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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

107 replies

CanILeavenowplease · 20/05/2019 16:52

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.

OP posts:
ACPC · 20/05/2019 23:41

It's all very Black Mirror. I'll stick with Premier Inn. Yanbu

redredrobins · 20/05/2019 23:42

Nikita
Thanks for the tip, good to know I'm not a lost cause. Do the same rules apply in the USA or does the system differ country to country?

DarlingNikita · 20/05/2019 23:43

redredrobins, it's a global site and I think it's the same wherever you stay.

redredrobins · 20/05/2019 23:46

Nikita
Thanks again.
Will give it a go then, wish to stay near DC in US who has very small 1 bed apartment and hoped airbnb would be less expensive.

DarlingNikita · 20/05/2019 23:50

Good luck!

StCharlotte · 21/05/2019 08:18

I've stayed in a few AirBnB's and haven't been asked any personal questions although one required copies of our passports. It was worth it as she was lovely and the property and location were stunning.

Doidontimmm · 21/05/2019 08:40

Hosts get marked down by Airbnb for not giving & receiving reviews so please always review.

Notwiththeseknees · 21/05/2019 09:19

I'm an Airbnb superhost - just means my reviews are consistently good, my property is as described and I have never let guests down by cancelling a booking.

I use the instant book system, which means as a guest, if you are verified (ID, email, bank details) you can book instantly and apart from an intro note, that's the end of that. If you aren't verified, then I receive a request to book and I respond accordingly according to my 'gut feeling'.

My rental is my main home, I'm just not here that often and having spent many years renting self-catering holiday cottages, this was a natural step for me. I take an immense amount of pride in being an accommodating and generous host, tailor my welcome packs to my guests (as far as I can tell from their intro note) and make sure my guests have every single thing they could need. For example, visitors for weddings get extra towels for extra hair washing; birthdays get a homemade cake, bubbles, extra flowers; groups get extra wine & nice crisps & families get bogie boards, ice cream tokens etc. All over & above the tea, coffee, milk, butter, eggs etc. It's about the hosting for me and in order to do that a brief message about your trip is needed.

Airbnb as it is operated by me and my friends that do it is highly personal. All the items in my house are mine, chosen, enjoyed, curated and now shared with guests that I hope will enjoy them too. I know that some Airbnb's are just 'holiday lets', but we do it in the original spirit - of hosting & guests. Not landlord & renter.

I have no idea why the OP was asked her profession - I don't ask that type of question - I ask if they have been to the area before, do they need help with any bookings etc. But mostly guests tell me in their intro why they are coming, why they chose my house and that's what I like to know - so I can host well. And I love it.

Notwiththeseknees · 21/05/2019 09:23

@redredrobins not being verified is no problem. Just write a nice intro note when you ask to book. Also, you need to complete a profile too before you start, so put a couple of unique details such as a hobby in there and a nice photo and you will be away!!

ewenice · 21/05/2019 09:37

I am an airbnb Superhost of an apartment on our land, but unlike NotWithTheseKnees, I don't auto-book. Mainly because we are a no children property due to size and one of my dogs who doesn't like small children. We also don't accept dogs.

Quite often I get requests for people to bring their three children (our property sleeps 2) or their 'friendly' Labrador. If I allowed auto-book it would be a nightmare for us.

However, I never ask questions of people wanting to book unless they are very recent airbnb users and don't leave a message, in which case I will ask about their stay, what they are planning etc while in the (very, very rural) area. But have never asked what someone's job is.

I have accepted bookings for couples with small babies, and also had the odd small dog stay with us (we synchronise wee times so my grumpy boy doesn't meet up with them).

stucknoue · 21/05/2019 09:47

Just book a hotel, so much easier and often cheaper too

MTBMummy · 21/05/2019 10:19

I use AirBnB a lot and Home Away too, it's completely normal to be asked questions by your potential "host"

If you're renting out your investment to someone you don't know, don't they have a right to be cautious and ask questions about that person?

ladybee28 · 21/05/2019 10:39

AirBnB hosts are just people – I've had lots of hosts ask me all kinds of questions when I first reached out about a booking.

Not because they're suspicious arseholes, but because they were making polite conversation and getting to know me. Making friendly chit-chat while they get a sense of who might be staying in their home (potentially after some horrendous previous guests that did damage / caused insane levels of stress)

"So what do you do?" is a very benign and common question when first meeting someone. I wouldn't think much of it.

FrenchJunebug · 21/05/2019 11:32

I am a single parent and have never been asked what I do to book on rbnb BUT it is up to each property owners to set the criteria they want to rent their property out so YABU to take it personally. Just find another property to rent.

Dottierichardson · 21/05/2019 11:41

YABU there have literally been loads of recent instances of Air BnB properties being used as pop-up brothels and for sex parties and so on…There’ve been loads of news reports about this, it’s a growing problem. It doesn’t seem unreasonable for an owner to want to verify that you are who you say you are, finding you on ‘Linked-In’ or similar would probably do a lot to reassure them that you’re a genuine booker.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-42234023

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/02/19/airbnb-promises-crack-pop-up-brothels-rental-properties/

thatmustbenigelwiththebrie · 21/05/2019 11:44

I use Air Bnb all the time - about once a month for years and I've never had to answer any questions.

StCharlotte · 21/05/2019 13:17

Hosts get marked down by Airbnb for not giving & receiving reviews so please always review.

Hmmm. I've been debating whether to give a recent host (property) a slightly negative review or no review... and/or whether they would appreciate constructive criticism? I've been working on the basis of if you can't say something nice, say nothing at all.

Hosts: which would you prefer? (and I've run a B&B so I know how gut-wrenching a negative review can be)

DarlingNikita · 21/05/2019 13:29

StCharlotte, do you mean on Airbnb? if so, you can give private feedback to the host that doesn't appear publicly. That's the place for negative points/constructive criticism, I think.
NB I'm not a host, just my opinion. I did give a bit of constructive criticism to an Airbnb host last year and she replied saying thank you for it and gave me a good public review, although I do appreciate this might vary depending on how reasonable the hosts are...!

Notwiththeseknees · 21/05/2019 17:21

I would definitely like to know if something wasn't up to scratch. I do ask my guests to leave a note if something has stopped working or has broken and to please make any suggestions that would make a stay more enjoyable.

I would be upset if they just complained publicly in the review as if it was serious at the time I would have come & put it right. I had one complaint in private that was so trivial - one bathroom missing guest soap Hmmbut didn't bother to say thanks for all the lovely goodies they got on arrival - and I don't mention them in my listing so not as if it's part of the deal. That is my only complaint though, ever!

StCharlotte · 21/05/2019 17:25

I did think a private message would be the way to go. It was a real shame, the location was stunning and the place had sooo much potential, it just needed a couple of tweaks.

Thisnamechanger · 21/05/2019 17:31

I've been debating whether to give a recent host (property) a slightly negative review or no review... and/or whether they would appreciate constructive criticism? I've been working on the basis of if you can't say something nice, say nothing at all

I had this with a woman who rented me a room during a festival. She was sweet but COMPLETELY insane. Within 5 minutes of meeting me she calmly told me she thought she'd be more interesting if she cut one of her legs off. She badgered me for a good review afterwards but I thought "I was scared of getting murdered in my sleep" sounded harsh. She has LOADS of lovely reviews too!

SunnyCoco · 21/05/2019 17:32

Yes I think YABU you just don't understand how Airbnb works

anothernotherone · 21/05/2019 17:41

Airbnb is on its way out I think; it's pushed rents sky high in a lot of cities with landlords buying to Airbnb instead of to rent out to people who live in the city longer term. When it's anything other than a spare room in the owners home it's quite unethical and a lot of cities are cracking down on it.

Sashkin · 21/05/2019 17:52

I guess I'll have to ask for the host at my next stay to review me then

They will usually do this automatically, but yes if they don’t you should ask them to.

Doidontimmm · 21/05/2019 17:59

@stChatlotte as a host it would depend what the complaint was I think? If something the host could have rectified during your stay then no that’s unfair as they could have sorted it. If just your opinion or constructive criticism then private review (I’d welcome this) or if something that spoiled your visit or that wasn’t sorted after you pointed it out then public!