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Original poster

Mice in Air BNB

115 replies

Oneglassisnotenough · 09/04/2023 16:45

Hi there … we stayed in an Airbnb and discovered a mouse in the middle of the night after hearing rustling in the kitchen. We went into the kitchen and saw a mouse in a carrier bag we had put down that had food in it. As soon as we opened the bag it was gone as quick as a flash- so unable to take any photos or even see where it went.
We have emailed the owners . No reply as yet but just wondering what , if anything, we can expect from them regarding this?
For context: the kitchen smelt “off “ and weird when we first entered the property and I opened a kitchen window- but my husband told me to close it as it was cold. I have no evidence as proof as such and no photos.
It was a rural property and we are home now.

Any advice would be appreciated please .

OP posts:
SergeiL · 10/04/2023 12:48

Why are people being so mean?

I would get on to Air BnB if you don’t hear back soon. It sounds like more than a chancer field mouse based on the other things you now realise pointed to active mice in the property and therefore they need to address it for future visitors.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 10/04/2023 12:51

I would go through the proper AirBnb channels.

you don’t have any evidence but you’re certainly doing the owners a favour informing them of your concerns.

Original poster
Oneglassisnotenough · 10/04/2023 12:55

ReadersD1gest · 10/04/2023 12:43

You don't have to keep explaining why you found mice in your accommodation repugnant, op. Everyone would, even those suggesting it was no big deal.

I know it’s just that there are posters whose comments are making me feel like I have to justify it.

OP posts:
GretaGood · 10/04/2023 12:59

The hay smell is probably mice.
And they dribble urine when they run about so if on work surfaces not good.
When was the cleaner in - as they may just have hoovered up all the droppings before you Arrived.

If what you saw was all of the droppings then the mouse won’t have been there long.

If I had an arirbnb I’d put down poison eg in the loft

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 10/04/2023 13:00

It isn't your fault.
I mean ideally you don't leave a plate with cheese out overnight but you know that already and it was an oversight.

The one thing I would say is because you have no proof, you'll probably get an apology and that's it. I would personally want a partial refund but then I would have taken pictures of the chewed food and packets as well as the droppings. Without these you won't really be able to prove anything.

GretaGood · 10/04/2023 13:04

And all this I lived in the countryside and got the odd mouse - ‘A female mouse gets pregnant about 5 to 10 times each year and can give birth to a litter of 3 to 14 pups. ‘

The odds on it being one mouse are very small.

GretaGood · 10/04/2023 13:05

If you are staying on can you set a trap - maybe borrow one from neighbours or look in the garden shed.

SlipSlidinAway · 10/04/2023 13:20

@GretaGood - op has already said she is home now.

rileynexttime · 10/04/2023 13:25

I feel for you OP.

Also ...I wonder when the place was last occupied and cleaned .A longish time and I'd expect someone to do a quick check before new guests arrive .
A short time and with evidence of droppings on the floor and the smell so quickly ,then I'd be thinking this is a lot of mice .
Not just one or two stray visitors from the fields .

SlipSlidinAway · 10/04/2023 13:30

Totally amazed by the number of people saying you're bound to get the odd mouse in a rural property so what's the problem. We've been renting rural cottages in the uk and Europe for decades and have never encountered any mice or seen any evidence of them.

We've also lived in a remote rural area for a few years and the only mice we've had have been in the attic. Zero evidence of them elsewhere in the house - and yes we do sometimes forget to clear away every scrap of food before we go to bed.

The only time in my entire life that I've encountered a mouse was in a flat in London when one jumped over my shoulder while I was sitting on the loo late at night. And yes, despite being in my 30s, like the op, I'd absent mindedly been clearing up little black bits, not realising what they were.

LBFseBrom · 10/04/2023 13:36

In future, when you stay anywhere make sure you leave a few crumbs and a bit of cereal on the kitchen floor for the mice each night, they'll appreciate that and won't bother you. Problem solved.

Original poster
Oneglassisnotenough · 10/04/2023 13:41

LBFseBrom · 10/04/2023 13:36

In future, when you stay anywhere make sure you leave a few crumbs and a bit of cereal on the kitchen floor for the mice each night, they'll appreciate that and won't bother you. Problem solved.

Hilarious 🙄

OP posts:
Original poster
Oneglassisnotenough · 10/04/2023 13:43

SlipSlidinAway · 10/04/2023 13:30

Totally amazed by the number of people saying you're bound to get the odd mouse in a rural property so what's the problem. We've been renting rural cottages in the uk and Europe for decades and have never encountered any mice or seen any evidence of them.

We've also lived in a remote rural area for a few years and the only mice we've had have been in the attic. Zero evidence of them elsewhere in the house - and yes we do sometimes forget to clear away every scrap of food before we go to bed.

The only time in my entire life that I've encountered a mouse was in a flat in London when one jumped over my shoulder while I was sitting on the loo late at night. And yes, despite being in my 30s, like the op, I'd absent mindedly been clearing up little black bits, not realising what they were.

Thank you for your support and kind words on this thread . Appreciated ❤️

OP posts:
Original poster
Oneglassisnotenough · 10/04/2023 13:44

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 10/04/2023 13:00

It isn't your fault.
I mean ideally you don't leave a plate with cheese out overnight but you know that already and it was an oversight.

The one thing I would say is because you have no proof, you'll probably get an apology and that's it. I would personally want a partial refund but then I would have taken pictures of the chewed food and packets as well as the droppings. Without these you won't really be able to prove anything.

I know.. so silly that I never got photos . I honestly didn’t even think about it. 😬

OP posts:
Casilero · 10/04/2023 13:52

I think for it to smell so strongly in the kitchen it's a lot more than one stray field mouse. I've lived rurally as well as stayed in a lot of holiday cottages over the years and never saw mice or their droppings. I think some people really do have low standards if they're arguing this is acceptable. It sounds grim. Especially knowing their urine has been there so long it's starting to ferment, hence the hay like smell 🤢

HaggisBurger · 10/04/2023 14:02

SlipSlidinAway · 10/04/2023 13:20

@GretaGood - op has already said she is home now.

And even if she’s wasn’t it’s certainly not up to her to start dealing with the problem.

I’d be fairly certain the owners know damn well they have a mouse problem and are just hoping you go away.

Tessisme · 10/04/2023 14:04

You are in no way culpable here OP. This place is bloody bonkers sometimes.

LBFseBrom · 11/04/2023 07:27

The owners now know the op saw a mouse in their property, it's up to them to deal with it. However the op just saw a mouse and came to no harm, the place wasn't overrun. I don't see it as a big deal. I've sometimes seen a mouse and it didn't hurt me.

rileynexttime · 11/04/2023 07:33

Have the owners been back in touch @Oneglassisnotenough ?

DaveDave · 11/04/2023 07:41

Can you leave a review somewhere? It's rubbish they aren't responding to you.

anon90210 · 11/04/2023 07:44

Oh no that's rubbish op. I wouldn't be happy.
I live rurally and can leave food out without worrying mice are going to eat it.

I hope you hear back from air bnb and get a refund.

taybert · 11/04/2023 07:45

OP, I live rurally, I leave bags of shopping out and my children sometimes leave food on a plate. I don’t have a troop of mice following me in to the kitchen with my shopping like the pied piper, my kitchen doesn’t smell and I’ve never had a mouse in my shopping. I’ve also stayed in lots of holiday cottages and never had any of the above either.

It was bad and it isn’t your fault. If the owners aren’t getting back to you then escalate to air b n b. Even if they couldn’t have done anything the owners should’ve been in touch.

12BottlesOfVintageChampagne · 11/04/2023 07:56

The smell is mouse pee. There is a reason why hospitality premises are subject to such strict legislation around pest management - mice are a health hazard. I would also report this directly to AirBnB. The owners should not get away with re-letting when they have been made aware that there is a likely infestation.

Fuctifin0 · 11/04/2023 07:56

If you haven't smelled a mice infestation, then I'm not sure you would associate the smell with them.
It is a very distinct smell.

I live very rurally, nearest neighbours are half a mile away.
We have never had mice in the house, ever.
We did have rats when we first moved in as the previous owner didn't deal with them. Once they had been moved on, we haven't had any trouble with them.

I wouldn't be happy and would take it up with Airbnb if the owners are non plussed about it. It is pretty grim!

Doingmybest12 · 11/04/2023 07:57

We got a reduction on a house we stayed in with similar issues, damp smelling , water leaking out of the sink waste, mice droppings although we never saw the mouse. The whole house was tired and for us it was a lot of money, so disappointed.