Offer short-term rental guests a safety amenity—a dedicated phone for emergencies

Imagine a guest staying at your short-term rental (STR) for a weekend getaway. Suddenly, an emergency strikes. They reach for their phone to call for help, only to find they have no cell service. Or maybe they do have service but, in a panic, struggle to recall the address to share with first responders. Or maybe even a health crisis or criminal situation where they can’t speak.

Emergencies can take many forms. A small kitchen fire could quickly get out of hand, leaving your guests scrambling to alert the fire department. Guests could also face personal health crises, like severe allergic reactions or injuries from accidents in the unfamiliar environment. Even something as simple as a locked door or a malfunctioning thermostat could leave your renters in need of immediate help.

These situations are stressful and renters often don’t have the details they need when it matters most. That’s why having a reliable phone for emergencies in your STR is crucial. It’s a small step that can make a big difference, showing you care and ensuring a safer environment for everyone.

Why relying on cell phones alone is risky

We’ve all been there. You need your phone to make an urgent call, but something’s gone wrong. Maybe there’s no cell service, the battery is dead or you’ve lost your phone somewhere in an unfamiliar setting. These scenarios are more common than you think—and any of them can easily happen to a guest at your short-term rental.

Every precious second counts, especially when help is needed fast. But all kinds of things can go wrong when using a cell phone during emergencies. If the battery’s dead, the phone is useless. Even if the phone works, what if the service is patchy? Properties in rural or remote areas, which are popular getaway spots, can have unreliable signal strength—or none at all.

Renters also often have a hard time remembering the address to provide emergency services. And unlike a landline or VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phone, mobile phones don’t transmit the exact location data to 911 operators, especially when the caller is in a building with multiple floors and units.

Emergencies aren’t the time to gamble on cell phone reliability. Adding an emergency phone to your rental gives your guests a dependable way to call for help.

Are phones for emergencies legally required?

In some cases, having a dedicated emergency phone isn’t just a thoughtful safety amenity—it’s required by law. Some areas have safety regulations for rental properties, making it mandatory to provide renters with a landline or VoIP phone for emergencies.

For instance, the county of Placer in California requires each STR unit to have a working landline or VoIP phone. Wilton Manors, Florida, takes it a step further. Not only must vacation rentals have a registered phone linked to the property’s address, but the phone must also be placed in the main common area with the address clearly posted beside it.

These rules make sense. Most hotel rooms have a phone by law—shouldn’t a short-term rental property? In a time-sensitive crisis, having a reliable, location-enabled phone can make all the difference. Beyond compliance, it’s about creating a safer environment for your renters—and protecting your property in the process. See what Airbnb Coaches Brandon Meyer, Syerena Orr and Zoey Berghoff recommend on social media.

How a VoIP phone protects your short-term rental

In an emergency, the last thing anyone wants to worry about is dialing the wrong number or fumbling with a phone that doesn’t give first responders your exact location. That’s where a VoIP phone can help, offering a reliable and inexpensive landline alternative for short-term rentals.

VoIP allows you to make phone calls using your internet connection instead of a traditional landline. As costs associated with traditional phone systems go up, VoIP has emerged as the more affordable option, making it a great solution for rental properties that need an emergency phone.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requires VoIP providers to meet Enhanced 911 (E911) obligations. This means that when someone calls 911 from a VoIP phone, the service must provide the exact address of the caller to emergency dispatchers.

To make sure this happens, VoIP providers ask for every customer’s physical location before service activation and make it easy for customers to update their address if they relocate. This is particularly important for short-term rentals (STRs), where guests might not be familiar with the property or neighborhood.

With Ooma® home phone service, you can also get real-time notifications. With us as your VoIP phone service provider, you can receive text or email alerts when 911 is dialed from your rental unit. This can be a game-changer, particularly for property owners managing multiple units.

Ooma home phone service is easy to set up and activate, with most of our customers ready to make calls in just 15 minutes. To top it off, every call benefits from Ooma PureVoice™ HD technology, ensuring crystal-clear sound quality and fewer dropped calls—crucial in high-pressure moments when every second counts.

Peace of mind for you and your guests

Emergencies are unpredictable, but your response to them doesn’t have to be. As a short-term rental owner, creating a safe and reliable environment for your guests is not just good hospitality—it’s vital. Adding an emergency phone to your property shows that you care about their well-being and are prepared for the unexpected.

Learn how Ooma can help you elevate your hosting standards. With Ooma Basic, you get all the advantages of a VoIP phone system at an unbeatable cost. After the one-time purchase of the Ooma Telo, phone service is free—all you pay are the applicable monthly taxes and fees, which vary by location and are typically $6 to $9 a month. You can calculate yours here.

If you have properties without reliable broadband or in areas with spotty service, consider Ooma Telo LTE with Battery Backup. This premium option provides 1GB of LTE cellular backup internet to keep your smart devices connected when your primary internet goes down. Plus, with a battery backup, you can count on it to work during power outages.

Once you install a landline phone, spread the word. Post a notice on the inside of the unit’s front door saying that in an emergency guests should dial 911 from the landline phone and give its location. If you have a guest binder, place this notice there as well. And on your property’s profile page, don’t forget to add a landline emergency phone to the list of amenities.

At the end of the day, equipping your rental with an emergency phone isn’t just about checking a box. It’s about creating trust, providing safety and showing your guests that you’ve thought of everything. It’s a small step with a big impact—one that makes your guests feel secure and lets you rest easy knowing you’ve got their back when it matters most.