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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Airbnb owner wants proof of vaccination

233 replies

garlictwist · 10/04/2021 05:46

OH and I are due to go away on Monday as restrictions ease. We booked an air bnb several weeks ago when Boris announced the road map and all was fine.

Yesterday the owner emailed me to ask me to send her proof of our vaccinations.

We haven't had it. I'm 40, OH is 35 and it hasn't been our turn yet.

When I told her she responded saying she was going to cancel the booking.

We will get a refund but AIBU to be really pissed off! There was no mention of any vaccination requirement when we booked, it's not our faut we haven't been vaccinated and now we have to find a new holiday home with two days to spare.

I haven't had a week off work since 2019 and I'm just fed up.

OP posts:
ButtonMoony · 10/04/2021 05:51

Meh. Her house her rules.

Book somewhere else

daisy46 · 10/04/2021 05:53

YANBU. The owner is being VVVU.

HotChoc10 · 10/04/2021 05:54

That's ridiculous. Could you ask if a pair of negative tests would suffice and go to your nearest walk in?

LakieLady · 10/04/2021 05:57

YANBU. Vaccination doesn't mean you won't get infected, just that the symptoms are less severe, so even vaccination is no guarantee that someone can't transmit Covid.

And she should have told you earlier, so you had time to make alternative plans.

Original poster
garlictwist · 10/04/2021 05:57

@buttonmoony yes, fine. But I don't think it's fair to change the rules two days before we're meant to go. And booking somewhere else isn't that easy at short notice

@hotchoc10 that's a good idea, I might look into that.

OP posts:
KoalaOok · 10/04/2021 05:59

She should have put that requirement on her listing.

KoalaOok · 10/04/2021 06:00

Not sure what proof you were meant to send her either really.

Silverfly · 10/04/2021 06:00

@LakieLady - it does also mean that you're much less likely to get infected.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/news.sky.com/story/amp/covid-19-two-doses-of-pfizer-or-oxford-vaccine-reduce-risk-of-transmission-by-more-than-half-study-shows-12243898

KihoBebiluPute · 10/04/2021 06:01

That is very annoying but an airbnb host is not under any obligation to provide any service to anyone so is at liberty to decide they will only accommodate those who are vaccinated. Yanbu to be upset of course and the airbnb owner shouldn't have accepted the booking in the first place rather than accepting it and then cancelling with 2 days to spare.

However there are over 1000 properties currently being advertised on late cottages.com for a 4 night stay starting on Monday with a "where" set to "England". Remember that with the new cases still running at circa 3000 per day, and each one of those potentially causing further households to be told to self-isolate, there will also be a lot of holiday property owners being told at the last minute that their guests aren't coming after all, so there will be last minute unexpected vacancies all over the place. It should be possible to book up something else if you aren't fussy as to where you go.

crikeycrumbsblimey · 10/04/2021 06:12

Be very careful of cottages.com - places they say are available aren’t but they take your money anyway and don’t give it back without significant hassle. We got stung among many others last year.

rawlikesushi · 10/04/2021 06:22

Did you book the cottage a long time ago? Several of my friends have had bookings cancelled for spurious reasons and the properties have then been readvertised at much higher prices. Seems rather unethical. In your case, you can't possibly provide proof of vaccination if you aren't eligible for them yet. I'd expect a negative test taken a day or two before you arrive to be an acceptable alternative.

Holly60 · 10/04/2021 07:12

It sounds to me like she got cold feet for some reason and was looking for an excuse to cancel. I would ask her to point out where she originally stated you needed to be vaccinated!

KoalaOok · 10/04/2021 07:17

Holly60 why bother doing that? If the money gets refunded then I'd leave it at that. There is no point confronting it as why would you want to stay somewhere you weren't wanted?

makingmammaries · 10/04/2021 07:17

Health is a protected characteristic so I think that is likely to count as discrimination and contravene Airbnb’s terms and conditions.

livingthegoodlife · 10/04/2021 07:18

Can't believe she is doing that! I feel really sorry for you, you need a break especially when you've been looking forward to it. Go online to the Facebook Holiday cottage groups. You can out up a request for location, party size & budget and you'll get responses of available accomodation. There is availability out there.

Good luck.b

Henrysmycat · 10/04/2021 07:19

Contact Airbnb and threaten with a bad review.
A friend kicked up a fuss a couple of years ago for a complete filthy apartment in Paris.

Many are doing this, cancelling and then raising their prices for other desperate people.

Henrysmycat · 10/04/2021 07:20

Also, how legal is someone to ask for such a private document? Part of Airbnb is that they do the vetting legwork.

EasterIssland · 10/04/2021 07:21

Contact airbbb and send them the conversation. She’s in her right to do it (even if it’s not fair) however she shouldn’t be allowed to offer these days anymore to other people at any price. I think they block the days. Also let them cancel as if they do they get penalised

bravefox · 10/04/2021 07:22

Contact Airbnb - they are such a huge organisation they will definitely have dealt with this issue before!

Therewereroses · 10/04/2021 07:25

You can easily fake a text confirming vaccination.

StealthPolarBear · 10/04/2021 07:25

I'd have thought this classes as age discrimination

HumunaHey · 10/04/2021 07:25

YANBU but I'd just take my business elesewhere. She is the one who will suffer from losing business.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 10/04/2021 07:26

You should ask for proof that the house has been 'deep cleaned'

Muddycob · 10/04/2021 07:28

Is it a room in her home or separate dwelling? As would only think would matter if they'd be sharing the space.

Does seem poor form given they've had plenty of time to consider how were going to proceed with future bookings.

You get a card with vaccination so I guess that could be proof although my parents are only just getting 2nd dose this month so can't be that many fully vaccinated yet. I agree it sounds bit of an excuse.

emilyfrost · 10/04/2021 07:29

@Holly60

It sounds to me like she got cold feet for some reason and was looking for an excuse to cancel. I would ask her to point out where she originally stated you needed to be vaccinated!
She doesn’t need to. It’s her property, she can cancel for whatever reason she likes as unfortunate as it is for OP.