To you who are wondering if you should become a host at Landfolk

Sharing one's cabin with others is becoming more and more common, both as part of a more sustainable mindset around cabin life, and as platforms like Landfolk help create a trend where it's easier to share one's cabin. Nevertheless, Norwegian cabins remain unused for over 300 nights a year, and a full 79.8% of Norwegians have never rented out their cabin, despite 48.2% of cabin owners feeling they don't use their cabin enough.

This is something Landfolk wants to change, because the sharing economy is an important part of our societal development, and making it easy, safe, and fun to rent out a cabin is therefore an important ambition. But lack of security is not the only reason why cabin owners don't rent out.

Is our cabin good enough?

For Johanne, and Landfolk, it's important to choose the right cabins that attract the right guests – so that together we can share the joy of cabin life and create experiences for life. But what exactly are the “right” cabins? Landfolk has several criteria when cabins are handpicked, but as a potential host, it's not always easy to know if the cabin fits on Landfolk.

In meeting with Norwegian cabin owners, Johanne says that one of her biggest challenges is finding cabins that are not just stylish, modern cabin gems.

»The modern cabins are fantastic, but the ordinary, Norwegian cabins with soul are also incredibly welcome at Landfolk – we want all types of cabins and we have far too few of the traditional, Norwegian family cabins – an outdoor toilet is fine! The traditional and more primitive is just as welcome at Landfolk«.

For Landfolk, it's about the feeling when you enter the cabin, and quality doesn't have to mean modern. Quality means that something is well-thought-out, that love has been put into the choices, that you get a unique and personal experience.

We want all types of cabins and we have far too few of the traditional, Norwegian family cabins – an outdoor toilet is fine.

»Many believe they have to buy new towels, decorate more stylishly, or buy expensive soaps, but it doesn't have to be that fancy. The step becomes so big, and what people misunderstand is that we want completely ordinary cabins – just as it is when you use it yourself«.

When a cabin is handpicked for Landfolk, it's because it reflects the cabin owners' style and personality, and that's exactly what guests want to experience. The cabin, as it is when the hosts themselves are there.

From financial motivation to pure cabin joy

Renting out has gained greater interest among Norwegian cabin owners in recent years, and as the sharing culture has made it more appealing to both rent out and rent, the economy has simultaneously provided good reasons to share the cabin with others. Many have built new cabins and want to finance this, while others simply want the cabin's annual expenses to break even. Despite many being motivated by financial reasons when choosing to rent out, this often quickly changes to a feeling of wanting to share the joy they themselves experience at the cabin and give others good experiences.

Johanne, who was a host at Landfolk long before she started working there, has unique access to handpicking cabins, talking to potential hosts about their thoughts, questions, and motivation – and not least, to sharing their joy:

It's nice to see how others use our cabin – I always look forward to coming home after having guests to see what they've written in our cabin guestbook.

»One of the things I like best about my job is when I see cabin owners experience the change I myself experienced after renting out – that the motivation shifts from earning a little extra to giving someone an experience. To feel the joy and warmth you get from having guests«.

»In the beginning, we rented out for financial reasons, which I find many new hosts on Landfolk also do, but now the main ambition is to bring joy to others. It almost becomes a sport to figure out how to give people the best possible experience. It's nice to see how others use our cabin – I always look forward to coming home after having guests to see what they've written in our cabin guestbook. This is a joy I love to see our new hosts experience«.

A more personal experience

Drinking the first coffee of the day from someone's favorite mug makes the cabin experience more unique. That's why the cabins on Landfolk are handpicked with a focus on style and personality. Many believe they have to clear away their personal belongings, but at Landfolk, that's precisely part of the experience.

»That's the whole point of Landfolk – it should be personal, because we want to give people the feeling of borrowing a family friend's cabin«.

It can feel strange to have guests in the cabin while all one's personal belongings are there, but as Johanne emphasizes, »the more personal the cabin is, the better guests take care of it, because they see that someone lives there and loves the place. Many I talk to say they feel they've lacked a platform that makes it feel right, or safe, to rent out their beloved cabin to strangers«.

The more personal the cabin is, the better guests take care of it, because they see that someone lives there and loves the place. Many I talk to say they feel they've lacked a platform that makes it feel right, or safe, to rent out their beloved cabin to strangers.

Considering renting out your cabin?

Johanne talks daily with many wonderful cabin owners, and here are some of the things she wants you as a potential host to know:

• Don't hold back from applying, we want more traditional Norwegian cabins with lots of soul and personality. An outdoor toilet is just charming.
• Quality doesn't necessarily mean modern. Quality for Landfolk means personality, soul, and aesthetics.
• The cabin owners are at least as important as the cabins themselves! And Landfolk would love for you to become part of the host community, where you'll get lots of inspiration and great experiences.
• You don't need to put away personal belongings – your guests will love seeing the old trophies from 80s ski races and drinking coffee from your favorite mug.
• You don't need to buy matching bedding or towels – the personal and eclectic are in focus.
• It's perfectly fine to be financially motivated. But we can (almost) promise you that you'll fall in love with having guests visit your cabin.
• Talk to Johanne about your thoughts – the process is as much about you choosing Landfolk as it is about Landfolk choosing your cabin.
• The step is shorter than you think! We'll help you with the entire process.

Become part of Landfolk

If you want to apply to become part of Landfolk you can do so here, and you will be contacted.

Landfolk was launched in Denmark on February 1, 2021, by 7 former Airbnb employees. All have many years of experience developing digital solutions and business models and a great passion for cabin life, and for giving people a break from the city.

Landfolk was launched in Norway at the end of 2022 with a small, exclusive handful of lovely, hand-picked cabins, and the platform has since welcomed many more. Just a couple of months later, specifically on February 1, 2023, Landfolk celebrated 2 years with the launch of Germany.

Considering renting out your cabin, but unsure if you're ready to share it with others? Then we have some data we think you'll like:

72% of our hosts receive one or more booking inquiries within their first month on Landfolk 96% of our hosts would gladly invite their guests again 1% cancellation rate on bookings – one of the lowest on the market

This is partly because..

• There is no lock-in period
• You decide when, how often, and to whom you rent out
• You rent out safely – insurance from Gjensidige is included
• As a host, you only pay 5% of your rental income in commission
• You become part of our host community

Wondering if your cabin fits on the Landfolk platform? Every single cabin you find on Landfolk is hand-picked based on four criteria, which are:

1. Personal decor creates personal cabins. At Landfolk, we celebrate the personal. We believe a cabin is most beautiful when it reflects its owners and their interests and personal style.

2. Nature, nature, nature. The cabins on Landfolk have direct access to nature, whether it's a beach, forest, or mountains around the cabin, the distance to the city and all its hustle and bustle is what all the cabins have in common.

3. It's not just about the cabin. It's just as important that there's a cabin owner who is passionate about cabin life – a cabin owner who loves to use it themselves, and who has decorated the cabin with great care.

4. In a Landfolk cabin, aesthetics and quality are considered in all aspects of the cabin experience. What a cabin encompasses can be different, but what they have in common is that all elements are well thought out – so you can sleep well, eat well, and feel good.

The figures in the article are taken from a survey conducted by InFact AS on behalf of Landfolk with a total of 1,500 participants in November 2022. The target group is all Norwegians aged 18+.