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Original poster

What chance have we got of getting a partial Airbnb refund?

26 replies

LondonGrimmer · 18/08/2021 18:51

Booked in Feb. Cost just shy of £1k for a 2-bed ground floor apartment in a popular seaside resort in UK for 7 nights.

In June the hosts ("Superhosts") contacted us to say they were aware the building works next door were noisy and some people had mentioned it on their review. They offered us the chance to cancel with a full refund, but that was mid June and everywhere else within our budget and a 4hr drive would have been booked up, plus we were hopeful that things would be quieter in two months.

Well, it was like living right next to a building site with drilling, hammering, shouting and generators etc from 7.30/8am - 7pm every day Mon - Sat Sad we only got one lie-in which was Sunday. It was waking the children up every morning. Not the peaceful retreat they'd advertised.

We have sent pics and videos to the hosts as evidence of how bad it was and have politely requested a small partial refund. We did acknowledge that the works are completely out of their hands but perhaps they'd consider it as a gesture of goodwill. We've not heard back for over 24hrs now so wondering if we've got 0 chance...and what other people's views are?

We'd not had a holiday for over two years, both key workers last year, and had saved for this... Just so disappointed Sad

OP posts:
Divebar2021 · 18/08/2021 18:59

I can empathise as I’m in an air BnB at the moment and it hasn’t been plain sailing. I do think you’re being a bit unfair though. They warned you that there was building next door and you decided to gamble and go anyway. The landlord has no control over the noise from elsewhere so all they can say is “ don’t come” If they had not told you then you would have had good cause to request a partial / refund.

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 18/08/2021 18:59

Sorry your holiday wasn't as anticipated, OP.

However, I reckon the fact that the owners offered you a full refund and a heads-up about the building works weeks in advance (but you chose to continue with the booking regardless) means you probably won't have a leg to stand on, unfortunately. Perhaps, if you'd quibbled about a partial refund in advance it would have been forthcoming but it's probably a bit rich to ask for one retrospectively when you'd been advised that other guests had found it a nuisance.

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 18/08/2021 19:00

it being the next-door building works.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Holidays
SisterMonicaJoansHabit · 18/08/2021 19:03

You were warned and offered a full refund in advance. It's sad but you had warning.

HeyDemonsItsYaGirl · 18/08/2021 19:07

They'll probably give you something to avoid a bad review but you've been really unfair to them.

Enough4me · 18/08/2021 19:08

I'm not sure they should refund you as you kept the booking knowing about potential noise.

If you had agreed and cancelled they would have no doubt resold to others who accepted the potential noise issues, so they would not have lost income.

Galassia · 18/08/2021 19:13

No you are not entitled to a refund as you were given fair warning and the option to cancel.

If you leave a bad review that would be deeply unpleasant of you.

Original poster
LondonGrimmer · 18/08/2021 19:15

Ok, thanks for your opinions, much appreciated and kind of what I expected I think.

Family members have said we should have negotiated a price reduction beforehand if noise was indeed an issue.

Yes we gambled as not had a holiday in so long and were desperate, and booked in Feb. They said they'd heard all scaffolding had to be down in the town by end of June, and as our holiday wasn't until August we were hopeful all the heavy work would have been done/it would only be a few hours a day not 7.30am for almost 11hrs.

Also, I'm an eternal optimist which doesn't help Wink

Will write a nice review then and chalk it down to experience...

OP posts:
Cillmantain · 18/08/2021 19:18

You are being unreasonable to expect
a refund .
You were advised what to expect and chose to go ahead anyway.

Original poster
LondonGrimmer · 18/08/2021 19:18

@Galassia we would never write a bad review. The place was lovely and spotlessly clean, and the hosts have been great with their communication (until now). Was just hoping they'd perhaps consider a 5 - 10% refund as a gesture of goodwill but I've no experience of this, hence asking on here.

I'm known for my kindness and generosity so if I were in their shoes I'd not hesitate to give a small % refund.

OP posts:
GreyhoundG1rl · 18/08/2021 19:20

They were totally upfront and gave you the option to cancel.
It would be beyond cheeky to whine about it now, never mind look for a refund.
What "goodwill" are you talking about, exactly? You got exactly what they offered and you agreed to.

Original poster
LondonGrimmer · 18/08/2021 19:25

The hosts were hopeful the works would be complete by August too, not just us (they don't live in the area so didn't know for themselves).

We gambled and lost. Will just suck it up. Just feeling a bit sad that's all (but know never to come here looking for sympathy so not asking for any!).

OP posts:
GoWalkabout · 18/08/2021 19:26

Beyond cheeky sorry

CloseYourEyesAndSee · 18/08/2021 19:27

It's a shame but you aren't entitled to a refund. You went ahead knowing about the noise and refused a free cancellation. You got the accommodation cheaper than anything else would have been if you had booked later. Presumably you went out during the days? It's not relaxing but you could have made other choices.

HeyDemonsItsYaGirl · 18/08/2021 19:32

I'm known for my kindness and generosity

Hmm
Original poster
LondonGrimmer · 18/08/2021 19:38

@HeyDemonsItsYaGirl yeah, I realise now how big headed and crass that sounds now Blush. Didn't mean it to come across like that, I'm just exhausted. Ignore me please.

OP posts:
CloseYourEyesAndSee · 18/08/2021 19:40

[quote LondonGrimmer]@HeyDemonsItsYaGirl yeah, I realise now how big headed and crass that sounds now Blush. Didn't mean it to come across like that, I'm just exhausted. Ignore me please.[/quote]
Thing is, they aren't letting you stay as a favour, it's a business and they could probably have let the place for half as much again even with the noise if you'd cancelled so they are not obligated to give you money back from 'kindness' when you chose to stay!

Doublevacc · 18/08/2021 19:43

I think the responses here are a bit harsh. I suspect the owners wouldn't have been able to let it for £1K if they were open about the noise levels. That's pretty crap for your holiday and I think some kind of discount would be fair enough.

GreyhoundG1rl · 18/08/2021 19:45

@Doublevacc

I think the responses here are a bit harsh. I suspect the owners wouldn't have been able to let it for £1K if they were open about the noise levels. That's pretty crap for your holiday and I think some kind of discount would be fair enough.
It's not really relevant, though. They gave op the option to cancel.
girlmom21 · 18/08/2021 19:45

@Doublevacc

I think the responses here are a bit harsh. I suspect the owners wouldn't have been able to let it for £1K if they were open about the noise levels. That's pretty crap for your holiday and I think some kind of discount would be fair enough.
They were open about it though and gave OP the option of a full refund when they became aware of the issue...
Therehavetobeadjustments · 18/08/2021 19:47

Oh bless, I do feel for you but sadly don't think you can really expect a refund as they did warn you xx

RosesandPumpkins · 18/08/2021 19:49

At least you’ll have a funny story to tell once you’re over it! Can you see the funny side of it yet?

Original poster
LondonGrimmer · 18/08/2021 20:14

No, have totally lost my sense of humour unfortunately but hey it's a story for sure. We seem to be plagued by builders as similar happened at our last holiday in 2019.

OP posts:
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 18/08/2021 20:24

The problem is that hosts won't really have any recourse with building works being carried out by NDNs. It's very unfortunate but there's not really a solution, except for ensuring you book a detached property not close to any others.

I would say £1K is pretty cheap for a summer holiday in peak season. It could have been a lot worse.

itsgettingwierd · 18/08/2021 20:24

Tbf they offered a full refund.

The time to ask what it was exactly like and ask for a discount if you went ahead was back in June.

Unless they misled you specifically (for example said it's after 9am, not at weekend etc - you got sold as seen. However bad that experience was.