Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

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

Holiday cottages- what state should they be left in?

51 replies

Shadowboy · 27/07/2019 17:58

So we are off to a quite expensive coastal area of the UK for a week and have rented a quite expensive cottage (relevant) at £2800 for 7 nights. It’s via a professional cottage company. I have never stayed in a cottage from a property company like this before.

All linen etc are provided.
We have to be out by 10am when we leave.

What condition should the property be left in? Ie are we expected to strip beds? Hoover? Clean bathrooms?

I’m hoping for the price paid, if I leave it with bins emptied, fridge clean, beds stripped but un-hoovered and bathrooms not cleaned out this will be acceptable? No deposit is held- no instructions given.

Or should I hoover etc? I don’t even know what cleaning equipment they provide?

OP posts:
Dontgiveamonkeys1350 · 27/07/2019 18:00

It should be on the website. We have always stayed at cottages like this. Normally they ask you to just clean a bit and hoover before you go. But I would email them and ask?

BKJ89 · 27/07/2019 18:02

Any reputable company would have their own cleaners even if they don't do it themselves. I would usually have a bit of a tidy before leaving - clean dishes, make the beds, leave dirty towels in the laundry basket or bath if basket not available. I wouldn't leave it in a mess but wouldn't take the time to deep clean as, after all, that's a lot of money to pay to then be expected to clean it afterwards x hope you enjoy your stay x

LIZS · 27/07/2019 18:03

I always strip beds, leave towels in bath and wipe/hoover/sweep.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Holidays
Original poster
Shadowboy · 27/07/2019 18:04

It just states to ensure the house is left tidy. That’s all it states.

We normally hotel/stay in lodges.

Do holiday cottages not get cleaned between rentals? Should I take cleaning products? For the cost I (possibly stupidly) assumed some degree of ‘service’ to the property between rentals.

OP posts:
Mincepies76 · 27/07/2019 18:04

I've stayed in lots of houses and cottages. I never hoover or strip the beds. Empty buns and leave it tidy but that's it. Cleaning is usually included (or has been where I've been)
Not really a holiday if you're hoovering and striping Bess!

Invisimamma · 27/07/2019 18:05

I don't clean it. I do any dishes and empty the bins, that's it. I expect they get cleaners in at the end of every rental.

Mincepies76 · 27/07/2019 18:05

bins

sleepwhenidie · 27/07/2019 18:05

It will be cleaned but IMO it’s polite to strip beds and pile sheets with used towels, take out rubbish (including part used contents of fridge, unopened and fresh stuff I tend to leave in case a cleaner could use it) and leave floors and kitchen surfaces reasonably clean but not necessarily immaculate, a quick wipe down/sweep or vacuum is ok.

Mincepies76 · 27/07/2019 18:05

Beds...god damn autocorrect!

shazchip · 27/07/2019 18:06

I stay in these kind of places a lot, don't see the point in cleaning as it would be weird if they hadn't already arranged cleaners themselves prior to the next guests.

A friend of mine always makes the bed which I don't see the point in either as they're just going to strip them.

Things like taking rubbish bags out, I would just to help out, and if they specifically WANT you to it'll usually say on the arrival instructions or something.

Have a great stay 😃

Disfordarkchocolate · 27/07/2019 18:06

I never strip beds. We (husband) hoover, wipe kitchen and bathroom and put anything back in the correct place. Bins are emptied if possible (had one place with no outside bin) and dishwasher ran that day if we have one. That it's.

UrsulaPandress · 27/07/2019 18:06

See other thread about a retained deposit in a caravan.

Nquartz · 27/07/2019 18:07

We usually just stick dirty towels in the bath, wash up, empty bins. DM vacuums because she has a dog.

WhereDoesThisToiletGo · 27/07/2019 18:07

If there is a dishwaher, put it on then it should be finished ready to be emptied when cleaner comes.

InTheHeatofLisbon · 27/07/2019 18:08

I clean on the morning we leave while everyone else is getting organised.

I always clean the bathrooms and the kitchen thoroughly, strip the beds and put all the laundry together (towels and bedding), and run the hoover round.

But I don't know if it's expected or not, it's just what I've always done.

chemenger · 27/07/2019 18:09

I don’t hoover or strip beds. I tidy, put everything back where it came from in the kitchen, wash up and wipe round in the kitchen. There will be cleaners coming in, that’s why you have to be out by ten and can’t get in before mid afternoon.

sleepwhenidie · 27/07/2019 18:09

We have a holiday cottage and it is cleaned between every set of guests - most people leave it in a reasonable state but some are shocking, a week or two ago the cleaners collected four bin bags of rubbish, there was a huge stain on a bedroom carpet (a spilt milkshake) requiring professional cleaning, loads of sand everywhere. The housekeepers has to send in two extra cleaners in order to get it done in time for next check in Shock. That’s the extreme and those guests won’t be welcome again!

LoafofSellotape · 27/07/2019 18:10

There will be instructions in the cottage.

We have never cleaned but strip beds and pile in the bath with used towels and put the rubbish out.

hotdogsummer · 27/07/2019 18:10

What company ? Some you have to leave money for a cleaner and if you don't clean the property yourself.

I have been in a property very very expensive that looked like the previous renters opted to self clean and it was poor. I think it should be included, but it isn't always. Do check their website or brochure.

If linen is included then usually you don't have to strip the beds. Some places we have paid extra to rent linen & towels, so had to make up beds ourselves.

rideawhiteswan · 27/07/2019 18:11

I've stayed in less of holiday cottages too.
I don't strip beds, (would do if asked), but I always empty bins, fridge, leave all worktops and hob a wrote down, I do give the downstairs a quick Hoover as we have a hairy dog, I make sure the bathroom is superficially clean, particularly the toilet!
I expect the cottage to be cleaned thoroughly between lets so do the minimum, I wouldn't stay anywhere I had to do a thorough clean, that's no holiday!

HollowTalk · 27/07/2019 18:11

An owner on here said she didn't want people to strip their beds. At that cost and at that time in the morning I certainly wouldn't do it.

Take the rubbish out and that's it. You are paying a lot of money for accommodation and a service. Cleaning will be included.

ChiaraRimini · 27/07/2019 18:12

There will be instructions in the booking confirmation if they want you to do anything specific.
Hope it's good for that money!

AwkwardSquad · 27/07/2019 18:12

We leave the place clean and tidy eg dishes done or dishwasher on, surfaces wiped, bins emptied, bathroom wiped down, quick buzz with hoover, beds airing but not stripped. Half an hour’s worth.

Nat6999 · 27/07/2019 18:13

I always make sure the dishwasher is emptied, all pots put away, fridge emptied, leave all dirty towels in the bath, rubbish taken out & leave the place tidy, last few cottages we have used had laminate flooring downstairs so there was probably some sand around but that is all. Final thing before we leave I always go round & check that we haven't left anything under beds or in wardrobes & drawers.

Villanellesproudmum · 27/07/2019 18:13

We are currently in a Sykes cottage and there doesn't seem to be any rules I can find other than leave by 10 am. I'll ensure that there are no dirty dishes and clean the bathroom and kitchen esp as I met the cleaner by accident and she was really nice and gave us lots of tips on places to go.