When a request comes in, the resident's profile is your main signal for whether they'll be a good resident. Here's what to look at and how to weigh each piece.
What you see on a resident profile
- Verified identity — green check means we've verified their ID and matched their selfie.
- Verified email and phone — green checks for each.
- Profile photo — clear photo of their face (not a logo, pet, or scenery).
- About me — a short bio they wrote.
- Why I'm moving — their reason for this specific booking.
- Occupation — what they do.
- Languages spoken — relevant for community fit.
- Age — approximate or exact, depending on what they shared.
- Past Coliving.com bookings — count and review summary if any.
- Reviews left by previous hosts — if any.
Green flags
- Identity, email, and phone all verified.
- Clear face photo.
- A complete About me that reads as a real person.
- A specific reason for the move ("new job at X starting in June", "moving to Berlin for a 3-month research project").
- Past bookings with positive host reviews.
- Profession matches what your space tends to attract.
Yellow flags (ask follow-up questions)
- Empty About me or generic ("digital nomad looking for a cool place").
- Vague reason for move.
- No past bookings AND no other context (everyone starts somewhere — just ask more).
- Asking unusual questions before booking ("can I have an extra resident stay?", "can I bring my dog?") — answer in the Inbox and decide based on the response.
Red flags (decline or dig deeper)
- Identity not verified after multiple days.
- Profile photo isn't a face.
- Past Coliving reviews from hosts mentioning rule-breaking, late payments, or property damage.
- Reason for moving makes no sense for your space (e.g. they want a tourist stay and you require 90+ days).
- Asks about off-platform payment, alternate payment methods, or "discounts" before booking — strong indicator of fraud.
- Hostile or pushy tone in pre-booking messages.
How to ask follow-up questions without scaring them off
Use the Inbox. Keep it friendly and specific:
"Hi! Thanks for the request. Before I confirm — could you tell me a bit more about what you'll be working on while in Berlin? Our space tends to attract people working remotely or studying, so I want to make sure it's a great fit for you too."
Most genuine residents answer warmly. Evasive or annoyed responses are themselves a signal.
What you can't use to decide
You cannot decline based on protected categories: age (within legal limits), gender, sexuality, race, religion, national origin, disability, family status. If you reject for a protected reason, you can lose your account.
You can decline based on:
- Fit with the community (e.g. you mostly host quiet remote workers, the resident mentions wanting nightlife).
- Stay length not matching what you offer.
- Specific behaviour signals (unverified, hostile messages, past negative reviews).
Frequently asked questions
Q: Can I see the resident's full review history?
A: You see summary reviews on their profile, not full review text from past hosts.
Q: Can I ask for additional documents (employment letter, bank statement)?
A: You can ask, but the resident isn't obligated to share. Many won't, especially before a booking is confirmed.
Q: What if the resident is verified but has no past bookings?
A: Most first-time Coliving residents are fine — they just haven't booked with us before. Look at the other signals (profile, About me, why moving).