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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU charging electric car without asking at Air BnB

109 replies

Needanadultgapyear · 15/08/2025 08:38

We have an annex, it must remain part of the main property for planning purposes and therefore can not be on long term let as a separate home. We offer it on Air BnB it is near a major tourist attraction and a main road connect several UK ports to central and North England.
Our insurance excludes specifically charging electric cars, we put this in our listing and we are 5 minutes from a super fast charging point. If people ask I politely explain that we do not allow electric car charging and point them to the super fast charger.
We had guests a few days ago and DH noticed a wire from a bedroom to the car. So he went round and asked if they were charging. They claimed they were only charging mobile phones, but the wire did disappear.

I feel like this is CFery, but in RL people have said oh well it’s only a few pence.

OP posts:
LeedsLoiner · 15/08/2025 08:54

Given the increase in electric car use if you want your letting to succeed in the long term then you should fit a proper charging point and tell your guests that there is a small supplement for using it.
I'm confused by the insurance issue - does that mean that if you get an electric car you can't charge it at home ?

Original poster
Needanadultgapyear · 15/08/2025 08:51

lkjhgfdsa · 15/08/2025 08:42

Your insurance precludes charging electric cars? Bizarre!

In terms of electricity used, unless you put limits on all electrical devices used by guests I don't really think it's a big deal.

Do you have some kind of objection to electric cars? I think they are increasingly going to become the norm so I'd be looking at alternative insurance providers when you come to renew.

DH is in the motor industry and feels that they are an environmental disaster waiting to happen with battery disposal. His opinion is that biofuels are the long term future.
For Air BnB’s precluding charging of electric cars from 3 pin plugs is very normal as a host you can not confirm that the the 3 pin plug and wire is not damaged in any way. I am literal 5 mins if that from a super fast charging point at a fuel station with a coffee shop. Most of our lovely guests go have a coffee and charge their car.

OP posts:
fruitbrewhaha · 15/08/2025 08:51

I have an electric car and wouldn’t dream of charging it up at someone else’s expense. It’s not just pence it will be pounds. Maybe not a huge but I wouldn’t expect you to pay.

Perhaps sort out the insurance and put something in place where people pay you properly for the power they use.

RowanRed90 · 15/08/2025 08:47

lkjhgfdsa · 15/08/2025 08:42

Your insurance precludes charging electric cars? Bizarre!

In terms of electricity used, unless you put limits on all electrical devices used by guests I don't really think it's a big deal.

Do you have some kind of objection to electric cars? I think they are increasingly going to become the norm so I'd be looking at alternative insurance providers when you come to renew.

Fire risk

TheSandgroper · 15/08/2025 08:46

Talk to your insurance company or get a broker to and get a surcharge for electric car charging. Put in a proper charging point (insurance co may prefer this. Talk to them first.). Insurance companies will cover almost everything if you pay them enough.

Then increase your prices to cover it. It’s the way of the world. Policing the no charging is going to drive you insane. (no, I don’t have an electric car. But I can imagine). You could specify named guests only, perhaps. No randoms.

MyDogHumpsThings · 15/08/2025 08:46

If it’s clear on your listing and explained using a valid justification (as yours seems to be), it’s unreasonable for them to charge the car, in my opinion.

SpinandSing · 15/08/2025 08:46

It's not bizarre and that's completely normal. It's a fire hazard so invalidates the insurance. It would need to be an actual electric car charge point to be safe.

OP - it's absolutely fine to say this. We've had an electric for years and used to seeing it written as a statement. People with electric cars that want a charger shd be filtering by car charger in any case. YABU!

ComtesseDeSpair · 15/08/2025 08:44

You need to make it clearer in your listing and on the welcome information sheet that EV charging is against the terms of your insurance and that guests must not charge EVs.

If I didn’t know, I probably wouldn’t think to ask a host if I could charge my car, just as I wouldn’t think to ask if I could plug in my hairdryer. But your guests were trying to hide that they were doing it.

lkjhgfdsa · 15/08/2025 08:42

Your insurance precludes charging electric cars? Bizarre!

In terms of electricity used, unless you put limits on all electrical devices used by guests I don't really think it's a big deal.

Do you have some kind of objection to electric cars? I think they are increasingly going to become the norm so I'd be looking at alternative insurance providers when you come to renew.

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