To expect holiday cottage to be cleaned during our stay?

[Uhohmummy]

We’re renting a holiday house for 3 weeks this summer. The company we’re renting through has said sheets will be changed once a week but otherwise they don’t arrange any cleaning.
AIBU to expect the house to be cleaned once a week and clean towels to be provided? Presumably they would do this if there were 3 separate week-long lets so why not for a longer let? We’re not paying any less for 3 weeks in a row than we would for 3 separate weekly lets.

You get what you pay for, if your booking arrangement did not mention cleaning services why would you expect that.
I am surprised you are getting sheets and towels laundered.
You are been unreasonable and petty.

Absolutely not. We only accept two week bookings in the summer. Change towels and sheets once a week and of course it is less then a sort stay and that is factored in.

It is not a hotel, I wish people would realise this. The other day someone complained on here about no egg slicer.

Really?

I had a very unpleasant woman stay for 3 months once over winter. She paid basically what it cost me to pay the bills! Brought her dog too. Phoned and asked me what day I was cleaning.

I am not a maid!

It isn't usual to have cleaners in during your stay. You are self catering and I have always accepted that for the privacy one takes on tidying and a bit of cleaning. You might find you get towels with the clean sheets. Different lets have different conditions; sometimes you can pay extra for a midweek clean or a daily maid service.

We’re not scuzzy but we do have 3 small DC (5, 3 and a baby) so we do tend to make a mess!

Which I assume you manage to clean up yourself when you’re at home?

Depends...I have a holiday let. They pay the rent plus a one off cleaning charge when they book. The house is clean when they arrive and will be cleaned again when they leave ready for the next guest.

If they want an additional clean, they can pay for one. Otherwise, we have plenty of towels and a washing machine. We also have spare bedding if they want to change themselves.

If the cleaning fee is a one off charge then no, I would not expect a clean throughout your stay. If there are three separate weeks of lettings, then that should include cleaning and of course would be cleaned. You need to check if your letting fee really does cost the same if it were three separate weeks.

It is bound to be rented at a small discount and 3 small children is not the same as a couple is it? MUCH more work re towels sheets and end of stay cleaning.

People need to wise up. It is self catering FGS. Totally unreasonable to expect cleaning unless you book and pay for it.

Prices quoted are a guide line only.

No I wouldn't expect cleaning in a self catering cottage.

No I wouldn’t expect it to be cleaned mid stay unless it was clearly specified

No I would expect towels and sheets changed but not a clean.

Thinking about it, I'd be happy if they left me spares and I could change and wash as needed during the stay.

We’re not scuzzy but we do have 3 small DC (5, 3 and a baby) so we do tend to make a mess!
But surely you would clean the mess up each day at home, and even in a hotel if you made a mess you would clean it up.

Relax! You're on holiday. You can let things 'slide', otherwise it's not a holiday for you.
That's one of the downsides to having a cottage. You have to do the cooking and cleaning. It's a busman's holiday for the wife!
I always make sure that we have more meals out . No way am I cooking all through the holiday!
And certainly not cleaning, apart from the very end.

Used to work for holiday rental firm. Housekeepers HATED cleaning around guests. We offered it for an additional fee on stays over a week. Much harder to do a good job when the place is full of people's stuff. If they're in, you're getting in their way. If they're not in you'you're at risk of being blamed if something goes missing (even if it's just something they'be temporarily misplaced - we'd field calls accusing them). Wouldn't offer it again.

No it’s self catering you do it yourself.

Obviously going against nearly everybody, but yes, I absolutely would expect it to have a basic clean (bathrooms and kitchen esp) new towels and bedding change.

We have had all our holidays in holiday cottages in UK over many years, admittedly more high end cottages, and we have almost always had a basic clean as above after a week if we are staying for two weeks. The only place we didn’t was when there was a £50 discount if staying for 2 weeks.

Wow some pretty rude responses here.
I genuinely asked AIBU. Happy to be told yes but not to be sworn at and called petty and ridiculous.
Thanks to everyone who gave a polite opinion. I have adjusted my expectations accordingly.
The rest of you can do one.

No of course it won't be cleaned during your stay. Why can you not keep it clean and tidy as you go along?

pudcat, yes you would think that people would clean up if they made a mess in a cottage or hotel etc wouldn't you? Speaking as someone who use to clean hotels, holiday homes, gites etc I can tell you many people don't. In fact you would be surprised just how many people are absolutely disgusting.

Just because people are on holiday does not mean they should become pigs. Of course they may well be at home too

Our cleaner not keen to clean mid stay because leaves her vulnerable to accusations of theft/damage with all the guest’s belongings there. But would drop off clean towels and linens if requested. There is a washing machine and tumble dryer.

As a guest as a child we used to dread the cleaners coming in mid stay because, unaccustomed to having cleaners and not wanting to give any excuse not to be able to come back the following year all the adults would go into pre-cleaner mode. So essentially doing a full clean before the cleaner arrived! She reported back to the owners, it was a prime beachfront house, and we loved going there. The feeling has lingered - when I had home cleaners I always used to do a mini clean before they came. A pride thing. Probably why I don’t bother any more!

mydogisthebest we stayed in a hotel in Ilfracombe once and the cleaners started cleaning when guests were down for breakfast. One couple were thrown out because their room was so disgusting. I always make sure everything is tidy. When we did self catering in France we cleaned everything before we left as you could lose some of breakages deposit if not.

In my experience there's often not the equipment to do a decent clean in SC rentals. I've found things like a Hoover or mop are pretty rare. Usually there's just a dust pan and brush.
It's all very well for people to say clean as you go but do they really expect OP to take a vacuum cleaner on holiday?

It’s really interesting that the majority of people seem not to expect a clean mid stay, other than fresh bedding and towels and that most expect to do their own tidying/ basic cleaning.

I say that because there was a thread a short time ago, when a holiday let owner was annoyed about the mess and damage left by tenants and many posters thought it was unreasonable to expect holidaymakers to clean and tidy a cottage or apartment before leaving.

I think that you choose a holiday let based on the criteria that are important to you and the more expensive it is, the more you expect in terms of facilities and equipment. Not fussed about an egg timer though.

I would like fresh bedding if it was a two week stay and probably towels, but I wouldn’t want anyone coming in, unless something needed to be fixed.

No wouldn’t expect it unless it was explicitly stated. Most holiday lets expect you to leave it clean or get charged

ShottaSheriff I completely agree re luxury holiday cottages being pretty poor in general and especially in terms of cleanliness and comfort. Who wants to go on holiday and have to spend it cleaning and changing sheets. It’s not cheap either. Abroad you get a maid service

As for leaving the place clean, yes most people will do the basics, clean out perishables from the fridge, mop and vacuum, empty bins etc.

But TBH I always prefer to pay the owner for cleaning the place (deeply). It's part of the holiday expense and is not usually that much overall.

I couldn't be arsed deep cleaning a place when packing and leaving a place TBH, and it probably would NEVER reach the owner's standards anyway no matter what.

I believe in France they expect you do a deep clean yourself. Nope not happening for me anyway.

I'm on holidays, and probably wouldn't even clean my own house as much as might be expected in some lets. I will always pay for it to be done at the end of the let. Clean around, leave it civilised, and GO!

Well, I have rented out my villa for 15 years.

Spotless on arrival, welcome pack, any cots, highchairs etc for children.

Linen and towels changed each week.

Do not expect it to be clean on departure (and it isn't) It has to be redone anyway for next guests.

This is standard. Never had complaints. Ever. Definitely don't clean in between. Just pool.

If you asked for it to be cleaned in between I wouldn't take the booking. Always fully booked and it would spell trouble to me.
How dirty are you.
Of course there is a mop and cleaning products etc.