AIBU to ask you to read a host’s description before you book on Airbnb?

[Frannyhy]

We’re not hoteliers. If we say check in is until 9pm, it’s because we work outside the home in the day. Planning to arrive after midnight is not acceptable. I won’t get up and come to the door. If you know you have a late flight arrival get a hotel for the night. (Transport does get delayed, I know that and will suck it up. But if possible let me know.)

If you book a room in someone’s house, kitchen use is a concession not a right. Despite me saying my kitchen is to be used to make a hot drink only in my house rules, every other person wants to cook.

I have cats. I have pictures of them on my description with photos. I still get people coming here and whining that they are allergic to them.

Don’t bring extra people or children if the accommodation is for a single person. Hosts will turn you away.

Yet again a guest has asked to move because of my cats. Yet again she has lost her money (over a hundred quid) because I clearly say I have them. Airbnb sided with me and wouldn’t allow them their money back.

Read the whole listing and house rules please. I say won’t tolerate smoking or a stranger in my house and I mean it. If you pick up a fucking partner and bring him or her back here and I wake up, I will kick you out no matter what time it is.

On the whole airbnb has been a positive experience. Thanks to the lovely people who do read the details before booking, you’d be welcome back anytime.

Gosh, you make it sound horrific for you but to be honest, also for the people staying with you.

I’d hate to book a room in someone’s house while they were living there. I did it once - never again. It was filthy, and there was noise through the night. One of the other people staying literally played the trombone at 1am.

I like using it because I can book a whole flat or house and that’s much easier than hotels at the moment while my kids are young.

But, your rules sound very inhospitable - and if you dislike having people stay in your house that much that you can’t let them use the kitchen, maybe it’s not for you?!?

I’ve used Airb&b three times as a guest - two of those experiences were very iffy. The other was great, but those odds aren’t good enough for me. I stick to hotels now.

Tbh I think letting random strangers into your home is, well, brave.

Do you think this is some sort of airb&b affiliate site?! It’s very oddly worded. Like those odd open letters.

Tbh even though it sounds annoying, it also sounds like you have an awful lot of rules and restrictions. I wouldn’t choose to stay there for sure.

A travel lodge would be cheaper and less hassle

But, your rules sound very inhospitable - and if you dislike having people stay in your house that much that you can’t let them use the kitchen, maybe it’s not for you?!?

This!! //\

Goodness me you sound like hard work.

I’m an in home host and totally get you but I’ve never had any issues thank goodness! I have a dog, it’s in the rules they have to agree to so no surprise, as are the rules re kitchen. I think you have just been unlucky!!

But, your rules sound very inhospitable - and if you dislike having people stay in your house that much that you can’t let them use the kitchen, maybe it’s not for you?!?

^^PP has put it perfectly

You should word your Air B&B description exactly like your OP - so then everyone knows to save themselves the bother and just avoid booking in with you.

hate airbnb, and you are brave to do what you do

long lists of rules (make tea only after 8am as the sound of the kettle boiling carries (really?!), replace any sugar used (really?!) etc.

I prefer b&bs or hotels, as you know where you stand (rules are more standard)

I say won’t tolerate smoking or a stranger in my house and I mean it.

Ummm...surely all your guests are strangers?

This is all very weirdly worded! I wouldn't want to share a place with the hosts, I only ever book a whole property.

You’re not being unreasonable. If we’re arriving at an airbnb late, it’s very easy to select one with self check in.

Your house, your rules. People should manage reading through your house rules before booking. It’s just a shame you have to deal with their complaints when they arrive.

I’ve had my hosts get in touch beforehand every time I’ve stayed somewhere. Could you send a message reiterating that they need to check your house rules before arriving and encourage them to ask you any questions before arriving?

YANBU , hats off to you for having strangers in your home! Too many people think rules just don’t apply to them.

I wouldn't want to share a place with the hosts, I only ever book a whole property

Not everyone can afford to do that. People use Air BnB for all sorts of reasons, not just holidays.

I stayed in air BnBs with the kids when visiting my Dad when he was very ill with terminal cancer. He wanted to see us but it was too much for him to have the DC running about the house all day, so we couldn't stay there. So we stayed in AirBnBs.

We stayed in some lovely places, with great hosts. It was very useful to us at a difficult time. And it helped for the DC to be able to have somewhere to come away to, it made the whole experience less overwhelming I think.

It'd be nice to have a whole house, but we needed to save money. We read the descriptions!

YANBU

Staying in someone's house is different to staying in a hotel. Either way there are rules, yours are necessarily different to a hotel's.

I don’t think you are being unreasonable. I LOVE Airbnb but I appreciate it isnt for everyone.
I’ve never ever had a bad air bnb experience, but I read the descriptions and commicate re check in / check out times as early as possible

Presumably you do this because you need the money? I mean who would do this otherwise, it’s hardly enjoyable having strangers in your home. Well doesn’t sound like you enjoy it at least......

So to a point as a host you do need to be flexible.

Personally staying in someone’s home with them there sounds like hell on Earth

I don't think your rules sound unreasonable. You just sound fed up with people constantly taking the piss.

Instead of allowing guest into your kitchen just for drinks and having them try it on persuading you to let them cook, why not just put a kettle in the room/s you rent out and ban them from the kitchen? After all, most hotel rooms don't have a cooking facilities.

I agree OP.

Airbnb offered a very wide range of accommodation types from a mattress on the floor to a whole house. Most people can find something to suit within that.

We are more than happy to answer queries before a booking is made.

If you book a room in a family home then there will be restrictions. If you want more, book something else.

@P1nkHeartLovesCake I totally agree and I am an in home host but have only ever stayed in a whole property Airbnb! People seem to like it though and it’s much cheaper so maybe makes having a break more affordable for those that couldn’t otherwise. I’m a very relaxed host so am flexible and maybe that helps. There are still rules but I’m open to bending them if someone asks and it suits!

By all means have whatever rules you like, it's your house. However, it sounds absolutely miserable; I'd rather sleep in my car.

It doesn’t matter whether people think the OP’s rules are unreasonable or inhospitable.

If she’s clearly put them in the description and people book anyway, they can’t then complain the rules are unreasonable.

I agree that you can have whatever rules you want and if people want to stay then they have to abide by them but some of your rules are pretty unfair.

You want people to pay to stay in your house but they can't cook a meal? That's pretty unfair.... for what reason would you not allow someone to cook a meal in a kitchen? When you say you want have them bring a stranger to your house you sound a bit silly.... every person that stays in your house through this scheme is a stranger surely?

I can't believe people pay to stay in someone's spare room for a night, that seems weird to me when travelodge are so cheap anyway?

Your rules are on the strict side but not unreasonable per se, but the language you are using is uptight and unpleasant ("kitchen use is a concession not a right", people "whining"). I'm the end, it is a two way street and they are paying you.

I've stayed quite a bit in people's houses and try to be pretty unobtrusive but do find hosts sometimes think they're doing you a favour.