House rules on Uniplaces are set by individual landlords and cover things like pets, smoking, overnight guests and noise. Always check a listing’s house rules before sending a booking request — once your booking is confirmed (the landlord has accepted your request and you have received the confirmation), they are part of the tenancy agreement between you and the landlord, and Uniplaces is not a party to that agreement.
Common house rules explained
Every landlord sets their own rules. The most common ones you’ll encounter across Uniplaces listings are:
- Pets — many listings do not allow pets, particularly in shared apartments. Some landlords allow small pets on request — always confirm before booking if this matters to you.
- Smoking — most listings in Europe are non-smoking indoors. Some allow smoking on balconies or outdoor spaces.
- Overnight guests — some landlords restrict how often guests can stay overnight, particularly in shared properties where other tenants are involved.
- Noise and quiet hours — common in city apartments, especially in buildings with other residents. Quiet hours are typically from 22:00 or 23:00.
House rules are not negotiable after booking. If you book a listing and then discover the rules don’t suit your lifestyle, that’s not covered by the 24-hour Safety Period — the 24 hours after your move-in date in which you can report problems with the accommodation to Uniplaces. That complaint route is for material differences between the listing and the accommodation, not a preference mismatch.
Where to find house rules on a listing
House rules are listed on every property page, in a dedicated section below the property description. Always read this section before sending a booking request — once your booking is confirmed, you’re agreeing to abide by these rules for the duration of your stay.
If a listing has no house rules listed, that doesn’t mean anything goes — it means the landlord hasn’t specified. If the listing shows the “Talk to the landlord” option, you can message the landlord before booking to clarify anything important. Otherwise, you can contact the landlord directly once your booking is confirmed; before that, questions go through Uniplaces support.
What if a landlord’s rules don’t suit me?
Keep searching. Uniplaces has thousands of listings across Europe — if one doesn’t match your lifestyle, there will be others that do. Use the search filters to narrow down listings in your target area and review house rules before shortlisting.
Don’t send a booking request hoping to negotiate the rules afterwards. Landlords set their rules in advance and are generally not open to changing them, especially for short-term tenancies.
Can house rules change after booking?
Once the landlord accepts your request and your payment goes through, the landlord is bound to offer the accommodation for the dates and at the price stated on the listing, with the property details, condition and facilities not materially different from the listing. The house rules that applied when you booked are the ones you agreed to, and they form part of the tenancy agreement between you and the landlord.
If a listing changes its house rules after you’ve booked but before you’ve moved in, your booking remains subject to the rules that were in place when your booking was confirmed. If your landlord tries to impose rules that were not on the listing after you’ve moved in, raise it with them first; the tenancy agreement is between the two of you. You can also contact the Uniplaces support team, who can advise.
If something stated on the listing turns out to be false — a facility that doesn’t exist, a condition that doesn’t match — that is a different matter: report it in writing within 24 hours of your move-in date, with evidence, through the 24-hour Safety Period complaint route.
When to contact Uniplaces support
- You have a question about a listing’s house rules before booking and the listing doesn’t show the “Talk to the landlord” option
- A house rule looks discriminatory
- Something stated on the listing is materially different when you move in — report it within 24 hours of your move-in date
Frequently asked questions
Can I filter listings by house rules on Uniplaces?
Partly. Under Suitable for in the filter panel you can filter for Pets, Smokers, Overnight guests and Couples, which covers the most common rules. There are also Gender preferences filters for rooms and properties restricted by gender. Everything else — quiet hours, cleaning arrangements, use of common areas — is only in the house rules section of each listing, so read it before you shortlist.
What if a landlord’s house rules seem unreasonable?
Landlords are free to set reasonable rules for their property. If you believe a rule is discriminatory — for example, restricting tenants based on nationality or religion — report it to the Uniplaces support team. Uniplaces does not permit discriminatory listing conditions and may remove a listing it receives a complaint about.
Are house rules the same as the rental contract?
Not exactly — house rules are the behavioural expectations the landlord sets for day-to-day living. The tenancy agreement covers the legal terms of the tenancy, including payments and notice periods. Both are part of your agreement with the landlord; Uniplaces is not a party to it and is not responsible for how it is performed.
What if I accidentally break a house rule?
Talk to your landlord directly in the first instance. Minor issues are usually resolved with a conversation. If a dispute escalates, contact the Uniplaces support team — they can advise, but the tenancy agreement, including the house rules, is between you and the landlord.