Yes, with WPRentals you can require guests to agree to your cancellation policy and house rules at checkout. The theme shows rules on each listing, links full legal pages, and adds a required checkbox guests must tick before sending a booking. That consent stays in the booking record as written proof. It helps you when you need to enforce fees, keep deposits, or answer disputes later.
How does WPRentals show my cancellation policy and house rules to guests?
WPRentals lets you show detailed house rules and custom cancellation terms on every property page. Each listing has a Terms and Conditions section where you paste your own rules, penalties, and cancellation text. Hosts can describe things like refund times, non refundable deposits, quiet hours, party limits, and extra charges. This block sits near pricing and amenities, so guests see key policies before they touch the booking form.
The theme also has rule flags so you don’t write the same basics every time. On each listing you can set toggles like Smoking allowed, Pets allowed, or Children allowed, then add free text rules for details. Many hosts rename the visible label for the terms block to something clearer like House Rules & Cancellation Policy. You do that from the admin panel, without code.
You can also build longer policy pages as normal WordPress pages and connect them across the site. Hosts often make separate pages for Cancellation Policy, House Rules, Terms & Conditions, or Taxes & Fees and link them in the header or footer. WPRentals then lets you tie one chosen terms page into the checkout checkbox. So guests have a short version on the listing and a full legal version one click away.
- Each listing has a Terms and Conditions box for rules and cancellation text.
- Hosts can set smoking, pets, and children flags plus extra free text house rules.
- You can rename the terms label to House Rules & Cancellation Policy or similar wording.
- Standalone policy pages can be built in WordPress and linked in menus and footer.
Can I require guests to agree to my rules and cancellation terms during checkout?
Yes, you can block bookings from finishing unless the guest agrees to your terms and rules. The main control lives in the WPRentals settings where you pick a Terms & Conditions page and turn on the I agree checkbox for booking forms. Once active, the booking request won’t submit until the guest ticks the box. So guests can’t say they booked without seeing your policies.
The text beside the checkbox is fully editable, so you can be clear about what guests accept. Many owners use a line like I agree to the Terms & Conditions, House Rules, and Cancellation Policy and link that phrase to the detailed terms page. Because you pick the words, you can mention key points like deposits, cleaning fees, or a no party rule. All inside the one sentence guests must read and accept.
This setup isn’t only for guests; WPRentals can also ask new users to accept your rules when they register. The theme can require agreement to the same Terms & Conditions page during account creation for both guests and owners. That keeps everyone under the same site rules and gives a clear acceptance record tied to each profile. Not just to each reservation.
How does guest agreement help me enforce cancellations, deposits, and rule violations?
Clear written terms that guests accept give you a stronger base to enforce fees and penalties. Inside each listing you set deposit options alongside the policy text the guest agrees to. WPRentals lets you define a non refundable booking deposit and a separate security deposit as part of the fees. For example, a 30% booking deposit and a $300 security deposit as a common setup. At first this looks like extra work. It usually saves time later.
When a guest books and ticks the agreement checkbox, they accept your words and the fee rules in that listing. During a cancellation or dispute, your written policy becomes the main reference point. The theme shows your cancellation rules on the listing and links the full terms to the checkout checkbox. So you can point to that content when you process refunds in PayPal, Stripe, or your bank.
WPRentals doesn’t auto calculate refunds for you, and that trips some people up. The point is different. It keeps your freedom to decide the refund in each case, while your own policy acts as the guide the guest already approved in writing. Your power here is that your manual choice can match what you said up front.
You can also be very direct about penalties for broken rules and back that with the booking trail. For example, you might say on the listing that smoking inside triggers a $200 fee or lost keys cost $50. Then restate those on the terms page used by the checkbox. WPRentals lets you repeat these key points again in the automatic booking confirmation emails, so guests see the same rules on the listing, at checkout, and in their inbox.
Can I create legally required pages and link them into the WPRentals checkout flow?
Yes, you can build your legal pages and plug them into the booking agreement step. The theme gives you page templates and switches that help legal content feel like part of the booking system. Not a random extra page forgotten in a corner. In WPRentals you can create a Terms & Conditions page and a GDPR or Privacy page using the templates, so they match your site design.
You then paste your own legal text on those pages, covering things like right of withdrawal, taxes, or governing law. From the options panel you add the URL of your main terms page into a field that controls the checkout link. When a guest clicks the underlined text next to the checkbox, they go to that Terms page in a new tab. This keeps the booking flow on screen while still giving full access to the rules.
WPRentals can also show a separate GDPR consent checkbox on contact forms. GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) is about how you handle personal data. So casual inquiries are covered by privacy consent, while bookings are covered by both privacy and rental terms. Sometimes owners expect the theme to write the legal text. It doesn’t. You still need content that fits your country’s laws.
| Page type | How you create it | How WPRentals uses it |
|---|---|---|
| Terms & Conditions | WordPress page with theme terms template | Linked from mandatory booking checkbox |
| Privacy or GDPR | WordPress page with GDPR template | Linked from privacy notices and contact forms |
| House Rules page | Standard WordPress page | Linked in menus or footer for clarity |
| Cancellation Policy | Standard page or part of Terms | Referenced in checkbox text and listing content |
| Taxes or Fees info | Standard WordPress page | Linked from pricing sections or FAQ area |
With this setup, your site covers the usual legal areas in a way guests can find. WPRentals handles wiring those pages into booking and forms. You handle writing rules that match your laws and your risk comfort. Sometimes that balance feels uneven. It kind of is.
How does WPRentals compare to other direct booking tools for guest policy acceptance?
WPRentals gives you strong policy acceptance while keeping control inside WordPress. All in one systems like Lodgify keep policy text inside their dashboards. WPRentals keeps terms, house rules, and privacy pages as normal WordPress content you own. You can version, export, or move them between hosts without vendor lock in. At first you might think this is less safe. It usually means you hold more control.
The theme’s checkbox system hooks into those pages in a simple way you can see and edit. Generic WordPress stacks often rely on WooCommerce’s single I agree field built mainly for online stores. WPRentals adds rental specific tools around that idea, like per listing rule flags, security deposit settings, and booking emails that repeat key policies. PMS (Property Management Software) tools often do this too, but you don’t own the site.
With translation plugins you can localize the consent line and policy pages into several languages. You reach a polish level close to large SaaS platforms, yet stay on a site you fully control. There is a trade off though. You gain control and proof, but you must actually keep your rules updated. The theme will not fix bad rules for you.
FAQ
Can a guest finish a booking without ticking the terms and house rules checkbox?
No, once you enable the checkbox, the booking form won’t submit unless the guest ticks it. In practice, the button stays blocked until the box is checked, so there’s no way around it. In WPRentals this runs at form level, so every booking request or instant booking carries a clear record. That record shows the guest accepted your rules and cancellation policy before paying.
Does WPRentals automatically calculate and pay out refunds based on my cancellation policy?
No, the theme doesn’t auto calculate refunds, so you apply your rules when sending any refund. Your job is to define a clear written cancellation policy and make guests agree to it at checkout. When someone cancels, you use Stripe, PayPal, or your bank tools to refund what your policy allows. WPRentals gives you the wording, deposits, and acceptance trail. You stay in charge of the real money.
How can I handle a separate long rental agreement that needs an e signature?
You handle long agreements by mixing online acceptance with a follow up e signature step. First, state in your Terms page that longer stays or special bookings require signing an extra rental contract. Guests agree to that statement through the WPRentals checkout checkbox. After the booking arrives, you email a PDF through an e signature service and keep that signed copy with the reservation.
So you have on site consent and a formal contract together. It’s extra work for both sides. But some owners sleep better with that extra layer for higher value stays. Others skip it and rely only on the rules and deposits in WPRentals.
What happens with policies and checkboxes on a multilingual WPRentals site?
Guests see the checkbox text and linked policy pages in the language they pick on your site. Using a translation plugin, you create language versions for the Terms page and any other policy pages. You also translate the checkbox label through the theme’s string translation tools. When someone switches language, WPRentals shows the right page version and label, so their recorded agreement matches the language they read.
