Alight Collaborative: The Official Dos & Don'ts of Studio Rentals in 2024

2023 was our first year in business and opening our doors. It’s been a whirlwind and a massive year of growth for us at Alight Collaborative. We learned so much about what works and what doesn’t and we’ve taken note of what we need to do better in the year to come. 

So many Austin studio renters used our space and cared for it. Most renters were outstanding guests that we’ve been so delighted to host — they have proven our dream for this space is special and has been shared. These renters cleaned up after themselves and respected our studio and their scheduled appointment time. These guests locked the door behind themselves and were reliable and communicative. And we are truly grateful.

However, unfortunately, throughout the year, there have also been some people who didn’t…

• lock the door 

• return the key to the lockbox (or hand it off to the next person)

• bother to shut the lockbox door (leaving the key fully out and visible to passersby)

• turn off the lights, reset the furniture, or pick up after themselves  

• stick to time slots booked

• and more

And while we understand the occasional mistake or accident — we have cameras and audio recordings, and in just this first year, we’ve seen some crazy shit.

Remember that if you’re renting a creative studio space like ours, you are essentially a guest in someone’s home – just like when visiting an Airbnb.

While most of our renters are truly fabulous (you rock and you know who you are), we’ve also had a growing number of guest renters show a pattern of neglecting our “home” – and our trust – this first year.

So, in 2024, we must institute some changes to protect the future of Alight Collab. 

If you’re planning to borrow our space, let this official guide lead the way so that we may care for one another and leave no trace.

DO double/triple-check that you’ve locked the door behind you. 

Let's talk about NOT locking the door for just a moment.

Each time the door is left unlocked, it feels like we’ve been violated — our trust and our space. But more than that, it puts our property at an incredible and 100% preventable risk.  Anything could go wrong. 

A squatter could sneak in. (A friend of mine had a squatter in her studio for THREE days who smeared SHIT on the walls.) We could be robbed and have our personal property stolen.

Vandals could walk right in and destroy amenities and the things we’ve invested so much money and hard work into.

Or worse, we could have someone hide out inside with the intent to HARM.  

Leaving the door unlocked is something we can no longer tolerate. This is a massive liability to us AND to the other renters who trust that they are entering a safe place.

And truly, we KNOW it’s not intentional. We understand how most of it is happening — You’re chatting with your guests as you’re exiting and your mind is not on the task at hand. You don’t REMEMBER hearing the lock click. You don’t remember if you pulled on the door to see if it remained shut. Your mind was just somewhere else because you were busy doing all the things.

But just as you check YOUR front door on your way out, you need to check ours.

This is why you must only leave the studio parking lot AFTER double (or even triple) checking the lock on the door, and the key securely in the lockbox, behind you. You have be fully present for the 30 seconds this requires. And please drive back if you’re not sure.

Consequence:

There is a $300 fee for leaving the door and lockbox unlocked after your rental.

Starting with rentals in 2024, we’ll automatically charge the card on file for any penalties incurred.

DO return the key or hand it off to the next renter yourself. 

In the same vein, it’s also important to remember that if you are the renter, you alone are responsible for the rental. That means YOU are the one responsible for opening the rental with the key, and most importantly, you are the one responsible for locking it up. 

In the past year, some renters have mistakenly trusted someone else (whose name isn’t on the rental) to lock up or return the key – AFTER they, the renter, have already left the space.

No matter how much you love or trust another person, NEVER leave them in charge of locking up or cleaning up if your name is the one on the rental. It’s a violation of our trust to do this and it’s your ass that is on the line. 

Whether you must return the key to the lockbox or pass it on to the next renter is your responsibility. Always be sure the key is in the appropriate place (the hook beside the door) or with the proper person before you vacate the premises. Again, this is your responsibility.

Consequence:

There is a $300 fee for not returning the key to the lockbox for the next renter. Starting with rentals in 2024, we’ll automatically charge the card on file for any penalties incurred. 

DO turn off the lights and leave no trace. 

One of the best pieces of home-cleaning advice I’ve ever received is this: Every time you leave a room, leave it how you found it. 

That means cleaning up any messes you might have made and putting things you were using back in the proper places. It’s a small act that usually takes little time but makes a big difference. And it doesn’t just apply to home cleaning. 

In hiking circles, it’s called “Leave No Trace.” 

There, it’s more than cleaning up after yourself. It’s leaving as little impact on the environment as possible and leaving behind what doesn’t belong to you. And being considerate of all the others (human and nonhuman) who share that space with you.

When you leave the studio, turn off the lights behind you. Return all furniture to its original place and pick up after yourself. Also, please take all food and drinks with you so the studio doesn’t develop some lingering smell or invite ants. Remember: When you leave, try to leave no trace. Someone else is counting to arrive at the studio in the same condition you were able to.

Consequence:

There is a $100 fee for not turning off lights, resetting the furniture, cleaning up after yourself, etc. Starting with rentals in 2024, we’ll automatically charge the card on file for any penalties incurred. 

DO purchase liability insurance.

We understand that things break. Accidents happen. We get this and we’ve done it. But if there is an issue with something in the studio, you just need to let us know. You will be liable for any damages if the fault is not ours.

That’s why – starting in 2024 – you’ll need proof of general liability coverage to rent the space. If you don't already have liability insurance, you can easily purchase temporary coverage at THIMBLE.com. Trust us, when shit hits the fan, it’s worth it for everyone. 

DON’T go over your appointment time, thinking we won’t notice. 

Part of being a responsible renter is keeping track of time. We’ve had far too many people abuse their appointment time, going over their time 30+ minutes and up to 3+ hours (not kidding) and thinking we won't notice. 

Not only is this dishonest to us, but it is incredibly disrespectful to the next renter (who is often waiting outside with their guests trying to be respectful of YOU).  

If you need more time, the best thing you can do is reach out BEFORE your rental ends. We can let you know if you can book additional time, but more often than not, someone else may be coming in directly or closely behind you. 

Previously, we did not allow 1-hour rentals and that was based on our years of experience in what it takes (in both time and logistics) to rent a shared space.  We’re considering returning to our 2-hour rental minimum should we not be able to correct this issue promptly.

Consequence:

There is a $50 fee for exceeded rental time charged in 15-minute increments - rounded up. We’ll automatically charge the card on file for added time as needed/requested.

How does that work? Let’s say your rental ends at 1:00, but you go over.  An automatic $50 charge will cover you until 1:15. Then, at 1:15, you'll receive another $50 charge. If that happens, an extra hour will end up costing $200 rather than the $110 rental fee if you had simply booked an extra hour. We’ll automatically charge the card on file for added time as needed/requested.

DON’T be a no-show or try to reschedule indefinitely. 

At Alight Collaborative, we don't offer refunds - only rescheduling – but some people have tried to reschedule multiple times, and that practice isn’t sustainable. 

Consequence:

Starting in 2024, we will offer ONE rescheduling opportunity within 90 calendar days. After that, there will be a $100 rescheduling fee for any additional changes. No-shows forfeit their payments.

At our creative rental studio in North Austin, we are committed to creating a safe, respectful, and inclusive space – where creatives like you come to grow, build, and connect.

But, we can’t do it alone. Please help us protect the future of Alight Collab for all who have come to rely on it.

Ready to book?

Our online booking system makes selecting a studio and making a reservation easy and fast. We’d love to meet you and find ways to support you in your entrepreneurial journey!

To Our Renters:

If there’s something else you’re noticing that needs to be addressed, please let us know. We’re here to help and support you on this business journey and we want our space to be the kind of space you know you can count on. Thank you for contributing to our lives and business – we hope to do the same for you.