To not want to justify my existence just to stay in an Airbnb

[CanILeavenowplease]

I have had a difficult few weeks and wanted to take my children away for a few nights. I found a lovely property on Airbnb which I haven’t previously used. That seemed to put me into ‘risky’ category and the owner had to approve my booking. Fair enough. Except said owner wanted a low down on my life, the universe and everything before agreeing to rent to me. Is this how it works? We now have to justify who we are before staying somewhere? Or am I correct in wondering if the 1 adult, 3 children booking made him assume it was a single parent booking and he assumed I am in some way unsuitable as a result? I have cancelled the request to be allowed to book so if you’re reading this, middle-class professional here, able to afford your cottage without any problems whatsoever. Also clean, tidy and quiet. I have given my money to someone who was happy to accept the booking with no further questions.

I hate this 'must review everything in site' culture these days. A lot of them are fake and whose to say you agree with the reviewer anyway.

Most mumsnetters would proclaim a property 'disgusting' if they saw an insect in the property or the sheets weren't at least 300 thread count cotton, but I wouldn't give a damn.

Wow. Is that how it works?

Other people have said already, but yes, it is. The whole point of it is that it's meant to be a more reliable/truthful way of booking properties, because everyone gets, essentially, peer-reviewed, hosts and renters.

I've never asked anyone or been asked about my profession. At worst, it could be construed as snobbyness. It wouldn't put me off giving my details or booking if I really wanted to stay there. It's a business arrangement, their values would have no bearing on me.

I hate this 'must review everything in site' culture these days. A lot of them are fake and whose to say you agree with the reviewer anyway.

Not sure what's to hate. It's very easy to identify fake reviews on the big sites like TrustPilot and I expect it's impossible on AirBnB. I'd be pretty paralysed by indecision without review sites.

I’m an Airbnb host. Each host has the option to decide whether to allow instant book or pre-approve. I personally only pre-approve as I have 2 kids and I once allowed an instant book, for someone with no reviews and it was awful so never again. Some properties are people’s homes, not just property let’s. I don’t think it’s anything to do with being a single mum with 3 kids, it’s more the no reviews!

Why ask for a job title?

Perhaps to gauge how much a person earns.

But I asked why you're bringing class into this?

But a job title does not tell you how much someone earns. So many job titles tell you nothing about the actual job.

True claire, just as a job title doesn't necessarily tell you about a person's class.

Or how well behaved and tidy their kids are...

Whether or not it tells you how much somebody earns, which it doesn't, providing that they pay the requested rental fee, job title and earnings indicates nothing.

A nurse could be just starting out and earning low 20s or even less if part time or they could be an experienced nurse practitioner manager type on twice that or more.

I have a friend who works in an estate agent in Spain and their worst clients for the state the property is left in are golfers, which is quite an expensive sport/hobby and popular amongst professional men, presumably on above average earnings.

The job thing is out of order so if i tell them i dont work they wont let it out to me?

I'd agree those are odd questions. Assume they don't like anyone staying who has ever left a critical review?

I just booked somewhere else. That owner took my money without any questions.

I suppose that’s the market working as it should. Someone doesn’t like the service they receive so they take their custom elsewhere. Good result.

I have booked on Airbnb a lot. Sometimes just me, sometimes small family groups but mainly larger family groups (34 in a Scottish castle) the children generally out number the adults. Usually with 2 or more dogs, including a soppy Staffie and a Great Dane cross.

I have never been asked what I do for a living or questioned about how I was going to pay for it. The only things we have been asked is that we don’t let the dogs in the bedrooms/upstairs and to clear up after them, which of course we adhere too.

I think I have one review from a host even though I have reviewed all of the properties we’ve stayed at. It said that I stayed there and all was well.

I had this happen to me too. I stay away for work sometimes and was asked a lot of questions by an Air B&B owner, felt I had to pass a test to get in. The thing is that they review you, as well as you review them which is a bit unsettling but once you have a few favourable reviews it's ok.
Some things I like about Air B&B- it can be friendlier and cheaper- but there is more booking faf than a hotel and you often have no lock on your door which I find unsettling at times.

Um... this is all a bit much. I can easily imagine how it went. You had no reviews on AirBnb as you are a new user so they didn’t know anything about you. If you’d had some reviews, they probably wouldn’t have asked anything. But because of this, they probably Googled you or looked you up on LinkedIn. There were probably a few results for your name and they asked your profession to make sure they had the correct result (asking profession would indicate to me they were checking LinkedIn - do you have a LinkedIn profile, OP?)

It’s probably the very least they can do to vet someone who has no previous bookings on the site. People who ask these questions usually only have one property they rent out, and it may even be their family home while they’re away so they have a deeply vested interest in it being well cared-for. As for someone else taking your money no questions asked, I’d imagine they’re a more commercial outfit who probably run multiple properties and are comfortable simply charging you for any damage, should it occur, versus trying to stop damage from happening.

You should, of course, do whatever you’re most comfortable with, but I’m a little confused why you go on AirBnb when you want to book it like a hotel. Or I’d advise only view properties that “auto-approve,” so they won’t ask you anything, which is also more like a hotel booking experience. If someone may be renting you their own home, or another property they personally care for, do you really expect them to ask nothing about you? Would you, in their shoes? I’d imagine it only takes once being taken advantage of and having a lovely rental trashed before you start asking people with no Airbnb history.

And I’ve been asked “getting to know you” type questions when it’s just myself and my husband booking, so I doubt it was booking type.

And it was rental of a full property, not us staying in someone's home

So they are giving you the keys and trusting you with an asset that is worth £100,000s. Not unreasonable to ask a few questions.

RightYesButNo has it spot on. Most obvious and likely scenario.

I freqently look people up on FB or Linked-in before I work with them. I also did it with a lodger before she moved in and the Landlord of a house I rented. When we "knew everyone in the village" so to speak, (or knew someone who did), we could take people at face value. It's not quite like that anymore.

I imagine OP reads reviews before she books, checks out tradesmen on Check-a-Trade before she calls someone in to fix her plumbing and maybe does a search on a new colleague, client or supplier at work. Most people do.

OP assumes prejudice and attributes attitudes to the owner on very flimsy evidence - and then takes offence , (and posts about it on line).

I'd say the host dodged a bullet there.

It’s because that’s how Airbnb works. I use it all the time and 80% of the time I’ve stayed in someone’s actual home (they stayed elsewhere). It’s not just a holiday letting service. It’s a bit more akin to fancy couch surfing. If you don’t have a complete profile that is verified with reviews, yes, they will ask you questions (unless it’s an auto book one but those usually aren’t people’s actual homes). I’ve never had anyone ask me any questions but I usually volunteer that information up front or it’s on my profile (what I do, where I live, why I’m traveling there). If you don’t like it, you can always use something else, but you won’t find the same sorts of properties.

I think it's natural if they're going to share their home with you to have some interest in you. . It builds a bit of rapport too. I stayed in one between flats, she checked I'd be OK with her cats first & we ended up having a few great chats & a meal together with some friends of hers. I really enjoyed it after being initially quite apprehensive (social anxiety so worries about being with others in my down time) . I felt very welcomed.

YANBU - Airbnb like to charge same or more than hotels on many an occasion but their blurb comes across as dragon like precious B&B landladies of the 50's. I've seen some with ridiculous rules. If they want to earn cash from their homes they need to be a bit more professional about it. I scroll on by and find a property that suits my needs but have a giggle at the over styled overpriced boudoirs with 100's of rules.

TBH I wouldn't want 1 adult and 3 kids in my home

Would worry about damage.
Agree he probably thinks you are s single parent. I would presume that too.

Some Airbnb hosts like to check reviews of the guest before agreeing to a booking. It's nothing personal. It's why the facility for ratings/reviews work both ways.

I have never stayed at an airbnb but am planning on doing so, I am not on social media or linkedin etc. Will I be able to book a place, or should DH and I just stick with hotels?
I ask because the impression from this thread is I wouldn't have a hope of being accepted.

redredrobins, maybe try one that's run more professionally as a holiday let than someone's home. They'll probably still review you – presumably positively! and you'll be off.