Airbnb host check out demands - AIBU to ignore

That's fair enough - at home I do it every second sheet change myself - but in a rental place I'd at least expect it to be clean, which too many simply aren't

For me, if hosts want to charge "professional prices", they need to provide matching services, and a quick run over with the hoover/wipe round with a damp rag doesn't count

For me there's a difference between not leaving a mess and cleaning.

I'm dismayed when I enter my Airbnb and find overflowing bins, rubbish and chunks of food on the floor, glasses and cups left everywhere, spills not dealt with etc. I think that's good manners not to leave that. Think, would I leave a friends house in that state. I feel personally slighted when I find my place like that. It's actually upsetting.

Floor crumbs, dust, a slightly sticky work surface, sand (we are next to the beach) some muddy footprints if it's been raining, toothpaste in the sink is all fine and part and parcel of living. I would expect to find that and it get taken care of as part of the cleaning fee

I hate to find my beds have been stripped. I don't ask and only 1 guests from nearly 100 stays have done it.

You said: it is always very appreciated if they can leave the place tidy-ish as this means the cleaners can spend their time doing an extra deep clean.

If you need a deep clean as well (why would you mid season?) then pay your cleaners to do it. You didn’t say they should do it, but it’s not even necessarily helpful.

Having had a property abroad where the bedlinen was sent off to a laundry company - if beds were stripped and the bedlinen lumped together it just created muddle which took the cleaners more time.

It’s more about the position in the market. In the old days lower end rentals might ask for stripped beds (in some cases people would take their own bedlinen and towels), and you might be asked if you wanted to clean yourself or pay for a final clean. At the higher end though, cleaners were always expected.

What has changed since the advent of Airbnb is that properties of all types charge a cleaning fee. Once you do that you cannot ask your guests to clean as the expectation is that it will be done.

No such argument was given. The poster inferred it due to their poor reading comprehension.

Your post is contradictory. On one hand you say I SHOULD give precise instructions, on the other hand you say I should pay my cleaners extra and not expect the guests to do anything.
I don't expect the guests to do anything so there are no instructions for me to give. I just appreciate it when they do leave the place reasonable but if they don't, my cleaners will deal with it.

I don’t understand the argument that guests should do cleaning tasks to give the cleaners more time..

Quite. Why shouldn’t the cleaners do it to give guests more time? Who’s paying here?

Airbnb owners SHOULD give precise instructions for guests IMO. They can’t read your mind. I think Airbnb should make it mandatory for listings to include what guests should do in terms of tidying/cleaning, so you can make an informed decision when booking.

Stripping beds isn’t standard IME outside of the pandemic period. I make sure there’s nothing perishable in the fridge, leave dirty dishes in the dishwasher and take the bins out when I leave. When you’re paying a cleaning fee (often hefty) I think that’s perfectly adequate.

I don’t understand the argument that guests should do cleaning tasks to give the cleaners more time. Why not just give your cleaners the time and pay to do a thorough job, including both deep cleaning and things like stripping beds?

OP, I’d definitely apply for a partial refund. Hoping the weather warms up is not an adequate response.

If I’m paying a cleaning fee no way am I cleaning. That’s literally what I’m paying someone else to do. I’ll tidy up as I go along and wipe down the surfaces I’m using etc. but I’m sure as hell not stripping beds, emptying bins, vacuuming or anything like that. That’s what you’re paying for. I don’t pay a mechanic and service my own car. Bonkers.

I do :)

Stripping beds, leaving all towels in a pile and taking bins is normal wherever you stay, is it not? And a quick wipe down/sweep? I always do it, whether we are in a sun holiday caravan or a villa

I don't like holiday lets with loads of instructions. I don't strip the beds, even when it's "required" because I don't want to see the mattress or the pillows!

I think emptying bins is standard though and woukd do that anyway.

Beyond that, I leave a place tidy, clear up any spillages as we go, report any breakages, but I'm not cleaning. The place will look like home does when the weekly clean is due.

I’ve stayed in lots of self catering accommodation and I have only been asked to strip the beds once. Perhaps others have asked but maybe I didn’t read the instructions to find out. I have never stripped the beds. That’s the hosts’ job - I’m paying them to do that. I do make sure that I don’t leave the place in a mess though and I empty bins. I don’t leave dirt behind but stripping beds is over the top! Don’t strip them!

I’ve stayed in a lot of airbnbs and only once was asked to strip the beds. Found it a bit rude as I was also paying £100+ for cleaning!

I’ve been asked to take out the rubbish a few times though. I don’t love it, and also find it a bit cheeky as - like I said - I’m paying for cleaning.

I also used to be a host and never asked guests to strip bedding / take out rubbish.

What’s the additional cleaning charge applied?

You always get people on threads like this saying 12 degrees or no heating is perfectly acceptable. FGS. That would be far too cold for me, the OP and many others. The OP stated she found it too cold and the owner ignored her complaints.
The usual race to the bottom on MN. We’re not living in the 1900s and if we want to feel comfortable on holiday we should be able to put the heating on.
I don’t strip beds either, yes leave places tidy but there is really no need to strip beds.

Most of us have children, so we are talking multiple beds! It’s too much when we are trying to pack up and be out by 10am! Especially as we have already paid for the service with a cleaning fee!

I especially don’t like the way many are set up with only the host/landlord in mind, and are not minded to care or offer any service at all to the guest, they are almost an irrelevance.
I use companies that specialise in holiday cottages when not booking hotels, because the service tends to be better but with air bnb it’s always about the profit - not about guest experience. I use super hosts etc and it’s still rubbish. The best in my view are unique home stays - they look after their guests properly. No bed stripping neccessary!

It’s a flooded market in some places, so I think these demands will fade eventually if everyone refuses to participate (pay twice!)

I’m in complete agreement with you. In my experience with Air BnBs you always get charged a cleaning fee, so with that in mind there should be no question of doing anything above and beyond general leaving things neat and tidy, washing up plates etc done or in the dishwasher and leaving the toilet clean.

I do not strip beds before I leave self catering accommodation. I assume that the host has included this in the price.

I always leave a property clean and tidy - not as I found it but probs not far off it, because we are clean and tidy people.

But I will not be stripping beds or cleaning on the last day on my holiday. Utter madness

I’d just say the cold flared up your arthritis so badly you weren’t able to change the sheets or empty the bins.

For an eskimo 🙈

You should contact airbnb now about heating.

I've ignored these demands too! Sorry not paying a cleaning fee then doing cleaning. If you Google there is a whole backlash movement against this.

I always leave the place immaculate (seems rude not too) and put out the bins.
But I've never stripped the beds.
Made them - even in hotels.
I would if asked though.

YANBU and adding rules that aren't mentioned before booking is against Airbnb policy

Standard airbnb requests - I have no problem with this as they are really good value compared to hotels - also 12 degrees is not cold at all - perfect temperature for sleeping!