Starting a co-living space or PG: a first-month checklist
By RoomHive Team ·
The practical steps for opening a new property: rooms and pricing, house rules, deposits, bookings and your first tenants.
Opening a property takes more than furniture. These steps help you get the first month right and avoid fixing things later.
Before you take a booking
- List every room and bed. Give each one a clear name that staff and tenants will both use.
- Set your prices. Decide the rent for each sharing type and whether you will take daily stays.
- Decide your deposit rule. Write down how much you take and when it comes back.
- Write your house rules. Cover notice period, guests, food timings and quiet hours.
- Check your local requirements. Licences, registrations and tenant verification vary by city and state, so ask a local adviser.
Make it easy to find you
Most people find a stay on their phone, so give them a page with photos, prices and the free beds. Put a QR code at your gate for those who walk past. Keep your address and location accurate so people can get directions.
Run your first month well
- Record every booking and payment from day one.
- Give a receipt for every payment.
- Do a room condition check at move-in and keep notes.
- Ask early tenants for honest feedback, then act on it.
Plan for move-outs
Tenants leaving is a normal part of the business. Agree the notice period up front, and settle dues and the deposit with a clear final bill. Word spreads quickly when a deposit is handled badly, and just as quickly when it is handled well.
How RoomHive helps
RoomHive's guided setup takes you through rooms, beds and rent, and most owners finish in about 15 minutes. You then get a booking page and a QR code to share. See plans and pricing to start.
Run your property from your phone
Rooms, bookings, KYC, rent and invoices in one place. Free for your first month.
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