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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would I be unreasonable to cancel on an Airbnb guest arriving tomorrow?

265 replies

Abouttogonuts · 22/10/2019 21:25

I’m about to explode with stress. Got a sick child (been cleaning up vomit all day) and another child on half term. We’re going away tomorrow to stay with in-laws and putting our place on Airbnb (as we usually do when we go away).

Got a cleaner coming of course, but haven’t been able to organise or do anything because of sick child, other child on half term. (I usually lock up one room with all our valuables, but haven’t been able to start doing that yet.)

And there is laundry coming out of my ears!

Also behind on the one day of work I had to do this week (yesterday but couldn’t because of said sick child).

I know I’d get fined by Airbnb, but would I be unreasonable to cancel on guest? We live in London, there is other availability locally. Though pricier for less nice (making me also think I undercharge!).

If we cancelled, I’d go to in-laws’ a bit later this week, when sick child is better, and stick the telly on for him tomorrow to properly sort the place out and finish my work...

OP posts:
Movinghouseatlast · 23/10/2019 06:04

I just want to reassure posters that not all Air BnB hosts are like this, so please don't dismiss it out of hand! I would never cancel a guest as mine is a full time holiday let.

OP, cancel it, make sure you find them somewhere else and pay the difference. And then stop potentially damaging other people's livelihoods by ruining our reputation. Air BnB is not for you.

adaline · 23/10/2019 06:06

This is why I never use AirBnB!

CravingCheese · 23/10/2019 06:06

, Like a pp, I would expect you to find me alternative accommodation and pay any uplift in price.*
Yes!!

flouncyfanny · 23/10/2019 06:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MaybeitsMaybelline · 23/10/2019 06:20

Yes yabu, loads all the crap into the lockable room plus any unwashed bedding and leave.

You will deal with it better when you return

BlueJava · 23/10/2019 06:27

If I were the person renting I'd want you to be honest and tell me you've had a sick child in the house with what sounds like a lot of vomit! They will probably want to cancel anyway.

Ragwort · 23/10/2019 06:30

The one and only time I tried to use AirBnB it was cancelled at very short notice, it was a massive hassle and I couldn’t reorganise accommodation so had to totally change our plans (couldn’t just cancel as needed to go the area for specific plans). The Host then tried to ‘fiddle’ the refund so that she didn’t get fined and I had to get AirBnB customer service involved - they offered me a free two night stay anywhere of my choosing (as well as the full refund) but it’s put me off AirBnB.
It doesn’t sound like you should be offering AirBnB.

adaline · 23/10/2019 06:35

@flouncyfanny AirBnB is often pricier than a hotel.

AndAnotherNameChanger · 23/10/2019 06:36

Yanbu.

People seem to misunderstand what Airbnb is - it's not supposed to be a hotel/ normal BnB site. It's supposed to be somewhere that people offer their spare room/ home whilst they're elsewhere. Precisely the problem that places have with Airbnb is that people are inappropriate using it to offer full time holiday lets. And anyone with half a brain knows that these are the risks you take to get cheaper accommodation.

Yes you should help them find alternative accommodation but Yanbu to cancel on these circumstances.

PositiveVibez · 23/10/2019 06:40

Uabvvvvu.

As a pp said, you should move all the stuff, including washing, into the lockable room.

How has a child being sick, got to them having norovirus 🤔.

If OP's not sick and the other child's not sick, it could have just been something they ate and not a vomiting bug.

It's not the paying visitors fault you're behind on your workload. Apologies if being presumptuous, bit if you're staying with your in-laws, can your partner not give you a hand?

I would be so upset if this happened to me.

At the very least you need to arrange another accommodation and make up any shortfall.

RoseMartha · 23/10/2019 06:51

If I was the guest and you explained the bug I would be saying dont worry I will find something else. But I would worry abt getting at least some of my money back a bit.

RedskyToNight · 23/10/2019 07:45

Are lots of people here thinking that the sick child will be in the house the same time as them? Because you do realise that there might have been a sick person in any hotel room/B&B/holiday house that you go and stay in and normally you just wouldn't know about it.

The OP should chuck all her stuff in the locked room and then either she / the cleaner needs to do a thorough clean to fumigate as far as possible.

If you own a holiday property (which is essentially what this now is) you don't get to cancel guests because you're stressed or your child is ill.

This house will most likely have been rented by another family looking for a half term holiday. I can't believe all the people who say they really wouldn't mind being cancelled at the very last minute leaving them to find another holiday property with basically no notice. yes, this may be London, and they will probably find somewhere but it won't be the holiday they've planned.

Bellringer · 23/10/2019 07:52

Pay peanuts, get monkeys. Same with uber. It's a cheap service less well regulated, so it's not going to be as good. Call air bnb op and see what they say

TatianaLarina · 23/10/2019 07:57

Airbnb isn’t even that cheap any more. The service charge keeps going up. Particularly in capital cities it would often be cheaper to book a hotel. And less hassle.

HeyNotInMyName · 23/10/2019 08:05

I understand WHY you would want to do that.

But someone who has used AirB&B a lot, I would be properly gutted if you did that. It would mean massive stress for me to find somewhere to stay, more money that I might not have (as you said most places are more expensive than you) and a general big ‘I am taking guests but I don’t f%&£ Care about them’ message.

HeyNotInMyName · 23/10/2019 08:12

Also I fully disagree about the idea that if you go with AirB&B you take that risk.
Would people be saying the same when they book a holiday cottage in France and it’s cancelled at the very last minute, leaving them out of pocket AND unable to go way in holiday?

Would people say the same when buying a cake for a wedding from an individual to find out they won’t get it?
Renting your place with AirB&B is a service SOLD to people. As such it should be treated the same way That any other job. And yes I expect he same ‘level’ of attention, as in I expect to have what I am paying for.

FWIW, the difference in price compare to a hotel can often be explained by the look of the place, services going with it (no one to clean and do your bed!) etc.... NOT by the fact you might be left hanging dry because the host has changed their plans.

whywhywhy6 · 23/10/2019 08:27

So unreasonable. The last time I stayed in an air bnb in London I’d come straight off a 24 hour flight. I’d be furious to find the host had cancelled 12 hours prior.

Suck it up and sort it out and don’t host again.

CravingCheese · 23/10/2019 08:30

Pay peanuts, get monkeys

  1. Airbnb isn't even cheap.
  1. You're paying for a service. The service ought to be delivered. Like in any other case. The OP should deliver or be prepared to find this person an other accomodation. And come up with the difference...

But yeah, I don't do Airbnb either.

MamehaSan · 23/10/2019 08:36

I would not want to stay in a house where there had been a vomming child only a few gours before. Having to rearrange accommodation at short notice is the least worst option compared to picking up a bug and writing off my holiday!

SunnyCoco · 23/10/2019 08:37

Can't believe you think you undercharge when you care so little about your customers!

BlaueLagune · 23/10/2019 08:40

I would not want to stay in a house where there had been a vomming child only a few gours before

Neither would I, but as a pp said you don't know when you stay in a hotel or holiday cottage whether someone has been sick there hours before you checked in. And they won't cancel to protect your health!

I have actually been sick a couple of times when I've been staying in a hotel but due to something I ate, not a bug, and was ok once I'd been sick.

Wintersnowdrop · 23/10/2019 08:43

I also would rather know if they was a sickness bug at the place I was about to stay at. I’d rather you contacted me and told me so I could cancel.

rookiemere · 23/10/2019 08:44

One child was sick. If it was a proper bug then others in the house would have it as well. Cleaner will wipe all surfaces and change bedding - btw she's the one most at risk if there is any risk - chances of getting a vomiting bug that may or may not be a transmittable one are small.

Having to search at the last minute and pay more for accommodation if OP cancels - well that's guaranteed. In those circumstances- given the choice - I'd take my chances with the original accommodation.

StCharlotte · 23/10/2019 08:45

I'd be bloody livid if you did that to me and I've run a "proper" B&B so I get your angst.

Mummyoflittledragon · 23/10/2019 08:45

Idk what you decided but you can’t inflict a contaminated house on paying customers or a contaminated child on in laws. This is something, which should have been addressed as soon as your dd was unwell.

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