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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:
katienana · 10/04/2021 07:31

She shouldn't be offering lettings at all if she's that paranoid. I would be furious op.

Theunamedcat · 10/04/2021 07:34

As its not a legal requirement to get vaccinations i honestly don't see how they can compel it prior to using any service

LovingBob · 10/04/2021 07:37

There is no approved vaccine passport yet so how can you prove it

KoalaOok · 10/04/2021 07:39

I guess its a chance you take with Air BnB, it's like ebay. Some people will act professionally and others are just playing at BnB and don't list properly etc.

emilyfrost · 10/04/2021 07:39

@Theunamedcat

As its not a legal requirement to get vaccinations i honestly don't see how they can compel it prior to using any service
Because it’s their property, so they get to set the rules.
I0NA · 10/04/2021 07:40

Just contact air bnb and they will deal with the owner and help you find an alternative.

HeartsAndClubs · 10/04/2021 07:43

It’s a private property. She’s entitled to set whatever rules she likes, however annoying that might be.

As someone upthread said, it’s a bit like eBay. On the whole most people will act in a decent manner but let’s be honest, these aren’t professionals, they’re home owners wanting to make a quick buck.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 10/04/2021 07:45

Surely it’s against Air BnB rules to introduce new requirements which weren’t in the initial advert?

Yanbu op, I would be furious.

Kapalika · 10/04/2021 07:48

I’ve got an Airbnb and as I understand it, all I need to do if provide a qr code for guests to scan. It’s completely up to them whether they use it or not. I’m also asking for all names instead of just the lead Booker.
Has the place you have booked got it’s own private entrance?
If it’s a shared entrance ie to a block of apartments she shouldn’t be open anyway.
Cottage with own front door, then she’s completely unreasonable and a bit odd. Airbnb hosts as well as other holiday accommodation owners have lost about a year in business.
There is a fb page called uk holiday rentals that you can join and post to see if there is anything available. I often use it to advertise

Bluntness100 · 10/04/2021 07:49

@TwoLeftSocksWithHoles

You should ask for proof that the house has been 'deep cleaned'
Um it’s been cancelled. She’s going to think she’s a right nutter if she says “I’m not happy you’ve cancelled our stay can you send me evidence it’s been deep cleaned” 😂
Theunamedcat · 10/04/2021 07:52

Yes its there house they get to make the rules but they are supposed to tell you the rules prior to booking I booked a house via Airbnb that left put the no children part in there advert Airbnb said that there mistake was not a compelling reason to cancel (I complained they were keeping my deposit) i got my deposit back and his home was subsequently trashed by some adults he was so keen to rent to

Moondust001 · 10/04/2021 07:52

@makingmammaries

Health is a protected characteristic so I think that is likely to count as discrimination and contravene Airbnb’s terms and conditions.
No it isn't. Disability is the protected characteristic, not health. Entirely different things.
Mix56 · 10/04/2021 07:52

The airb&b policy now is for the owner to refund, at the % of their will, even though they won't have received any payment until the tenant has left.
airb&b then refund the owner the amount minus the commission.
I say the owner has had a better offer, if not she would be out of pocket.
Not that this helps you in this case

Librarybooksandacoconut · 10/04/2021 07:53

YANBU.

Having ‘proof’ is nonsense anyway. I’ve been vaccinated and don’t have any actual proof of it. I didn’t get a card when I was done, but I’m in Scotland and I’m not sure if they are being handed out here.

moochingtothepub · 10/04/2021 07:54

Contact Airbnb, they can sort it out for you

poppycat10 · 10/04/2021 07:54

Op she's breaching the contract, but that isn't going to help you here.

She's completely stupid if she thinks people in your age group have been vaccinated. Have you told her it hasn't been offered yet? Even my 81 year old mother is only receiving her second dose today, so anyone in her area a bit younger, ever mind in their 30s or 40s won't have had it.

Leave a bad review and see if you can find somewhere else.

Also the vaccination card doesn't have your name on - my DH has had his first dose and all it says is the vaccine and batch.

I knew some stupid people would start making up their own rules about this though. As I said, she's in breach of contract, but not much you can do about it if she refunds your money as there's no loss to you.

Those of you saying she can set her own rules, not unilaterally, after a contract has been entered into, she can't. Go and read some consumer law.

Chicchicchicchiclana · 10/04/2021 07:57

Pp who have commented that bookings are being cancelled and then re-sold at higher prices ... surely that's quite easy to prove and should be reported to AirBnB?

ClarkeGriffin · 10/04/2021 07:58

@HumunaHey

YANBU but I'd just take my business elesewhere. She is the one who will suffer from losing business.
This. She
ClarkeGriffin · 10/04/2021 08:00

For god sake Hmm

She'll change her mind when she loses a lot of bookings and needs the money. Too late for you by then of course. Hope you find somewhere else.

gollymissdolly · 10/04/2021 08:01

Like previous posters have mentioned,I would contact Airbnb.
I'm not sure how you're supposed to prove you've had the vaccine.
I've had my first dose of vaccine but don't have anything to show that I've had it(I'm in Scotland).

Polly111 · 10/04/2021 08:01

I would complain to Airbnb and leave a bad review if there was nothing about vaccinations in the terms and conditions at booking. You may be able to find somewhere else, but it’s an inconvenience and may cost you more.

TabbyStar · 10/04/2021 08:02

This is Airbnb's guide about discrimination, www.airbnb.co.uk/help/article/2867/nondiscrimination-policy

"Health" isn't covered in the Equality Act as a PP suggested, it's disability, and there are time conditions attatched to this so it wouldn't apply. Age is in the Equality Act but doesn't count as a protected characteristic when renting out a home. There are also different rules when the owner lives in the property.

TatianaBis · 10/04/2021 08:03

As someone who owns several rental properties, she is being a CF. She has no right to demand that full stop. What proof do you have anyway? And if she was going to try it she would have needed to put the stipulation in when you booked.

You should have the right to a full refund - simply on the grounds that it wasn’t in the ts and cs on booking. She can’t just change the rules.

fiftiesmum · 10/04/2021 08:04

Ask the owner what form of proof they would like

JeanClaudeVanDammit · 10/04/2021 08:06

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.

This sounds the most likely. It’s a holiday house, you’re not sharing a bed with the woman.