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.

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? Good idea.
I'm with OP with this one. letting someone stay in my spare room is not the same as giving them the run of my kitchen, and I don't see that "hospitality" requires it.

@missbattenburg interested to know why it sounds miserable? You can’t use a kitchen in a hotel so no difference?

Ok there are cats but if you are allergic/don’t like you wouldn’t book.

Last check in 9pm - again you wouldn’t book if you knew you were arriving late.

There is nothing that warrants your comments!

Oh I’m really sorry - I though that was how your rules were worded on the Air BnB site and you were asking for feedback. I misunderstood the question. YANBU

I think the rules are fair enough. I always check everything thoroughly before I book.
My last room experience has really put me off as I only very briefly met the hosts and there were no instructions or rules anywhere so I didn't know what time they used the bathroom or if I could use the fridge etc.

You’ve clearly got your reasons for being an Airbnb host, but frankly, you sound completely inhospitable.

Of course you have rules, and cats, and prospective guests should know what they’re signing up for, and respect that. But my goodness, you don’t seem to like people very much.

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.

I think that's part of the problem, though. When it started and was pretty much all about staying in someone's spare room, you knew you were doing that and had to read the rules and take them seriously.

But now you can use it to book places that are basically holiday homes and/or B&Bs, a lot of people don't realise that the other kind of booking is still on there, and they are expecting to treat the place like a hotel rather than someone's home.

I can't imagine anything worse than staying in a complete stranger's spare room for the night. No matter how cheap it is. I'd rather doss on a park bench than put up with all those rules !

Agree with some others. This doesn’t sound like it’s for you. Having rules is fine and obviously, if you clearly state you have pet’s, people should not complain. You do sound very inflexible though and your wording makes you sound like a bit of a knob.

The point about strangers is that although the guest who books the room is indeed a stranger they are verified by Airbnb. The random they might bring back from the pub is not.

It opens a mine field of possible problems.

Nothing in your post sounds unreasonable. When travelling alone I LOVE staying in a room in someone's home, especially if I'm travelling for work - it's usually much better value for me, and I definitely find it more relaxing than a hotel for some reason. Fewer weird noises like aircon & people dragging suitcases past the door at 5am, normal bed, a friendly face (usually!) and a "home" experience is much nicer.

I would find the "hot drinks only" thing a bit restrictive - I would like to be able to pop a M&S meal in the microwave & eat it in the kitchen, unless the bedroom has a table & chair to eat at. Not a 3 course meal using all your pots & pans though.

The cats thing is crazy - that's why there are descriptions! If you're allergic you can literally pick a home that doesn't have cats! Although if you DO have cats, I'm likely to spend most of my time trying to lure them into my room for cuddles.

I can see how it's frustrating. We have a spare room that we could Airbnb, esp now that the kids are bigger, but I feel that for every 3 great guests there will be one who takes the piss.

I don't think there's anything wrong with the rules. It sounds like you've had some bad experiences. But I'd re-word the whole thing using more 'please note' etc as the whole thing sounds rude. I really hope you weren't actually planning to put 'fucking' in your description.

I agree with you that people should read and do their research before booking but surely by now experience has told you that they don’t so you need to either accept that and stop moaning about it, or stop renting out your room. 🤷🏻‍♀️ It’s Airbnb, not luxury accommodation.

Why on earth are you doing this if it is so awful????

Stop.

We stay in an “actual” b&b in Wales every summer. The owner lives in the b&b. I don’t expect to use the kitchen to cook dinner! I pay for bed and breakfast and that’s what I get!
I don’t understand why people would think they can use the kitchen in a b&b - “air” or not.

OP - YANBU!!

Can I please add?
I clean an air B&B. Can I please remind guests I don't want to find your used condom carefully placed on the top of a bin bag. Or your poo unflushed in the loo.
Or a pair of pants tucked at the foot of the bed to claim a refund. I know they weren't left by the previous guest...chancer...
And when check out says 11 don't be still shaggging at 11. 50 when I need to get your room done and get home....
Thanks.

Oh and I can’t have extra people in the room who aren’t on the initial booking in the b&b I stay in either. Perfectly reasonable! OP your rules sound entirely fair.

Air bnb is much cheaper than Travelodge.

I’ve only had two bad experiences. One was in an immaculate, but small house, with an absolutely anal host. I was chastised at length for putting a MacBook on the table in my room - valuable antique apparently - and then in the morning the smoke alarm went off when I opened the bathroom door and steam came out. I ended up leaving early. The second wasn’t as bad but not very comfortable - it was a family home and lots of arguments between parents and children. Also, they wouldn’t give me a key so if I went out I had to disturb them to get back in again.

Wants the money from Airbnb (of which the first £7,500 is tax free) but can’t be arsed with the hassle?

The Op is not asking if her rules are unreasonable or for advice on how to be a better host. She is quite clear in that she is asking if it is unreasonable to expect people booking to have read the rules for her accommodation. Just about everyone replying to her seems not to have actually grasped that.
It is not in any way unreasonable to expect that someone booking and paying for accommodation has taken the time to read the rules. They can't book then come along with extra people, moaning about being allergic to cats or not being allowed to cook. The host has made all this clear in her description and rules so in no way is it unreasonable to expect people to have actually read it.
It is quite funny actually that the thread is about people not reading and understanding something, then along come lots of posters to answer having not actually read and understood the question being asked.

Yes rainbowunicorn I was just thinking the same.

Anyone got a cardboard box?

Actually OP I really appreciate clear listings like yours. I don’t take the piss and knowing the rules are actually applied eg non smoking helps me.
The only think I’d say is 9pm check in but not after midnight is a tad restrictive. But knowing this means I’d it didn’t suit I wouldn’t book it.

I’ve done a lot of air b&b in uk and abroad both whole place and rooms. 90% good or better. One I fought for and got a partial refund as it was filthy ( France ). The last one had a drawer full of dirty washing though and I never got a reply from the owner about that. Cleaner perhaps not on the call 😂

It sounds miserable because when I stay somewhere I want to feel welcome, not like an inconvenience. The OPs post does not come across as very welcoming, imo.

Plus some hotels do have kitchens and many have restaurants etc on site so there is some way of getting food.

Finally if I am paying to stay somewhere I can decide what sound nice and what sounds miserable on whatever basis I like. Just like the OP can decide on whatever rules they like.

In this example what they want from a guest and what I was as a visitor sound totally incompatible. Hence miserable.

There are some very weird replies on this thread, if I book a whole house I expect use of the kitchen, if I book a room I expect a kettle and would be grateful for use of a microwave.

I suspect by the sound of it the op has had people wanting to do full 3 course meal and using every pot and pan. OP yanbu

how unpleasant do people get, don't offer your property if you don't like people.

Fair enough about the cats - put photos and make it clear in the listing, then you are right.

Kitchen: if guests have access to it, they do.

Planning to arrive after midnight is not acceptable I hate hosts with ridiculous tight schedule. I don't book with them. I am not in control of trains, flights, taxis. I can give you a rough estimate and the time I land but I can't make planes land mid-afternoon for your convenience.

I feel sorry for the guests with someone so unwelcoming, you don't want to host do you!