Air BnB dilemma

[MrsRolly]

We are on holiday over Christmas/ New Year. We arrived in our air bnb and I went and got the shopping and then came back and tried to light the gas oven. Host had gone off to a work emergency so not been able to meet us so left the flat unlocked and sent me the building code. I messaged to discover how to work said oven and she replied saying use a lighter near the gas pipe and near the hob, absolutely fine. No lighter to be seen so we have a look in drawers and cupboards to try and find one. All in open spaces. We find a gun in the bottom drawer of a unit next to the front door and a razor sharp small knife in the room my daughter is sleeping in. (As well as what i would consider to be drugs paraphernalia. Baggies rolled up tin foil etc) we are quite alarmed by this and admittedly have no knowledge of guns or knives. Gun clearly states not a toy and doesn't feel light weight or flimsy and that it can cause serious injury or death. As we haven't met the host or had a similar situation before so are unsure of the language barrier etc we choose to contact air bnb as oppose to host for advice. They refund us and put us in touch with their security team. We leave the air bnb as the local rebooker promised by air bnb isn't forthcoming and we receive an email to say they have updated the host. Not wanting an interaction with a stranger who is now annoyed and with a freaked out 12 year old and wired two year old we head to a nearby(ish) hotel. Host has since messaged saying it is a toy gun that shoots rubber bullets and we have caused her financial hardahip so my AIBU is did we over react and should we be reimbursed for the accommodation this evening in the hotel? (Air BnB gave us a refund (via email) and we have rebooked from tomorrow but it was after 21:00 local time and nothing available on air bnb that was suitable until tomorrow) We are also absorbing the cost of the more expensive air bnb and the loss of food which may perish that i brought at the supermarket. Interested to hear others opinions. Generally quite a laid back family who have used air bnbs all over Europe but never experienced anything like this.

I’d get airbnb to pay all expenses as there were guns and drug paraphernalia in the house and you had children there?! I’m sure they will. And I’m sure they’ll cut ties with this place too! Which country was this OP?

What do you mean by baggies rolled up in tinfoil? Were the baggies empty/filled?

Hopefully you took photos as evidence? You did the right thing getting out by the way.

Oh that’s awful, the host not you!

I wouldn’t think you’d over reacted, even if the gun is a toy that shoots heavier rubber bullets not suitable for kids it shouldn’t have been accessible assuming it’s for target practice or something like that. It still doesn’t explain the knife or baggies with tinfoil or the dodgy cooker. Obviously the cooker could’ve been worked round but weapons left out with the possibility of drug dealing/use is plenty for me not to want to be there as an adult sod with kids.

They might not expect you to raid drawers but again anything dangerous/personal should be securely kept away or like knifes in an appropriate place (kitchen). I’d ask air b&b to cover the hotel for the night as it’s obviously a more urgent issue while you had a time to choose alternative accommodation.

As for the hosts earnings well i don’t know if they pay them upfront but if she hadn’t booked you how likely is it she really would’ve had another booking.

I think YABU. You've jumped to a conclusion. Fair enough - it happens. However, If you genuinely thought they were real you could have phoned the police. You didn't. To them it may look like you're after a freebie now.

Was this in the UK?

I don't think YABU at all.

You didn't know the gun laws there, there's a language barrier, I would probably have done the very same thing.

Thank you all! Was a very strange evening. Luckily Air BnB have been great and are refunding us and covering the costs. We have 100% good feedback and the last two very recent feedback has been excellent so hopefully they won't think we are onto a freebie, as that is not our style and it certainly hasn't been stress free.The host is upset and doesn't see any issue and is very defensive in her messages (which are still coming) so I'm pleased I didnt expose my kids to that.

I wouldn't expect to find drugs paraphernalia or guns or anything that resembled them in a place I was renting. Host clearly very foolish at best. Block number, ensure you don't end up out of pocket by getting incurred expenses from air BnB and have a lovely holiday.

And hey - brilliant dinner party story. Always fun to have had an adventure once they're over!