with signed documents stored directly in the booking for recordkeeping. In addition to a primary renter agreement, users can create additional legal agreements to cover specific situations or add-ons, such as pet agreements, event agreements, or agreements related to optional items like boat or golf cart rentals. This allows terms to be tailored to different reservation scenarios while maintaining consistent documentation.
OwnerRez includes a default renter agreement in your account, and it is automatically included in the checkout process when a guest receives a quote from OwnerRez or completes a booking via the Book Now widget. Signing links can also be sent at any time, which is useful for reservations created manually, bookings imported from listing sites, or situations where the agreement terms have changed. Signing links may also be sent to multiple members of the traveling party if individual acknowledgments are required. OwnerRez also includes a default Request Guest Sign Renter Agreement Template and Trigger for all new Airbnb, Booking.com, and Vrbo channel integrations.
Best practices for managing renter agreements include using clear, consistent language, ensuring agreements are easy for guests to review, and keeping them up to date as policies or legal requirements change. Agreements should be presented as early as possible in the booking process, and signed copies should be stored with each reservation. Using renter agreements consistently across all booking sources helps support clarity, compliance, and operational consistency.
Learn more by watching the Feb. 25, 2025, Webinar: Focus Session - Renter Agreements.