Before You Book

The house rules, in full.

Here before you book, not after. Most of it is what you would expect of someone else's home; the parts worth reading twice are the noise rules and what counts as a party, because those are where groups get caught out.

Check-in

After 4:00 PM

Self check-in. Access details arrive before arrival.

Checkout

Before 10:00 AM

Earlier or later is sometimes possible — ask, and we will tell you what the calendar allows.

Yes, absolutely

  • The whole house is yours — every floor, no shared space, no other guests.
  • Cooking for the group. Two full kitchens and a dining table that seats sixteen.
  • Bringing in a caterer or private chef for a meal at the house.
  • A family dinner, a birthday toast, a wedding party getting ready in the morning.
  • Using the roof deck, the shared living rooms, the library wet bar and the pool table.
  • Keeping up with work. Gigabit WiFi runs throughout the house for ordinary remote work and calls.

No, and we mean it

  • Parties and events. The house is guest lodging, not a venue — no receptions, ceremonies or ticketed gatherings.
  • More than 16 overnight guests, ever.
  • Pets. Assistance animals are not pets and are handled separately under the law — tell us and we will make it work.
  • Smoking or vaping anywhere, including the roof deck and out of windows.
  • Unregistered overnight guests. Day visitors are fine within reason; tell us if you expect a crowd.
  • Moving furniture between floors, or removing anything from the walls.

Noise

The one rule that matters most.

The Rittenhouse Residence is a rowhouse. It shares walls with neighbors who live here year-round, and sound carries — between houses, up the stairwell, and off the roof deck across the back gardens.

So quiet hours run from 10pm on weeknights and 11pm on Friday and Saturday. Our sensors flag anything sustained above 70 decibels in that window — and 70 is a generous ceiling. Sixteen people talking, cooking and laughing sits comfortably under it.

The sensors read volume and nothing else: no audio is recorded, and no one is listening. They exist so we can send you a friendly text early rather than have a neighbor discover the problem later.

The practical version: a full house at dinner is completely fine. Amplified music and a crowd out on the roof deck after quiet hours are what carry through a party wall. As the evening goes on, bring it indoors and bring it down.

Common Questions

The things groups ask before booking.

What are the quiet hours?

Ten at night on weekdays, eleven on weekends. During those hours our sensors flag anything sustained above 70 decibels — which is a generous ceiling: sixteen people talking, cooking and laughing sits well under it. What crosses the line is amplified music or a crowd out on the roof deck, because sound carries between these houses. The sensors read volume only; no audio is recorded and nobody is listening.

Can we have visitors who are not staying over?

Yes, within reason — family stopping by, a photographer on a wedding morning, a caterer. What is not allowed is a party: a gathering larger than the group booked, or anything with an invitation list. If you are expecting more than a few extra people, tell us first.

Can the wedding party get ready here?

Yes. That is one of the most common uses of the house, and the upstairs suites have the mirrors and space for it. Hairdressers and photographers are welcome. What we cannot host is the ceremony or the reception itself.

Is there a security deposit or damage hold?

Deposits, holds and cancellation terms are set by the platform you book on. Airbnb and Vrbo each show their own terms in full at checkout, before you confirm.

What if something breaks?

Tell us. Ordinary wear is expected in a house this old and we do not chase guests over it. A support team is reachable throughout your stay, and the sooner we know about a leak or a failure, the less it disrupts your visit.

Are there cameras?

There are exterior security cameras on the property, disclosed on both listings. There are no cameras of any kind inside the house. The interior noise sensors measure volume only and do not record sound.

Licensed and insured

Philadelphia short-term rental licence #903781. Smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms throughout; exterior cameras only.

Someone is reachable

A support team is available throughout your stay. Airbnb records a 100% response rate and replies within a day.

Terms at checkout

Cancellation, deposits and the full price including fees are shown by Airbnb or Vrbo before you confirm. See rates.

Rules read. Dates next.

Still unsure whether your group fits? Ask before you book — we reply within 24 hours, and we would rather say so now than have it go wrong later.

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