Nasty email from holiday cottage owner - how to respond?

[Ginandcolic]

I have had a pretty crappy year and I think I might be being a bit over emotional about this so I need level headed MNers to give me some advice.

DD (19 months) and I went to a holiday cottage over Christmas with our dog. Had a lovely time except the owner, who lived nearby, was a bit of a PITA. Went through our recycling to "check we had done it properly," and lots of little reminders / comments about not taking food and drink into the playroom etc (I didn't, by the way so this wasn't a polite hint or anything).

XH (DD's father) came over for Christmas Day, and the owner knocked on the door to complain that his car was parked wonkily. It wasn't blocking anyone, it wasn't in anyone else's spot, it wasn't on the verge or anything like that, it was just "not straight, and it looks funny out of my window." He also said that he'd checked XH's car tax and that it was out of date. It wasn't ... But I thought that was a bit weird.

But anyway, we had a nice time.

When it came to leave, I stripped the beds, cleaned the loos, sinks and bath, washed, dried and put back all the cutlery and crockery, and hoovered. I asked for a mop to go over the kitchen floor (muddy paw prints from the dog) and was told I must only mop the tiles, not the rest of the floor. Fine. So did that too. And emptied the rubbish, put dirty linen and towels in the laundry basket (as requested) etc.

FYI the dog only went in the kitchen, he did not go anywhere else like the carpets, sofas etc.

I get home and received a pissy email from the owner saying that it took him 7 hrs to clean the house (it was not a big cottage so I really don't believe this) and that he was very upset with the state in which we had left it. He said that if he had used cleaners, it would have cost him close to £100 ... but that he will return my housekeeping deposit anyway.

NB he didn't mention anything in particular that was dirty or not left in the proper place.

I am, and I am not sure why, really upset by this. I cleaned up pretty well, I paid an extra £35 as a cleaning surcharge for having a dog even though I cleaned up after him anyway, I didn't break anything, as far as I know I put everything back where I found it and I can't work out what he's talking about.

Do I ignore him and put it down to him being a bit nuts? Or do I stick up for myself and risk an lengthy email debate about what is an acceptable state in which to leave a holiday cottage? I mean, FFS, it was pretty expensive too as it was Christmas and I paid a cleaning surcharge ... What more does he want???

Or do I just accept I am a slattern?

Thanks for reading!

Please tell me that level of cleaning isn't normal?
We stayed in a similar place last year - on the last day we cleaned all the dishes, obviously tidied and I cleaned the worst of the mud off the wooden floor (no mop). I didn't do anything with the bedding or the toilets!

My sisters so anal that she cleaned the oven before we left somewhere and then forbade use of oven for our last meal....she wouldn't even let me bake a pizza for my kids. She literally spent the last day scrubbing. Madness that kesto a year long rift. Never. Again.

Firstly I would not do that much cleaning when leaving a holiday cottage.

Secondly this is why I always take photos of the state we have left the place in (not damaged and reasonable amount of cleaning to do after having a family live in it for a week).

Strange and unpleasant behaviour, I wouldn't give that person another thought. Some chance of repeat business if he's always like that with clients.

I wouldn't clean before I left, I just do the dishes.

Thank you for your posts, you have made me feel much saner!

And that I can look back on the good bits of the holiday rather than the crappy email.

Still waiting for the deposit to clear ... As soon as it does, I'll be straight on to trip advisor with a link here too obviously!

A great big happy new year to you all

Xxxx

Perhaps send him a link for a website showing him how to get help for OCD?! Sounds like a jobs worth tbh, maybe better to leave well alone.

Oh we had this once, we cleaned the whole place but messaged the owner saying that when we arrived the shower door was broken and much of the Crockery was dirty or broken but otherwise the cottage was brilliant, thanks very much etc. received an email back saying 'yes well I've spoken to the cleaners and you've left used nappies and wipes all over the cottage and not cleaned a thing' I was and replied that we had left the place absolutely impeccably clean. I never thought to do a trip advisor review - am off to do one now since just writing it down has given me the rage! I spent bloody ages cleaning everything in sight, stripping beds, hoovering, mopping and wiping finger marks off the window.

Obviously I would clean up as I went along and tidy up before we left. But I thought the whole point was that I would be enjoying a holiday. I would never clean as though I wanted it ready to pass on to the next customer.

We have always been welcomed back wherever we go so I am sure I have it right.

Customers are ensuring that there are jobs for local folk to do if they actually enjoy themselves and the services they have PAID for!

Have you had your deposit back yet ginandcolic? Can't wait to see the tripadvisor link.

We have never had what you describe, but did once stay in a cottage where the owners were on-site and were too obviously invested in the properties to be rational.

They complained that our car moved the stones on the drive when we arrived and that set the tone of it - accused us of breaking the (cheap shoddy) dishwasher, practically said we were lying when I brought over an (Ikea - cheapest range ) mug which we found in the cupboard obviously broken by the previous renters who couldn't be bothered facing her wrath and on the day before last their teenage children let us into their study to print off our boarding passes ( offered service at 1 euro a sheet) the computer screen was on and she started accusing us of accessing personal information.

I spoke to other people staying at the complex and they had been treated exactly the same way, yet other tripadvisor reviews were good. I wrote a fair but accurate reflection of our stay and said that I was bewildered about our treatment and we may have caught them on an off week.

If he's as obsessive as he sounds I think it would calm his nerves to actually pay for a cleaner rather than rely on holidaymakers t do it, thought from what you say you did a decent job of cleaning!

I summarise that he is a skinflint nutcase and probably best ignored.

Dont respond he sounds like a nob head.

I've been in the same boat a few times, i think some holiday cottage owners are complete nutters! I rented a cottage in my early 20's and shared with 5 other girls for a week. The cow that ran the place had the cheek to write to us after we'd gotten home to say that she wasn't refunding our entire security deposit as found blood on a number of sheets! Well i grilled the rest of the girls, and fate would have it that none of us had been on at that time! We told the holiday company and they took our side! Secondly we rented a cottage with my parents, parents were there for the whole week, me and DH for the last 4 days of the week. My poor parents, had to face the nutter cow from hell who was also very picky about parking, wouldn't allow for anyone to literally stray from the path (you had to walk through her garden to get to the holiday let), and was also very picky about sorting recycling properly.
Both were through Helpful Holidays in the west country. Both times the holiday company were a godsend, but to be honest i wont rent with them again as they only seem to have nutters on their books.