Disaster Averted: The Safety Protocols Every STR Host Must Have
We recently had a water emergency at one of our short-term rentals that reminded us just how critical safety protocols really are.
On a quiet Sunday morning, our cleaners reported that one of the showers wouldn’t stop running. Simple enough—until we realized the shut-off location listed in our home inspection report wasn’t actually the main shut-off.
Minutes later, water was spilling out of the shower box and flooding the floor. As we scrambled to figure it out, our next-door neighbor came to the rescue and helped us cut off the water—buying us precious time until a professional could assess the issue and fix the problem.
It could have been much worse.
And here’s the truth: emergencies like this can happen anytime—whether your property is booked with guests or sitting empty. That led us to ask ourselves:
Do your guests and local team members know what to do in situations like that?
At minimum, your SOPs and welcome guide should clearly cover:
- Emergency contacts – Can guests bypass your “Do Not Disturb” hours to reach you if something urgent happens?
- Fire & water emergencies – Does everyone know where the fire extinguishers are and where the water shut-off is?
- Smart water leak sensors – Have you installed sensors under sinks, behind toilets, and near water heaters to catch slow leaks before they turn into disasters?
- Routine property checks – Are you (or someone you trust) regularly walking the property to catch hazards like loose deck railings, uneven steps, or wobbly chair legs?
- Fire pit and fireplace safety – Have you given guests safe, simple instructions for your fire pit? Are you inspecting and servicing your fireplace every year?
- Back-up access – Do you have a physical key available onsite, easily accessible by guests, if the digital lock fails—say, at 1 AM on a freezing winter night?
Depending on your amenities, this “non-negotiable list” can be even longer.
- YoLink – Budget-friendly, long battery life, app alerts. (We've installed these detectors across all our rentals. They've us from costly water damage incidents multiple times!)
- Flume 2 – Straps onto your water meter for real-time usage monitoring, great for spotting abnormal spikes.
- Moen Flo / Phyn Plus / Zooz Smart Detector – Reliable with app alerts and shut-off options.
These small devices can save you thousands in repairs—and a whole lot of stress.
The bottom line? Safety protocols are never “set it and forget it.” Inspectors can miss details, and every property has quirks only you can point out. Training your team and refreshing your protocols regularly is essential.
Hosting isn’t just about stylish décor and glowing reviews—it’s about protecting your guests, your property, your liability, and your peace of mind.
👉 Need help tightening up your safety protocols—or improving your STR operations so you can earn more while stressing less?
Savvy Breezy STR Consulting is here to help.