...about laundry at this holiday let?

[SadieContrary]

When we travel, we opt to rent a house/apartment via booking.com or Air B&B due to having a DC. Main reasons being that we don't have to be quiet when they go to bed at night as they're in a separate room plus we always have laundry as we are away for weeks at a time.
Checked into latest place and went to use the washing machine and there's a note from the owner to message her if we want to use it she will then come and switch it on and it's £5 a load.
Now apparently this info was in the original listing. Not really. Original listing states about washing machine. Charge/switch on not detailed til the confirmation email was sent after payment made.
Anyway, has anyone else come across this? I think it's ridiculous but don't want to include it in my review of the place if majority think it's fine? This would be approx the 20th place we've rented and never come across this.
Thanks for letting me 'air my dirty laundry'

Extortionate! It's one thing to make that really clear in the advert but another to not mention it until you've already booked. And even if she HAD mentioned it in advance I'd still find it really stingy!!

Gosh, this incensed me SO much I couldn't even read more than a few replies!!!

Please DEFINITELY use a launderette plus, more importantly if it didnt say before youd paid, shes probably in breach of some fair blah law. I'd definitely write to the umbrella company (airBNB or who ever) complaining and asking for the money back. Not because you need it but because it's a complete scam and I wouldnt give a fair review either - shes not been fair, why should you be? I've NEVER been charged for the use of a machine like that!

I'd use the launderette if it cost me three times as much. It probably won't though, those industrial machines can hold a huge amount normally.

I'd rather go to a launderette and if there's not one around I'd go home and do it all in one go at a launderette or even pay to have a service wash rather than give that CF a penny. And I'd make SURE I left a review about it. Personally I'd see if it were possible to use an extension lead to turn it on anyway.

I’ve only come across this once - rented cottage advertised as having a washing machine. Turned out it was shared between 4 cottages and there was a charge of £3 to use it. I was as annoyed as you OP! So definitely not unreasonable!

I think that's out of order, if she said there was a washing machine in the property and didn't mention a charge in the listings. We always do washing on holiday.

Hire an electrician to rewire it past her switch - make sure he hides the new connection and switch it off when you leave 😂😂 - use it lots before you go and invite any passing strangers to do same ( could even charge them a pound a pop to recoup costs) - and then definitely mention in review

Happened to us when we rented a flat in Prague but that was 25 years ago when everyone there was still quite poor. Owners left a message saying the machine was broken - then promptly came home and did their washing.

If it is on Airbnb, and not listed on the main listing, report to Airbnb. She is not allowed to charge without being upfront (before payment) about it.

I would be furious as washing machine is something I look for when booking. I expect to supply my own powder, but if I suddenly got a charge I would be very unhappy. I can cope with weird and ancient washing machines, but don't expect to be charged extra.
Just put the prices up to cover the cost. You could probably add £20 to the weekly cost with no problem - and all the people who don't use the washing machine would increase your profit.

My parents charge a small fee for their washer-dryer as they had some crazy bills after guests were doing 2 weeks of washing and drying, and clearly had taken some dirty things with them. I can’t remember the charge but might be something like £2/wash&dry.

Might be a cultural thing in Scotland, I don’t know

Is that code for "Scottish people are tight"?

Load of rubbish anyway. Have rented lots of properties all over the UK and have never been asked to pay for washing. I expect the property owner to set their fee to cover their costs for utility bills. We have also in the past rejected properties with old-fashioned coin electricity meters, who wants to be dealing with that on holiday?

@Ivestoppedreadingthenews - why don't they just put up their prices by £20 a week instead - they would make more money - and families with young children would be less put off?

Aren’t some people such money grabbers. I’d. pay it the once but definitely leave a review, people need to be warned in advance.

Sounds unreasonable

But, I rent and manage a property in Spain.
A/C left on all day (while people are out) ditto fans, ditto everything.

To give you an idea, my electricity bill is 40 euros a month. In my rental property, it is 100 euros a WEEK.

Speak to her.

We left the AC on all day in our apartment as it took at least 24 hours to get it down to a reasonable temperature.