Most of the posts you'll see on this subject are from potential renters wanting to know how they can be sure they won't be disappointed. The overwhelming majority of the time, everything goes smoothly...but when it does NOT,
it is usually the DVC owner who has a problem.
I think the primary consideration in renting is that both the DVC owner and the renter completely understand the important issues in renting, and clearly understand the differences between renting a DVC reservation and booking a hotel room. The key to that is very direct and open communication, not some kind of a contract (which would be unenforceable, as a practical matter).
The situations where DVC owners have been hurt have been in two general areas. One is simple theft. Doc has previously posted info on at least one situation where the owner never received a penny from a renter, but still did not cancel the reservation. The renter did, in fact, show up and use the reservation, but they never paid a penny.
I'll resist the temptation to make comments about natural selection, but any sensible person has to know it is necessary to protect oneself in situations like that. That owner chose not to, which is a shame.
The much more common situation is one where the renter's plans change. In that case, most DVC owners will try to help
if they can -- but we know that certain situations can arise where the owner's ability to help may be severely constrained.
It is important for both the renter and DVC owner to understand that
it may not be possible to reschedule a reservation -- and that's NOT the DVC owner's fault. Nor is it the DVC owner's problem. Renters can protect themselves with
trip insurance, and DVC owners can protect themselves by conducting rentals as a business transaction from start to finish.
In the huge majority of cases, owners and renters understand what they are doing, conduct themselves in a professional and ethical manner, and it works out beautifully for both parties.
