Choosing the Right Accommodation Type for Your Listing

As a Host, selecting the correct Accommodation Type is one of the most important steps in setting up your listing. It’s the first thing Guests look at to understand what their daily life will look like in your home or property.

Getting this right helps you attract the right Guests and, more importantly, prevents misunderstandings that can lead to lower review scores. Use the guide below to ensure your Digs are categorised correctly.

Living with Host

You live in the property full-time and are renting out a spare room.

• The Guest Experience: Guests have their own private bedroom but will interact with you in communal areas.
   
• What’s Shared: Typically the kitchen, bathroom, or living room.
   
• Host Tip: Be clear in your description about how "social" your household is. Do you love a chat over tea, or do you prefer to give guests total space?

Shared (HMO / Professional Share)

You do not live at the property, but you rent out rooms to multiple different Guests or tenants.

• The Guest Experience: The Guest has a private room but will be sharing the house with others. These other residents might be fellow TheatreDigsBooker Guests, or they could be long-term tenants or Guests from other platforms.
   
• What’s Shared: All common areas like the kitchen and lounge.
   
• Host Tip: Since you aren’t on-site, ensure you clearly communicate how Guests should check in and who to contact if they have an issue with their stay or with another housemate.

Self-Contained

You are offering an entire, private unit where the Guest does not have to share any internal space with anyone else.

• The Guest Experience: Complete privacy. This includes studio apartments, annexes with private entrances, or entire houses.
   
• What’s Shared: Nothing. The Guest must have their own private entrance, kitchen, bathroom, and living area.
   
• Host Tip: If your "Self-Contained" unit is an annex attached to your house, make sure to mention if there are any shared outdoor spaces like a garden or driveway.

B&B / Guesthouse

You run a licensed hospitality business specifically designed for Guests.

• The Guest Experience: A professional, guest-focused stay. Rooms are private (usually en-suite), and there is a clear distinction between "Guest areas" and "staff areas."
   
• Service Level: Usually includes a breakfast option and has a Host or staff member on-site during the day.
   
• Host Tip: Highlight your licensing or any professional hospitality awards to build trust with Guests looking for a more "managed" stay.

Hotel

You are a commercial or boutique hotel.

• The Guest Experience: Standard hotel services including a 24-hour or scheduled reception, professional cleaning staff, and multiple Guest rooms.
   
• What’s Included: Professional amenities (like gym access or in-house dining) and standardised room layouts.
   
• Host Tip: Use this category if you have multiple rooms and a dedicated front-of-house team.

Not sure which one to pick?  

Think about the "Kitchen Test." If a Guest wants to make toast at 8:00 AM, who might they run into? 

• The Host? Choose Living with Host. 
  
  
• A stranger? Choose Shared. 
  
  
• No one? Choose Self-Contained.
  
• Reception? Choose Hotel.