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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:
JeanClaudeVanDammit · 10/04/2021 08:36

Oh god, this is how it's going to be. People taking the law into their own hands....

I know, it’s terrifying how many people think this is ok.

butterpuffed · 10/04/2021 08:39

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

Mine does, but I guess the cards vary .

Scottishskifun · 10/04/2021 08:42

Report them to Airbnb it's definitely not allowed.
No idea what they would do with scottish guests once allowed you don't receive a vaccination card up here!

C8H10N4O2 · 10/04/2021 08:45

So she entered into a contract with you then varied the conditions so late that even if you had had a vaccine you wouldn't be able to get a letter?

She's had a better offer. A lot of lets are being cancelled and sold at higher prices.

I'd leave a bad review/involve AirBNB on the basis that she changed T&C without discussion and did so too late for you to comply even if the request was reasonable. They are supposed to deep clean between visitors, does she think she can skimp on that with vaccinated visitors?

donquixotedelamancha · 10/04/2021 08:48

Health is a protected characteristic so I think that is likely to count as discrimination

No it isn't, disability is a protected characteristic. Even then there is a specific exemption in the EA2010 for discrimination on public health grounds.

and contravene Airbnb’s terms and conditions.

Which one? There is specific allowance made for late cancellation and the only sanction is delisting if it occurs multiple times.

InsanelyPregnantAndSore · 10/04/2021 08:52

YANBU that’s crazy! There’s been a lot of speculation about unvaccinated suddenly becoming ‘second class citizens’ for a while now though.

It’s complete discrimination when you have an entire age/health group who aren’t entitled to, are not being offered and cannot obtain the vaccination. What are they supposed to do?

They’re also the same group who have spent the last year going along with this crap and missing out on everything to keep everybody else safe!!! They were never largely at risk from covid (hence being last in the vaccinated queue) So that’s even more of a poke in the eye! ‘You kept us safe for the last year but now we’re vaccinated and you’re not...so you can f* o**’ Angry

Forthisisnt · 10/04/2021 08:52

If she knows roughly how old you are from your photos she’s being extra unreasonable!
Hope you find something better!

EileenGC · 10/04/2021 08:55

She is being ridiculous. Contact Airbnb. She should've mentioned it in her advert before confirming the booking with you. And what 'proof of vaccination' does she want? Does she realise only 10% of the UK's population are fully vaccinated, and that there is no official system of proving it yet anyway?

WrinklesShminkles · 10/04/2021 08:56

I too think she's bumping you for a better offer. If the place is close enough to visit, I'd go along on the first day of your intended stay and see if someone else is in it! Then take it up with Airbnb.

RightYesButNo · 10/04/2021 08:56

@garlictwist I would recommend contacting AirBnb as soon as possible. Tell them that she has cancelled your reservation and why, and especially mention that it was nowhere in terms and conditions when you booked snd then the short notice she gave you when cancelling. She should (and will) be penalized by AirBnb for not demanding the vaccination up front in her terms, and then AirBnb usually demand that the cancelled dates are not rebooked by the owner so she will not get someone else’s money. Absolutely don’t let her make a pile off treating you like shite. This goes for anyone that has their booking cancelled for a spurious reason - contact AirBnb with proof and they (usually) will not allow the person to take a new booking.

MrsFin · 10/04/2021 09:01

That's odd zamoa.
I've had two vaccinations as I'm taking part in a trial. I had the same card, with my name on, as DH and everyone else I know who has had the licensed vaccine.

B33Fr33 · 10/04/2021 09:03

There's already a process for providing consent for people to request information from your medical records. I'd imagine GPs would happily charge £10-£20 A letter to confirm a jab. No doubt the government are dithering because they want that cash. No other benefit to it.

If presented with this situation I would take my business elsewhere, though generally I'd be happy to take a lateral flowtest in order to access a theatre environment or such. Hotels have been running throughout the pandemic with sensible precautions and thorough cleaning and leaving a room empty between gests et. If an air bnb don't want to try that approach they're not that interested in safety, just some odd gimmick to say or in order to raise their prices.

B33Fr33 · 10/04/2021 09:04

There's loads of people posting images of vaccination cards online. Just screen grab and send.

nettie434 · 10/04/2021 09:05

I am wondering whether the owner wants to re-let at a higher rate too. If the owner had extreme health anxiety and was worried about people in the property, then she would know that proportionally very few people have had both doses of the vaccine and probably wouldn't even open for bookings yet. It's much more likely she is hoping for people who will pay more for a few days away.

I really hope you find somewhere else, garlictwist. I actually don't think that proof of vaccine status will be enforced in the long run. It's just too complicated and there are many groups - eg pregnant women and children - who aren't being offered the vaccine. I think they are using proof of vaccine/negative status so they can test having small numbers of spectators at some sporting events but I don't think it will be feasible in the long term. That's why MPs have been complaining about the cost of the £22b Test and Trace scheme.

B33Fr33 · 10/04/2021 09:08

Quick search also shows there already people selling blank cards online. I'd send her the story and take the refund. She'll have to set a minimum age of 50 and proof of jab until May or June.

confusedfriday · 10/04/2021 09:12

Not a good business due to the fact they didn’t say anything beforehand. But other than that, that’s what we are facing unfortunately. I mean the prospect of being restricted in what you can do according to the vaccination status.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 10/04/2021 09:22

I guess private businesses can set their own rules, but they absolutely need to be clear and up front about what they are and not make additional demands after accepting the booking.

I would complain to the owner and Airbnb. Secure a full refund and find somewhere else. If it’s possible to leave a factual review about what’s happened I’d do that too as there will be many others who aren’t yet vaccinated through no fault of their own.

Sarahandco · 10/04/2021 09:24

Sounds like an excuse to cancel to me

Horridcreature · 10/04/2021 09:28

No one in England (don’t know about rest of UK) has anything useful to prove vaccinated. I have had first jab and got a card with the batch on. They didn’t bother writing my name on it, I did just so it didn’t get confused with cards of other family members. Very easy to fake it lose.

Yellowmellow2 · 10/04/2021 09:32

@HotChoc10

That's ridiculous. Could you ask if a pair of negative tests would suffice and go to your nearest walk in?
No, you can’t do this. PCR tests are only for symptomatic people and not for people who need proof of a negative test for a holiday. You have to pay for a test for that.
Original poster
garlictwist · 10/04/2021 09:33

Thanks for the replies, everyone.

It's a separate house with its own entrance, albeit on the land their own house is on. But it's self check in too so we wouldn't even have needed to meet the host!

Anyway, it is what it is. I've found something else luckily, although annoyingly more expensive. I don't think complaining to AirBnB would help as she is refunding us and they can't exactly force her to accommodate us.

I am mostly annoyed she's sprung this on us right before our holiday. Part of me wonders if she wants to relist it at a higher price...

OP posts:
Cookerhood · 10/04/2021 09:36

Simple. She's realised she can get more money for it.

Sugarplumfairy65 · 10/04/2021 09:37

Although there are certain medical conditions that don't allow for vaccination, so in some cases it would be discrimination - e.g. someone with cancer receiving chemo who had booked an Airbnb flat to stay away from others but see something new would not be allowed to.stay under her policy.

Someone undergoing chemo would be advised to have the vaccine either before starting chemo or a few days before their next one.
There are very few medical conditions that would stop a person from having the vaccine.

Its an individual's choice to have or not have the vaccine, its also their choice to refuse service to someone who hasn't had the vaccine.
Just get a refund, find somewhere else and stop moaning.

VodkaSlimline · 10/04/2021 09:37

Not being vaccinated is not a valid late cancellation reason with Airbnb - I run a couple of holiday lets through them. If you complain to them they should help you find somewhere else of at least the same quality for no more than the same price.

VodkaSlimline · 10/04/2021 09:38

Just saw your update - you should still complain to Airbnb and ask them to refund you the difference you've paid for the more expensive replacement booking.