AIBU to be upset at review on AirBnB?

[ballerina1971]

This is my first time ever using AirBnB. There was so little available in area we wanted to go , but a property came up. It was an active Church, with 2 camp beds and 2 air beds for the children (aged 11 and 12). No bathroom but a toilet with sink, no cooking facilities or fridge, but a little table was set up with 4 chairs to eat breakfast at. A simple cereal, tea and coffee breakfast was provided. We slept in the Church. On the last day we cleaned the toilet and sink. We washed cups, bowls and spoons we had used and set it all back up, how it was when we arrived. All rubbish was put in a black sack and all recycling put in recycling box, these though we did not know where the bins were despite looking. We don't remember being told where the bins were or where to put rubbish. We were never there during the day, didn't eat there other than breakfast. We didn't make beds the day we left as they would be stripped and washed any way. I smoke, but respected it was a Church and did not smoke anywhere in the grounds, but went out to where my car was parked, smoked there and placed all butts in an empty packet and put in a public bin where ever we went that day, so did not leave any cigarette butts on the grounds even. So, I was shocked to read Hosts review which said
* and her family weren't the tidiest of guests, but they were a very jolly group.'

I don't know what we did wrong, what exactly is expected of us as I can find nothing in Terms and Conditions that says about expectations of how property should be left and my friend was still in the Church to give key back and collect key deposit, so if something bothered them in could have been mentioned then.

I will write a response to the review just not sure yet what to say.

AIBU to be upset at this as I assume other hosts can read this and put them off accepting us in the future, should we use AirBnB again. It has not sat right with me, yet we had a great time and loved the Church and all it's history.pö

[quote DontDrinkDontSmokeWhatDoIDo]@smashionaltreasure

I also wondered why you WOULD NOT want guests to strip beds.

The only reason I can think of is because they don't plan on changing the sheets 🤢🤢🤢🤢

Does anyone in the business know a more favourable reason (please!!!)[/quote]
So that it is easier to check the bedding for any stains or damage which may need dealing with before they go in the wash?

To avoid having to sift through bundles of screwed up sheets with used plasters or bits of toenail in?

To easily check that no items are missing before doing the laundry?

Favourable enough for you?

Going on holiday is not a situation where I expect to be on the receiving end of reviews.

Don't use AirBnB then, would be my advice!

Ha yep I’d forgotten the moment of disappointment at thinking the bed was unslept in and then realising someone anally retentive had made it carefully for no reason at all.

@Lockheart

Unfortunately the way Airbnb works (much like Uber) is that anything under 5 is considered bad.*

With respect, that's silly. What's the point of one, two, or three stars then if 4 stars is considered bad?

A guest can be bad, a guest can be neutral (they came, they went, it was fine), or a guest can be amazing. Only in the latter case is 5 starts justified, surely.

I completely agree!! It's a massive bone of contention for hosts. 70% of discussion on the host boards is about this. Guests can give stars for 'location' and often they used to score mine low because it was too far from the centre or there was no public transport. All things they knew before booking. It's ridiculous!

[quote DontDrinkDontSmokeWhatDoIDo]@smashionaltreasure

I also wondered why you WOULD NOT want guests to strip beds.

The only reason I can think of is because they don't plan on changing the sheets 🤢🤢🤢🤢

Does anyone in the business know a more favourable reason (please!!!)[/quote]
Pretty much
I don't ask people to but I don't mind when they do. I always change sheets though!

@sadperson16

I massively admire you for going and making the best of this.

The more I hear about " The Church" the less I like them.

I have tried to set up something very small scale for refugees, using a building which is already open ie minimum effort. They don't want to know.

On this front churches are hamstrung by safeguarding regulations. So unless your proposal came with funding for 24 hr staffing or volunteers willing to do so with funding for training then that can lead to a blanket no.

Plus (as this champing has shown) the gov. Will actually try and place them in a bnb or travelodge or similar. Which is better than a drafty church with no shower.

There’s a reason the sponsor programmes like this to be in people’s homes not village halls.

It's clearly not champing, because champing is in redundant [unused] churches in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust: champing.co.uk/what-is-champing/

From what OP has said I think it must be this one: www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/49667056?source_impression_id=p3_1629622896_X1UDP8SNB6YrX62L&guests=1&adults=1

So that it is easier to check the bedding for any stains or damage which may need dealing with before they go in the wash?

Yes if I made the sheets filthy I think I would strip them as I would be embarrassed

* and her family weren't the tidiest of guests, but they were a very jolly group.'

I am not an AirB&B host, but I'd definitely read that as though your group left an absolute shit tip and were really loud / drunk.

I sometimes work as a housekeeper and we have a way of stripping the beds where we take the duvet cover off and the pillow cases and put them into the middle of the bed then gather up the corners of the sheet and and tie them up in a bundle.
This is how they get sent to the laundry.

The posters who strip the beds and leave the sheets on the floor or pile them in a neat bundle on the end of the bed would be a pain not a help.
We would also be a bit worried there was something nasty on them you didn't want us to see because it's not normal for guests to strip the beds when they leave.

To all those who hoover - all my reviews say I leave the place clean and tidy and I have never swept or hoovered. I do the dishes, strip beds, leave towels where indicated, remove rubbish and wipe down any crumbs.

Everywhere I've stayed has a place for dirty towels, to remove rubbish, wash dishes or put dishwasher on. Never been asked to hoover but I would if there was a mess.

It sounds like that review was written by someone who doesn't know its possible implications.

Could they be referring not to how you left it, but how it was while you were staying in it?

You need 2 years of accommodation open to housing benefit applicants - what you can do through a Church is arrange fundraising for finding accommodation and community welcome events & tutoring for children & supplies needed to set up a home & anything else. Partnering with local mosques helps. What you don’t want is a drafty hall to sleep in for 2 years. But seriously - it’s not super hard and i really recommend this. Especially all those landlords out there who have accommodation in this price bracket to help partner and or form a local group to welcome people!

www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/communities/migrants-and-refugees/community-sponsorship-refugees

@supersonicginandtonic

I find it odd that anybody doesn't make a bed when they get out of it. It's the first thing I do and always have done. It's what my parents taught me. It takes seconds. I don't think it deserves a bad review though. It's also annoying when you are not told where the bins are. We had this recently when we stayed in an air bnb and I had to message to host.

I find it more odd that anyone would remake a bed that have just got out of. Surely it is much better to allow the bed and bedding to air. Just fold back the bedding, it also just takes seconds and is what my parents taught me. OP I would be more interested to know what sort of review you left for them because unlike you, the accommodation sounds anything but jolly.

@Lockheart - I don’t use Airbnb for this and other reasons. I strongly dislike the model of rating and reviewing paying guests as I think it’s unreasonable. I was commiserating with op. How she’s been left feeling is precisely why I don’t like this system. I was also disagreeing with your work analogy. Honest feedback is to be expected at work. For Airbnb unless you’ve been a nightmare, feedback that is less than fully positive is really rather unfair as it can harm someone’s chances of securing other Airbnbs.

You don't sound slovenly, OP. I would leave a review telling them that you disagree, have been upset by the unfounded allegations - and have passed on the name of the place you stayed so that others can also avoid being unfairly criticised.

I stay in hotels/apartments all the time, have never had this issue or any sort of bad review. It's not ABnB though, perhaps some of them are just like that, enjoying an audience. I'd

appreciate the heads up so that I don't book with that place inadvertently, I'll add them to my 'shit list'. We keep on on file at work and never, ever give them a second chance.

You know you weren't untidy. You're the customer - use your muscle.

You shouldn’t be marked down for not making the bed, it’s going to be stripped anyway. I stayed in an AirBnB recently and was asked to strip beds. I did it but I think it’s a bit of a cheek when you’re paying to stay tbh. I would ask the host for clarification. Do you have the app? It’s quite easy to message privately on there.

champing.co.uk My mind is boggled.

Im always surprised by the way some people martyr themselves doing extra housework when theyre literally paying a fortune to stay somewhere and usually with a cleaning charge. Do you insist on washing up after youve paid to go out for a meal too. Do the cooking on your all inclusive?
I mean obviously you dont leave it a state, but even if you did leave a bit of mess but no damage, its not on to give a bad or passive aggressive review of your paying guests

I don’t vacuum a self catering place unless I’ve brought an obvious amount of sand etc in. I make all crockery and cutlery is washed and dried, surfaces are clean and bathroom is visibly clean. I fold bedding back to air unless asked to strip them, put used towels in bath usually and empty bins. It’s going to be cleaned properly before next guest. Why do it twice?

Why do it twice?

fear of being slovenly or skanky apparently

@Lockheart

You are hugely overthinking this. That's not a bad review.

Well it's not a good review either, is it? It's likely to make other hosts think twice.

I also stay in a friends holiday let that runs on the basis that it’s very reasonable and there is no cleaner so she only lets to certain people stay. Then of course, I properly clean it for the next people but I factor that in and it’s worth it for the setting and view given the price.

I honestly don’t mind what guests do because it’s all going in the wash. I wash everything at high temp - sheets, blanket, dressing gown, towels and bathmat.

That’s what I’m being paid for.

I'd just create a new air b&b account.
Start again.

I am shocked that so many people think you OUGHT to make a bed that's only going to be stripped anyway