Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Unacceptable mess left in caravan

266 replies

madeabooboo · 27/07/2019 14:33

Just after some opinions...if someone left the caravan in this state would you refund their deposit? No dust pan and brush in unit

Unacceptable mess left in caravan
Unacceptable mess left in caravan
Unacceptable mess left in caravan
OP posts:
FlyMayBe · 27/07/2019 15:35

I'd be ashamed to leave a holiday rental in that mess, tbh

Wellandtrulyoutnumbered · 27/07/2019 15:37

I used to clean chalets and caravans. If the owners think that warrants withholding a deposit they need to get a grip!

bobsyourauntie · 27/07/2019 15:38

No, that doesn’t warrant keeping your deposit, it’s a slight mess which would take minutes to pick up.they should have cleaners between guests.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Cars & vehicles
Puzzledandpissedoff · 27/07/2019 15:47

Leaving it clean and tidy doesn't mean the site doesn't still have to clean the caravan

You're right, it doesn't - but maybe they're trying to save the cost of a proper cleaner by expecting guests to do it?

A lot depends on what the T&Cs said, but withholding a deposit for those few tiny things looks to me like a con

Rainonmyguitar · 27/07/2019 15:50

I'd be ashamed to leave a holiday rental in that mess, tbh

"That mess" would take 1 minute to clean, hardly shameful.

Michaelbaubles · 27/07/2019 15:53

That’s an amount of mess that I’d say is absolutely within the bounds of normal. All the perfect MNetters who strip down ovens, steam clean skirting boards and reupholster furniture in case they left a skin flake on them aren’t normal. When you think how many people leave places in an absolute state those photos are nothing at all.

MyShinyWhiteTeeth · 27/07/2019 15:57

I've always had my deposits returned in full.

Whilst the state the caravan is in doesn't seem that bad and could be quickly dealt with - I don't really understand why you didn't deal with it yourself or get others to rather than face losing your deposit. I have poor mobility too but wouldn't have left it like that.

How much was the deposit? It does seem unfair to lose all of it.

Is leaving it like that a response to not finding the caravan as clean as you would have liked at the start?

Monsteres · 27/07/2019 15:59

I'm a cleaner for holiday rental properties this isn't that dirty? If they don't provide hoover etc? We can't provide cleaning products due to health and safety (incase child drank it etc) but mop, hoover, dustpan and brush etc should left for you to use? I'd be pretty happy if people had emptiedbins and stripped beds! My idea of dirty is when people have left dirty dishes taller then me piled up in sink, muck all through house, damaged the property somehow, I don't expect guests to clean the oven?! Only times we've not given deposit back is for proper gross mess not just a small amount of 'normal use' mess

AndSheWas85 · 27/07/2019 16:00

CF's, them not you, there's no permanent damage. It would take a maximum of 2 minutes to clean up the "unacceptable mess".

itswinetime · 27/07/2019 16:01

The fruit on the flaw is a bit out of order the rest all seems a bit nit picking to me as I would (as a guest) expect them to be properly cleaned between guests anyway. I guess it all depends what the terms and conditions you signed re the deposit. If it included a phrase like 'left in the condition you found it' and it was spotless when you arrived or 'left ready for use' or something like that they are being picky but it's within their rights as that isn't how it was left.

However if the deposit was for damages/breakages/lost keys and alike they have no right keeping the deposit from you.

MrsxRocky · 27/07/2019 16:02

I thought deposit was for damages not random bit of stuff easily picked up?

namechangeninjaevervigilant · 27/07/2019 16:04

It doesn’t seem reasonable to me to withhold the deposit.

huggybear · 27/07/2019 16:05

I would be so embarrassed if this was my mess. I really would.

However I also don't think it's a reason to withhold a deposit as nothing is damaged (apart from the window which OP said was like that already).

Knittedfairies · 27/07/2019 16:09

If you're expected to leave the caravan in a pristine condition, there should be the tools to do it.

Dontfuckingsaycheese · 27/07/2019 16:10

Depends on what level of clean they've stipulated. Some just say clean and tidy ie no washing up left to do, no rubbish all over the floor. Cleaner can go in and give it the once-over. Stray apple acceptable.

Or (as we've had with private rentals) there is no cleaner and you're expected to leave it exactly in the state you arrived. Fully hoovered, mopped etc. We did it twice (even went out and bought window cleaner as there wasn't any) then decided it wasn't worth it. It was a holiday!! Spending the last day cleaning it all was a pain in the arse - ok if no-one else going in and you can take your time but last time we had new holiday makers pestering to get in while I was still a-mopping. So went somewhere next year that employs a cleaner!

huggybear · 27/07/2019 16:11

Pristine condition? There's food on the floor!

Dontfuckingsaycheese · 27/07/2019 16:12

This year we're in our own tent for 10 days. Obvs will be clean when we leave 😎

progestermoan · 27/07/2019 16:13

I can see how you could have missed the Apple

The rest of it would take a few mins to sort out. The owners surely clean between guests anyway and that level of ‘mess’ is average I’d say. Certainly not anything to withhold a deposit over

NotMaryWhitehouse · 27/07/2019 16:15

@huggybear you'd be 'embarrassed' by an apple and some crumbs......?! I must live in a parallel universe to some of you. 😮

When I am on holiday, I am paying someone else to do the housework.

Would all those people who are scandalised by this be as shocked by a banana? What about if the apple was on the table rather than under it??

OP, they are very cheeky and I hope you get your deposit back!

Dontfuckingsaycheese · 27/07/2019 16:17

One stray apple easily overlooked. It's the equivalent of a bottle of shampoo left in the shower imo. It's an apple. Not a turd.

Muddlingalongalone · 27/07/2019 16:17

Surely they pay for cleaner between lets anyway built into the price so absolutely no need to withhold deposit??

Drogosnextwife · 27/07/2019 16:17

They are trying to get out of giving you back your deposit, that's all this boils down to. They are being petty, and I'm someone who leaves holiday homes/caravans spotless, sometimes cleaner than when I arrived.

huggybear · 27/07/2019 16:19

@notmarywhitehouse

Can you not see all the pictures? It's not the apple it's the stuff all over the floor. It would have taken one min to pick up/wipe up by someone else in OPs family, it's not as though it's some dust

sackrifice · 27/07/2019 16:22

Do you not pay a cleaning fee anyway?

RedDogsBeg · 27/07/2019 16:25

I can only see the first 3 pictures huggybear, cannot see the window people are referring to nor the tortilla chips or stuff all over the floor. I don't know why some pictures show on MN and some don't it often seems to happen, is it something to do with whether or not you re viewing on the App or via a laptop/desktop site?