...or is the airbnb host?

[raisinbranwhole]

We've just got back from a two week break when we stayed in an airbnb flat. No real issues whilst we were there.

The host has sent through a payment demand for £250 (and given us a terrible review) stating that we left the flat 'filthy' and that the money is for extra cleaning (she's also claiming we stole towels and glasses which makes me furious).

We are a family of four (two under 4) and were there for two weeks so there was the usual dirt from that (toothpaste marks, crumbs in the fridge etc) but the flat was in no way 'filthy'. She claims that she does not expect to do anything more than a 'dust and a quick vacuum' when she gets the flat back. She does not pay a professional cleaning service (like all the other apartments we've used) but does it herself. She waited four days to return to the flat after we left.

We did a few quick cleans/wipe-ups whilst we were there but no deep cleaning: we wouldn't do this in a hotel and assumed that professional cleaners would be coming in before the next guests (and that we'd paid for this).

We're not sure how to respond to her demands: AIBU is refusing to pay for this? Is there any precedent/information on what airbnb expect? I can't find anything on their website - it's all related to hosts.

Thanks.

Airbnb provisions for a cleaning fee to be added - if this host chose not to (odd, as it doesn't come up in the "headline" price...) then that was her choice.

Hell - if OP and family wiped up now and again during the holiday, doesn't mean it will be pristine after breakfast and tooth brushing on the last day.

It takes an hour tops for my husband and I to leave a holiday rental pretty much as we found it. Maybe I'm just uncomfortable with people clearing up after me, even if they are paid for it.

We only go away for a week, nothing gets filthy enough to clean tbh. Dishwasher gets loaded, loo gets flushed and cleaned before we go but that really is it. I can't imagine hoovering on holiday! Skanky here too

I admit to leaving places as near to how I found them as possible.

I didn't think I was in such a minority! A few years ago I went on a hen party weekend to Brighton where about 15 of us rented a bungalow. On the last morning, as well as tidying / washing up / stripping the beds etc., we hoovered everywhere, wiped down all work surfaces and sinks, swept and even plumped the cushions on the sofa. The landlady was surprised and extremely pleased (we were the tidiest guests she'd had apparently).

It's just common courtesy to clean up after yourselves isn't it, regardless if there is someone paid to clean up after you?

I hear similar comments from my pupils when I make them pick up their litter from the floor, or wipe up a drink spilt on the table. It's about respecting your environment.

However OP, YANBU in respect to not wanting to pay that exorbitant extra fee and I'm glad you reached a resolution.

If I have a holiday home, I expect to clean myself before the next guest arrives.

Most self catering I have charge lots of money for cleaning and as such I expect them to clean properly.

i MEAN If i was the owner I would take responsibilty for my business and my property

It's just common courtesy to clean up after yourselves isn't it, regardless if there is someone paid to clean up after you?

If I am staying somewhere I would obviously clean up each night after cooking etc. That's different to someone above who said they spend the last night of their holiday cleaning. Cleaning a property that you've paid someone else to clean is just silly.

It's just common business sense when you let out a flat for $200 a night to factor in cleaning it, isn't it?

Of course I expect the cleaners to come in between rentals. I suspect that I would be one of those people who would clean before the cleaner came if I ever hired one.

If I was letting out a property I would not entrust the cleaning to 'ready for the next guests' standard to the guests. That's madness. I would factor in a proper clean between guests, in which case crumbs on the floor or toothpaste marks are irrelevant.

If I was a guest anywhere I would want to know that the LL had cleaned it before I stayed, not that it was left to the guests and the LL only hoovered if they reckon the guests didn't bother giving it a go.

That she has accepted £50 shows that she has either calmed down from her DISGUST!!!!!! or was trying it on because sometimes people would rather pay up than make a fuss.

Anyone who spends part of their holiday cleaning a hotel room or holiday let before the cleaners come in to do a thorough clean must have OCD. What a complete waste of time and effort.

OP, I think you have been had. No wonder she wants to put it all behind you, she's got 50 quid of your hard earned cash for nothing. I hope she has removed her review and I would seriously consider contacting airbnb about what has happened.

We own 2 holiday properties (one Coastal, the other city) and we do NOT expect people to clean up before they leave beyond the normal course of things. So we wouldn't expect a spill to be left or a kitchen bin full of fish guts but, equally, we assume we will spend 4-6 hours cleaning everything. To be honest, few people can get it really clean enough and the process of changing beds and cleaning under things means that it will have to be hoovered again.

Tomorrow DH is going to our cottage which will have had 2 adults, 3 children and a dog in for a fortnight (plus assorted friends staying nearby). When he went to do their mid-stay linen change and clean, he too away 17 wine bottles and 2 huge boxes of beer bottles (no recycling here unless you take it yourself so we do it for them). We expect the place will be fairly sandy, doggy and used. He will clean the cooker, scrub every surface, pull out furniture, do windows etc (along with someone else) and make it totally pristine. Even if they leave it really, really clean, there will still be plenty to do.

We are offering someone a holiday, not a week of drudgery. Yes, please do your washing up (or fill the dishwasher) but you don't have to scrub it clean.

We charge a price that includes cleaning costs, electricity etc. We don't take a deposit and people are usually lovely.

The problem in the coastal cottage is sand. In the city, it is make-up on white pillows and towels!

Glad it worked out OP

Although I would wipe up obvious things like toothpaste marks and crumbs, I'm surprised by the disgust.

And I agree that i wouldn't trust guests to clean to my standards. If you are going to get a cleaner in, they can clean it thoroughly, and in that context, crumbs and toothapaste are neither here nor there.

We have rentals and although we have a cleaner it is stated to leave the let how you would expect to find it and those who do not clean are added to a black list witch is shared with 100's of other owners who add people to it for damage and cleaning issues.

I stand by if you wouldn't like to find it dirty don't leave it dirty and remind you that its those who leave it very dirty and break/steal things is the reason you have to pay an extra bond to go away.

The cleaner should only need to do basics of wiping over sides/sinks/toilets and hoovering but not because they can see dirt but just to make sure.

Be careful those of you who don't clean before your whole family's blacklisted, an example of the list would be;

Mrs Smitch from blackpool rented for 1 week for herself, mum, sister and two young children, the accommodation was left dirty ( Hair on sides and floor, bin overflowing, food in sink, tooth paste in sink, grease on cooker and sides, pegs broken/missing etc)

Never heard of this blacklist thing....We just charge them a price that pays for a through clean and feel happy when it doesn't take as long.

Can you put a link to your property, chatty, so I make sure not to give you my money?

While I would endeavour not to leave a property like Mrs Smitch does they seem like exceedingly petty reasons to blacklist someone.

Seconded.

Arf @ black list

But there was hair, DameD! Hair!

I'd like you on my blacklist Chattymummy.

Hair and broken pegs! Pegs I say!!

Dear God, as Zucker said you go on holiday to get away from the daily grind. How can you say you expect a cleaner - someone who is paid to clean- to do only the basics, because you expect the holiday makers to do the bulk of it?

Your holiday cottages are definitely ones to avoid if there's no deep cleaning between lettings going on.

But Margot, imagine the trauma of being first on the scene of a broken peg crime. I'd be charging for therapy, never mind cleaning.

"I stand by if you wouldn't like to find it dirty don't leave it dirty"

I wouldn't like to find it dirty because I've paid a great big pile of cash for the use of the property. Anything beyond a quick going over is excessive. The cleaner should be cleaning it - clue's in the name. And part of the bill for me staying there. Do you go into the kitchen at restaurants to clean your plate?!

I would only hoover or mop if we'd made an excessive amount of mess - spillages of food etc. or mud. Normal everyday stuff - no.
I always clean the food prep area, and wipe the tables clean after eating; and I would probably wipe away obvious toothpaste marks, but I wouldn't get overzealous about sparkling sinks/bath/shower. I wouldn't clean the shower at all unless we had somehow made it utterly disgusting with mud/hair etc.
I would put the bins out though and make sure the fridge had no spillages in it.

I'd be appalled if I went into rented holiday accommodation and found it hadn't been cleaned properly though! I was a bit at one old-fashioned hotel we stayed at once - the beds were fine, the bathroom was clean, but they'd not hoovered under or behind the bed in about 30 years, judging by the dust build up there! (something fell off the bedside table, that's why I was looking)