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

[Abouttogonuts]

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...

better To not have your guests get poorly

Yabu it's situations like this which put me off using air bnb. People saying they wouldn't want to stay in a vomity house how do you know The previous occupants of a hotel room wasn't cooped up really ill the night before you arrived.

I hope your dd feels better soon

It's complicated isn't it. On first impression yes yabu to cancel at the last minute and I suspect you know that. They are relying on you. However, would I want your sickness bug to come into my trip? No. Would I believe you were really ill? Probably not. Presumably you have known you had this commitment for some time, you definitely knew it was half term, if you are going to make money via air BnB I suggest in future you prepare further ahead then last minute sickness wouldn't throw you out and cause you to let people down.

@DCOkeford no idea where you got the idea that you had to quarantine somewhere for 48 hours but it’s complete nonsense.

I agree with others. You shouldn’t be doing Airbnb. A child becoming sick is hardly a remote possibility. This isn’t something you should do unless you are 100% reliable and you cannot commit to that. I hope that the guests have adequate insurance to cover this.

It would be annoying but if I was the guest I’d be happy to cancel knowing about the bug . If you can offer some alternatives that might make the guests less annoyed

And even forgetting the sickness bug for a moment... you left prepping for this way too late

Really pisses me off, Ive bern an Airbnb host for over 2 years and wouldn’t dream of cancelling. This is damaging to most of us good hosts reputations.

This is what pisses me off about Air BnB. It enables absolutely anyone to think they can rent out a house/room/whatever as a holiday property.

Renting out holiday properties is a business, not a hobby or a bit of money on the side (ask HMRC!). You enter into a contract with the guests. You are providing a service, and you damn well provide it (if you are in the business), come Hell or high water. If you can't provide it due to some completely freak and unavoidable event, such as your property being struck by lightning, you accommodate your guests elsewhere.

...

leave holiday lettings to people who do it for a living.

I agree with @holidayletter

Tell guest...who want to stay in house where they could be ill two three days later....hope everyone better soon op

If I was the guest and you explained the bug I would be saying dont worry I will find something else

I wouldn't

Half term week

Disruption of plans

Inconvenience

Might not find something else the same price

Or as convenient

Sick children happen. Does a hotel get quarantined? . Or a bus?

It's not like OP would be keeping the child in the house with the guests!

Agree..shouldnt be doimg air bnb..

Sickness bugs aren't caught for breathing the same air. If you were a decent business person, you would clean it properly, especially the areas your dd might have touched. If you cleaned properly, the likelihood of them catching it would have been very low.

I'm about to book an airbnb for one night in a few months time in a place I don't know well at all. I booked it there for the convenience as we'll be going to another place from there and I have worked out that it is a very convenient location to do so. If the people cancelled on me at the last minute, I would be very angry, especially when the reason is that they can't be bothered to clean the place properly.

I’d give your guest the option to cancel explaining vomiting bug but it they are still wanting to come then I think yabu and should quarantine child in one room whilst you clean and if you have to stay in a hotel yourself if you don’t want to stay at your parents house - this really puts me off using Airbnb because if I’m coming to London I would have things planned/booked

This happened to me with another "amateur" Air BNB. I got the text the day before, but I was actually already on holiday in the middle of a day at an attraction, as we were doing a "2 centre" holiday, moving from one place to another half way through. It completely ruined our day at the attraction as we were trying desperately to find an alternative. I've never used Air BNB since.

At the very least, find them someone else to stay of similar or better standard so you don't ruin their day. If it costs more, then you should stand it. You're either running it professionally or not and if you can't bear the risks/rewards, then I'd suggest you give it up.

YWBVU to cancel. Stop fannying about on Mumsnet, get the work done, then after this let or asap afterwards take the property off AirBnB as it's obviously too much work.

You wait until 21.30 at night to decide this? Really you shouldn't be running an Airbnb business !

I was thinking of booking an Airbnb for a last minute trip away next week.
I don’t think I’ll bother.

Thanks, Ariadne. I did rant a bit, but it drives me bonkers when people who do this for a living end up being tarred with the same brush as amateurs whose child comes down with a vomiting bug.

It really is a job. And in the same way that I have to accommodate guests come what may (which would, obviously, cost me, in the event of my properties being struck by lightning, as I would have to put them up in a hotel or alternative accommodation, which is hard to come by at last minute), the guests still have to pay if they cry off at the last minute, for whatever reason. I have had this happen several times, and while I'm sympathetic and will make every effort to re-let their nights (at which point I would refund them), I make it quite clear that they should take out appropriate insurance before they agree to book.

For those wondering about the "48 hour" advice, the following NHS sites might help:

www.nhs.uk/conditions/norovirus/
and
www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk/Encyclopaedia/g/article/gastroenteritis/

If you'd ever had norovirus, you'd know it's not something to be taken lightly. ;)

I wouldn't let this put people off AirBnb. I used them for the first time this year, then on two further occasions and all have been excellent. I have picked properties which appear to be run with a degree of professionalism though. Two out of three were run by "superhosts" and the third had lots of 5* reviews.

Why don't people read the fucking thread before weighing into the OP?

If you'd ever had norovirus, you'd know it's not something to be taken lightly.

I have. But I've also vomited (often) when I didn't have norovirus...;)

We have had this done to us and it is awful. As a consequence I refuse to book any Airbnb (we use it a few times a year) that shows any cancelled bookings. Yabu.

Sorry op I just read while thread. Well done not cancelling.