How to rent an affordable room in Cambridge, MA

June 23, 2011 6:59 PM

Trying to rent a room for a few nights for elderly parents in the Cambridge, MA area. Anyone had experience with renting guest rooms from private parties? Please help me figure out how to navigate this!

I wasn't aware that this was an option, but the parents actually went on airbnb and found some cheap rooms for rent very near our apartment (in Central Square area) but on the pictures the place does not look very clean and the owner is refusing to let me see it in person. So now I have all these questions about private room rentals: what if there are bedbugs? What if something goes missing? How can you trust to pay $60 to $100 a night for a cat in a bag? Has anyone here had an experience renting a by-night room in Cambridge/Boston area? How was your stay? Do you have a room to rent? Can you recommend a place that worked for you? What should be a reasonable price to pay? Is it normal to refuse to show the room before taking money?

I feel like I would be less worried if it was just me renting a room, not parents who are over 70. However, they don't have a lot of money and can't spend more than $100 a night, which does not carry you far in the Boston area, especially Cambridge.

posted by Shusha to Travel & Transportation around Cambridge, MA (2 answers total)

Best answer: I'm in Denver and rent on airbnb. Everyone I've rented to I've had positive experiences with. Make sure the photos say "airbnb verified" up in the corner. This means a professional photographer came in and took the pictures and posted them. Otherwise people could post whatever pictures they wanted. Also, make sure whoever they're staying with has reviews or, at the very least, recommendations. This way you can be sure (more sure) that they're not awful people. As far as refusing to show the room, I find it completely normal. Any creeper could have access to your house and know what you own without you having any info on them. If they rent through airbnb they have to have their bank acct linked in order to rent. I don't feel comfortable giving my address and allowing people access to my house if I know nothing else about them. They could be casing the place for all I know. That being said, I did provide access to an elderly couple who was going to be staying for a month and needed specific accommodations. Any other questions about the site and booking feel free to memail me.
posted by no bueno at 7:29 PM on June 23, 2011

My parents stayed at the Morrison House B&B in Somerville when they came to town for my wedding. That was in 2006. They had a nice stay there--at least, they didn't complain to me about it.

Personally, I'd be wary of renting a room--especially for my parents--without seeing it.
posted by devotion+doubt at 10:15 PM on June 23, 2011 [1 favorite]