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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

BillieEilish · 23/10/2019 10:35

Homeaway are the biggest crooks going. Mark my words.

TatianaLarina · 23/10/2019 10:44

Mark my words.

And you are? I’ve rented several properties through them for 8 years, I’d say I have a clearer idea than you.

Whattodoabout · 23/10/2019 10:55

YABVU. You seemingly have no thought for the people whose holiday you would be screwing up. They’re all set to go away and the day before their accommodation is cancelled, it would cause all manner of stress.

You’re stressed, we get it but you haven’t shown much consideration for the guests you would also be inflicting stress on. Get the cleaner in and crack on with things, the rest of us generally do it without the help of a cleaner.

BillieEilish · 23/10/2019 10:59

Well, I know your moral compass is off from many threads, I also know many, many people disagree with you.

I have advertised with them for 15 years (owners direct originally...fab they were), they have been taken over and are currently being investigated, I believe. I no longer advertise with them, it is in nobody's interest to rent or advertise with them.

There are MANY threads on the subject.

Who do you advertise with/what properties? You are?

Booking.com you can cancel the week before/day before.

It's not 'ironic', it's a business. The OP has let the side down for all B&Bers on this site. A lot of damage she has done right there.

BillieEilish · 23/10/2019 11:02

Not to you whattodo ! I totally agree with you. Replying to a provocative poster who consistently goes against the grain and is rude to people who disagree with her/to get a reaction.

batvixen123 · 23/10/2019 11:16

When I've had an Airbnb host cancel on me before they have found me another place to stay and paid the difference. I think that's what I'd expect.

MrsPellegrinoPetrichor · 23/10/2019 11:19

Air bnb guests are not interested in your personal circumstances or family situation, they just want somewhere to stay. Hosts who are charging more are more likely to actually be conscientious hosts. People who just want the money without providing the service (as in your case) should not be doing Airbnb

I agree!! Be prepared for bad reviews too,because I would leave a bad one of someone cancelled on me the day before going away!

ExecutiveFiat · 23/10/2019 11:20

Can’t believe you think this is a acceptable. You’re a bit stressed and you have a slightly sickly child
You really shouldn’t be an Airbnb host.
I hope you face a penalty if you do cancel and bugger up some family’s half term plans.

MrsPellegrinoPetrichor · 23/10/2019 11:20

Homeaway are the biggest crooks going. Mark my words

Yep, my experience of them too.

BillieEilish · 23/10/2019 11:27

Thank you MrsPellegrino Lots of backstory to their story!
Radio 4 even did a feature about how bad they were.

Owners direct used to be marvellous before they were taken over by them. It has ruined many a livelihood and many a brilliant deal for holiday goers. It is a shame.

TatianaLarina · 23/10/2019 11:50

Well, I know your moral compass is off from many threads.

🤣

Get your facts straight Billie. OD was taken over by Homeaway in 2007, that makes 12 years not 15.

I had one property on Homeaway UK (Holiday Rentals as it was then), OD and Homelidays since 2005 which makes 14 years. I’ve had multiple properties on there for 8 years.

They were taken over by Expedia two years ago, who introduced service charges to everyone’s annoyance, did away with the listing system, cut the subscription, introduced search algorithms and set cancellation policies. I don’t like Expedia, but it is the way the market is going across all listing sites. They are not as good as the old Homeaway, but they are still better and more reliable than Airbnb, which I also use for some properties.

It’s simply not true that it’s in ‘nobody’s interest’ to advertise with them as I run a good business through them with mainly 5 star reviews, happy guests, and a very good income. There are many others doing the same.

Expedia and Booking Holdings (who owns Booking.com) were both investigated for practise wrt hotel searches if that’s what you’re referring to.

Whyhaveidonethis · 23/10/2019 11:53

@RedskyToNight exactly, people are ill in hotels all the time. I don't think that someone having been ill in a house warrants the responses below. General hygiene should be applied at all times not just when someone is sick. These bugs don't generally last outside of the body for long periods so there is probably minimum risk.

TatianaLarina · 23/10/2019 11:54

Owners direct used to be marvellous before they were taken over by them. It has ruined many a livelihood and many a brilliant deal for holiday goers. It is a shame.

When Homeaway took over OD and Holiday Rentals our bookings rocketed.

Myimaginarycathasfleas · 23/10/2019 11:57

When I've had an Airbnb host cancel on me before they have found me another place to stay and paid the difference. I think that's what I'd expect.

^ this. It sounds like there are other options around which the OP could offer.

I'd be mightily pissed off to be cancelled on at this late stage but more forgiving if the host offered me an alternative that would cause me the least disruption and cost.

TatianaLarina · 23/10/2019 11:57

When I've had an Airbnb host cancel on me before they have found me another place to stay and paid the difference. I think that's what I'd expect.

Yes that’s good practice. I’ve never been in that situation but it’s what I would do.

I’ve had guests who wanted to bring extra people who couldn’t be accommodated and I’ve found them a place to stay nearby.

QueSera · 23/10/2019 12:00

If you can find the guest an alternative place in a similar area for the same price, I think it would be acceptable.

If not, where is the poor sod supposed to stay? on the street?

HappyHammy · 23/10/2019 12:03

You've left it very late to cancel but I doubt they'd want to stay. I'd phone round and book them alternative accommodation for at least one night.

Butttons · 23/10/2019 12:11

The OP isn't coming back to let us know what she did is she?

ItsGoingTibiaK · 23/10/2019 12:35

The OP isn't coming back to let us know what she did is she?

No - I don't think this thread went the way @abouttogonuts was hoping...

Jaxhog · 23/10/2019 13:13

You should have called your guest immediately and given them the choice. I suspect this advice is now too late.

Delatron · 23/10/2019 13:42

Wonder what OP did. I hope she didn’t cancel.

Sounds like you are not cut out to be an air bnb host (we tried it and it was hugely stressful trying to have everything perfect) and we were away for a month! Not worth it for a week.

You need to be super organised and it sounds like you left everything to the last minute. Take the listing off for the future and lesson learnt.

Frannyhy · 23/10/2019 13:55

Airbnb tell hosts not to communicate with guests through any other means but their chat interface. If a host won’t do this then don’t book with him or her.

If things go wrong, texts or WhatsApp messages will not be consider proof of what was said or not said.

TatianaLarina · 23/10/2019 13:59

That’s because they don’t want you agreeing payment outside their system as they won’t get their service fee.

Although It’s true that anything agreed pertaining to the booking should be in writing.

CatherineOfAragonsPrayerBook · 23/10/2019 14:09

Re-reading your post I see you also have actual job work to do in addition to loads of laundry, tidying, moving stuff around, arranging.

Phone AirBnB and cancel you can't possibly do it all at this late stage.

I also don't think telling the would be guests that your child is sick will raise any sympathy or dampen their frustration. Logically if I was in their position, I'd be thinking 'But if its a really contagious bug, how are you able to take the child away at all?' Also it's definately not norovirus, or you would not be taking sick child or yourself to inlaws.

Write it off and be determined to be a bit more organised or arranfe child care for next time you prepare for guests in school holidays.

Delatron · 23/10/2019 14:33

I would hope if you have a partner he is also rushing around and stressing about the laundry and getting everything sorted and sick children if you both work. I hope it all didn’t fall to you.
(This is why I will never air bnb my house again!)

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