Short letting your home with Veeve whilst you are away is a fantastic way to earn some extra spending money. Guests also love the comfort, charm, and individuality that come with staying in a home. However, it’s worth understanding that having paying guests in your home means that understandably, somethings are not quite as they were when you left. 

Here’s what you need to know on your return so you can best understand what’s considered a ‘normal’ part of short letting, so your return feels smooth, clear, and stress-free.

Fair Wear and Tear: What’s Normal?

When you come home, your property may not look exactly as it did when you left, especially if you have had a whole summer, (or longer) of bookings.

You might notice:

• Suitcase scuffs on walls or door frames.
• Items put back in unexpected places.
• The occasional missing or chipped glass.
• Cushions/blankets moved, books rearranged.
• A loose door handle.

These are all examples of fair wear and tear, the result of your home being used by paying guests and whilst we will assist in fixing or cleaning anything needing attention, it would not be chargeable to the guests.

Damage vs. Wear and Tear: How We Decide

• Wear and tear: Items that break or stop working through regular use (e.g. sitting on an old chair and it gives way).
• Damage: Items that break due to misuse (e.g. dancing or standing on a chair).

Sometimes it’s not obvious which occurred, especially if the guest didn’t report the issue, but our experienced team is skilled in making fair, informed judgments.

Small accidents (like a broken glass or plate) are part of hosting. However, excessive or careless damage, such as multiple broken glasses, would of course be charged to the guest.

Our Cleaning Standards

Before your return, we carry out a hotel-style clean, which includes:

• Cleaning kitchen, bathrooms and bedrooms.
• Dusting, hoovering & mopping floors.
• Stripping the beds.

This ensures your home is clean and ready for your return. However, please note it is not a deep clean. This means we do not:

• Clean inside cupboards, drawers, or wardrobes.
• Clean exterior areas such as gardens, patios, or windows.
• Dust hard to reach areas.

If you’d like a deep clean ahead of your arrival (including inside cupboards, skirting boards, windows, etc.), we’d be happy to arrange this for a cost which can be deducted from your host payout or a future booking.

Protecting Your Home: Our Host Insurance

We provide host insurance for any incidents or damages that occur, (with evidence) when guests are in-situ. If anything significant happens during a booking, such as damage or appliance issues, we’ll endeavour to let you know before you return home.

While wear and tear is expected and not chargeable, genuine damage, especially when excessive or careless, will be followed up with the guest and covered where appropriate.

Settling Back In: Give It a Little Time

When you return home, we recommend allowing yourself a little time to settle back in. It’s perfectly normal to find things slightly out of place or tucked away in unexpected spots. Over the next day or two, you’ll likely find that most things turn up, tucked in drawers, cupboards, or moved to different rooms by guests.

Take a breath, get reacquainted with your space, and don’t worry if something seems “missing” at first, it usually resurfaces.

Hosting with the Right Mindset

While we take care to keep your home in great condition, it’s important to remember that guests are living in it, just as you would. Some wear is inevitable.

We always take care of anything beyond fair use and are here to support you every step of the way.

We hope the above helps in terms of setting clear expectations. We want you to return home relaxed, to a clean home, and the benefit of knowing you’ve earned some extra income whilst you were away.