to be angry with our holiday let guests

[birdladyfromhomealone]

As Holiday makers, have you ever wondered why you are asked to pay a refundable damage deposit?
The reason is - not every one is respectful or treats rental homes as they would their own.
Just a month ago we posted pictures of our newly refurbished studio apartment in our villa in Spain with a brand new day bed that pulls out to two singles or a double.
With thanks to our first guests of this season we will now have to refurb again although the deposit may not cover the cost of their "the bed just broke"
We have a great team of cleaners that keep our Villa in immaculate condition but they should not have to clean up what has been left.
Why would anyone leave a holiday villa in this condition?

OP, you have my sympathy. I run a holiday lettings business. 95 percent of guests are lovely and look after the places. The other 5 percent are horrendous. It's always a bad sign when they bombard me with messages in advance, asking questions that I have already answered (if they bothered to read the info I send them before their visit).

I'm afraid, though, that you have to accept that tenants are capable of any bizarre thing (we had some who broke a very sturdy metal-framed double bed - they completely shredded it. They said it 'just fell apart, and could we have a new one, please'. ). Towels get wrecked by make-up and hair dye. Someone cut holes in a White Company flannel to use it as a face-mask. Things get broken etc. It happens, and I just have to suck it up - because it mostly doesn't happen.

I disagree with all those who say you shouldn't have white cushion covers etc. All the cushions, linen, etc in my properties is white. It looks lovely, and can be replaced if necessary. People booking high-end holiday lets are on the whole expecting the 'look' of a boutique hotel, but without the price-tag. So you can't just give them any old crap. But you just have to replace and move on if things get wrecked (also make a note of "NEVER AGAIN" for said tenants on your booking lists).

Ikea beds are fine, btw. But there will always be some idiot who can break something apparently indestructible.

@Mydogisthebest I want you as my next guest, please. I would pay anyone who saved me from bed-stripping.

I bought a similar slatted bed for my DD some years ago. It was the worst, most uncomfortable bed ever, and 'broke' every single night. The slats came out ALL THE TIME and despite trying to glue them, tie them, add additional support etc, NOTHING worked. These beds are not suitable for anyone over 6 years old, regardless of what the blurb says. We took it to the dump in the end. I wouldn't have dared try to sell it to anyone.

I don't see why bags of rubbish in the kitchen should be a particular problem. The rest I can't comment on other than to say a holiday let is going to get heavy use and should be fit for purpose.

I think unfortunately you have to get a thick skin op when letting properties out, people just don't look after stuff.

I don't do holiday lets but I rent out several properties. I have to buy so many new washing machines, dishwashers, ovens, microwaves every year as they never seem to last more than a couple of years in rentals, where as in your own house you might get 7-8 years at least out of white goods. Used to piss me off but I just accept it now.

Agree that beds with slats in a rental is a no no. Divan beds (with no drawers to break) are the way to go.

All you can do is add up a fair cost for the permanent damage (not mess as you pay a cleaner to deal with that) and send it to them. I suspect they won't pay any more than the deposit already but it might make them more mindful next time.

I’d be livid about the pool tiles and wires.
The day bed and rubbish is meh, what you’re charging them for. How much did you charge by the way?

My first thought was that the bed looks very flimsy. It was only a matter time before it broke. But, yes, all the other stuff, what they have done is unacceptable.

I'd be gutted if that was a bed at a holiday let sorry ... looks the most uncomfortable bed ever

And if you paid 700 euros for the bed you were done! Those things sell for around £99.... and are worth about £0.

My three year old daughter has a bed with slats like that.

It’s fine for her. DH can’t look at the thing without tje slats popping out. Drives me mental.

A few comments here as a holiday cottage owner. I don't expect guests to clean, but it is lovely when they do, and I always email those who have to thank them afterwards. The clean still takes the same time (as I have to do it all again anyway, to satisfy myself) but its so much more pleasant to do, especially bathrooms.

I prefer people not to strip the beds, because then I can check them for any stains and treat before washing accordingly. But to be fair, the ones who strip the beds are the least likely to have left stains, so I risk it and bung straight in the washing machine.

I am very happy to be left unopened food in fridge/cupboards. I hate waste too so will take home and use it. Yesterday I bought home soup, juice and eggs. Only applies to unopened and in date food - no one appreciates a decanted bowl of baked beans with cling film.

Op I feel for you. Your let has clearly been abused.

I think that the problem might be the size. If it can sleep 10 people, then it’s always going to have a “party” or 2/3 families or one large/extended family. In any case, the problem is a collective lack of responsibility/general chaos.

I’d consider restricting numbers to 6.

If your main gripe is the bed YABVU. I wouldn’t even let my teenagers (who don’t jump on beds) sleep on that as it looks very flimsy and as though it would be weight rated at 50kg if lucky. Even though it’s a day bed, it can be used as a bed so should be fit for purpose and clearly from the photo it’s only suitable for a toddler, not nearly sturdy enough for anyone else. Every bed provided should be suitable for any person. So a poor purchasing decision is not someone else’s fault. They left it sideways to indicate it was broken/don’t use and the mattress was on the floor as obviously that’s where the person slept given the bed was broken. I’m also confused, there were 9 people and 4 rooms in the main house, is that correct? If so, then it’s not surprising the extra room was used.

The white cushions, too hard to say. Were the stains something like red wine (which is unreasonable) or a stain left by body lotion/sunscreen/sweat/fake tan etc (which are all expected and so dark coloured cushions would be sensible).

The rubbish is odd. Definitely not 2 weeks though. That’s what we would accumulate in 2 days. So they had obviously been taking rubbish out for the majority of the stay and left 2 days worth when they left. That’s weird but it’s neatly bagged so it’s no biggie. Leaving rotting food in the fridge IS off. However, I know my mum always leaves half empty sauce bottles, juice containers, butter etc as she is adamant the cleaners take these home and make use of them .

The pool tiles and pulled out wiring ARE unacceptable, no idea why there was no initial outrage or pictures about these as they are the only valid gripes I can see?

IME, people use the day bed for siestas, & late night shmoozing.

It may well be that there were more than the official number of pax in there. (other friends turning up etc)

Also the pool pump very likely did turn off in the evening, so it may be they didn't understand, (at night if you swim with no pump the skimmer flaps tap quite loudly.)

Leaving the bins inside was lazy (& smelly) & causes ants/wasps to enter.

If they broke tiles around the pool, there must be some really dodgy tiling. I have rented a villa for 15 years & no one has ever broken a tile.

Never put white cushions on a holiday let, even just sitting with wet cozzies can stain. its one of those items you know you will change annually anyway.

But, the place was clearly not cared for, do not return their caution, & replace with a different type of sofa.... (most people would have tried to hide the damage to the day bed, so clearly they didn't care)

Make sure you have a damages deposit that covers the damages.
People moan, but if they don't trash the place they get it back...

Also put a clause in your contract that if the property is not left in an appropriate manner there will be 100€ deducted for supplementary cleaning

It goes with the rental business, unfortunately there are a lot of people who simply do not know how to behave. (the British are not the worst :O) )

Sorry, but as a holiday let cleaner in my youth, I would not bat an eyelid at that 'rubbish'. Sometimes people would take everything away, sometimes they would leave it like that.

I didn't like the utter slobs, but anything inbetween spotless and needing to actually do the job I was paid to do was fine. Leaving food was also fine - I took what we wanted home, left non-perishable things in the little store (the owners kept a small pantry of commonly used goods - pasta, rice, salt etc).

Re: the beds - my first thought was that the slats looked awfully thin. Leaving it like that IS very weird, but I think it's possible that the damage was done over a few uses, and this was the final straw. I 'broke' a bed just by sitting on it in my 3rd year at uni, and the landlord replaced it first thing next day (I emailed him at 11pm!).

To be honest, a sturdy bed wouldn't break with just a bit of boisterous play or sex, and a flimsy bed would break quickly anyway. So either some damage was already there to a sturdy bed, or it was flimsy.

You do see some stuff and wonder how people manage to do it, like pulling wires out of the wall.

Why did they have keys to the studio if they had not booked it? I too would question the robustness of an Ikea day bed for regular use as a sofa. Did the contract state they were to remove all rubbish and perishables from the villa on leaving and how/where to leave it. Are you nearby to deal with initial queries and is there an information folder left in the villa to avoid the minor issues.

And is that a trailing wire in the studio, maybe get some trunking to tuck it away.

I also run a holiday let here in the UK. I'm afraid you win some and you lose some. The bed looks fairly flimsy and I wouldn't expect guests to take rubbish out. It's a bonus but not a given.

As for calling the agent, yes that sounds daft.

I think that anywhere that caters for large groups will inevitably attract large groups! That means fun and parties.

I think you aren't cut out for the trade.

Anyway, I expect you make a fortune from it so I have little sympathy.

Ikea beds are usually good - we've used them in children's homes - sturdy. I agree it looks as tho it has been jumped on and destroyed. I'd be pretty upset too - you just expect people to treat things with respect and this sounds wholly disrespectful - and costly - hopefully to them!

my sister in law bought my niece (6) the same bed, after 2 weeks she had to return it, as the slats in the middle snapped, and the legs bowed, if you read the reviews on the bed you will see its a common fault. Also the bins are a non issue, there will be some mess left, its not ideal but its not something you can deduct money for either.

Was this an English family? Our relative rents his house abroad out but only to the Dutch. He reckons the English don’t make good guests.

Wires were pulled out and you're worried about some bagged up rubbish?

I'm confused.

I totally understand the need for a deposit on holiday lets.

Maybe you need to consider taking a larger deposit for large groups.

And white cushions? Really?

Take the ikea bed back, they will possibly refund

the bed frame also did not also cost £615.00 also OP, ikea prices differ by rates internationally but only by a few pounds, not hundreds, and that's only due to the interest rates.

We used to clean holiday rentals and some people are totally disgusting. We once thought a property had been ransacked, it was that bad. I had to mail the owner immediately to tell/show her before I cleaned. She was gutted as it was someone they knew. When she challenged them they said it was our holiday, we paid for the property we will leave it as we like

We've just come back from a villa holiday. I don't clean or stripe the beds but take out all the rubbish,clear out the fridge, put the used towels in the bath, take the cushions inside and make sure it is tidy and presentable.