To think you shouldn't have to spring clean a holiday cottage?

[Takemetomiami]

Staying in a cottage booked through one of the large companies. I use a lot of air bnb and it's standard to leave the place as you found it which I always do.

In a holiday place booked through a company I clean the sink/loo, rinse bath, make sure fridge and bins emptied, wipe down kitchen surfaces. I assume they have professional cleaners coming in who will do a thorough job.

This morning got email from the holiday company with a long list of jobs including stripping beds, mopping through, cleaning shower, basically "leave it spotless". Is that now expected?

We strip the bed, empty the bins, put the dishwasher on and leave it 'clean'.

I would reply you aren't doing that and will leave a bad review if they cancel your booking as you have entered into a contract without these terms being stipulated.

They aren't covid mad, they haven't got a cleaner and want you to do it.

Air BnB always add on a charge for the cleaning, no matter what you do. It's clearly noted in the ads.

Wouldn't take long if there were 14 of you, unless you're uber messy people.

Is there a deposit that won’t be returned to you? Is it in the terms and conditions of your booking

If not, email them and tell them that you are going to strip the beds, leave all bedding and towels in a black bag, give everything a wipe down and run a Hoover around. Nothing else!

Would be normal for Germany. If you’re lucky, you can get away with ‚broom clean‘ -swept through and no floor washing. Alternative is obviously to pay the extra for the
professional cleaning. The expectation is you leave the rental in the state you would want it to be in when you arrive and I assume you would want it to have been thoroughly cleaned.

Never been expected to do this in a holiday apartment or cottage but I once hired a static on a holiday park through private owners and it was one of the conditions. It seemed worth it at the time but it made checking out by 10am very stressful and I wouldn’t do it again. I would rather pay a bit extra!

Osbert he wanted cash!

We were asked to strip beds, because of COVID, but that list is excessive even with COVID. In France we’ve always had a choice of clean yourself or pay for a final clean, which we normally do.

@Tartyflette

Osbert he wanted cash!

What if you didn't have it, though? Why not just laugh and tell him to go faire, well, you know. That's just extorting money out of someone.

No way would I expect to do all that. Broom clean only. They should be cleaning between stays especially at the moment with Covid

I’d Be interested to see a screen shot of this “leave it spotless” email

Might be to help limit the spread of COVID

I’ve never been asked to clean an AirB&B nor would I! You pay for the cleaning service as part of the letting fee surely?

Take bins out, wipe down surfaces of course but stripping bedding, mopping and leaving it spotless? Who does that when the owner is supposed to organise professional cleaning between occupants?

I’ve had this in holiday cottages in France, never in the UK though. It’s a complete pita, especially if you have a long drive ahead. It would put me off booking now.

@Prinzy

Might be to help limit the spread of COVID

And it might be to gouge more money out of people and skive out of cleaning it properly or pay less to the professionals as it will take less time to do the job.

Covid's become a real excuse to fuck people over in all sorts of ways.

No way! I always strip the beds - have done for years! leave towels together and make sure we’ve hoovered or swept up, washed up kitchen utensils we’ve used, nothing more!

One of the reasons I prefer a hotel.

I go on holiday to get away from housework.

What the actual eff is going on with these 'inspections' people have experienced?? What happens if you just refuse to go along with that?

Sheesh, I never knew this went on. What a way for the proprietors to treat paying guests.

I always do the whole place including mopping and stripping beds, but we use airbnb a lot and that's expected. It's so much cheaper than the same amount of space in a hotel or serviced rental, and I've always assumed this was part of the reason why.

That's ridiculous. I would always leave it clean but they can't expect you to mop (unless there is mud) and change the sheets. Surely changing the sheets is included in the rental price. What a lot of hassle. You're better in a hotel.

When we stayed over there were notices politely requesting bed stripping which I think in COVID times is more than reasonable. I would never dream of leaving without emptying bins - it’s not a hotel with daily cleaner and you are not paying hotel rates!! However - beyond that I wouldn’t expect to do more than a cursory wipe over as I would assume that under current circumstances cleaners are being far more thorough and employed for longer. We sprayed everything with detox as soon as we went in tho’!!

I do that anyway, we stayed in a caravan last year and did all the things listed. They had cleaners coming in but it didn’t take me long to do and it was our mess.

@Cowbells

I always do the whole place including mopping and stripping beds, but we use airbnb a lot and that's expected. It's so much cheaper than the same amount of space in a hotel or serviced rental, and I've always assumed this was part of the reason why.

See, I haven't found them all that much cheaper than a hotel, particularly a chain one. And no worrying about fucking mopping. I don't go on holiday to fucking mop.

Oh my goodness that's outrageous, I'd never expect that. I run a little Airbnb holiday let and I'm always grateful when guests strip beds and leave the place tidy as it saves me a bit of time but the cleaning part is my job, not for those having the holiday.

@speakout

One of the reasons I prefer a hotel.

I go on holiday to get away from housework.

I don't really see the comparison. A hotel is no good if you want to do self catering, or don't want to be all stuck in one room together for a week having meals at set times. A holiday let is much better for coming and going as you please.