That this Airbnb host deserves a terrible review

[Finknottlesnewt]

My sister is travelling to my home town for my other sisters' daughters (our niece) wedding . The date has been long known . 6 months ago she booked a cottage nearby for her husband and three children. Paid a large deposit and the balance taken last week. (By Airbnb - it seems the host doesn't get the money until after the first night).
They are going to make a week of it - so a 6 night booking.
Last night - at 10:30 the host sent a message to say that she would have to cancel the booking as she had hurt her arm and couldn't clean the property between guests.
My sister is distraught. Cannot get anywhere else to stay. (We are in a popular holiday area and it's a BH weekend. ) The prices are also 3x what my sister paid - and she paid over £1k for 6 days ! the amount stated at the time of booking.
Obviously we are not going to let my sister and family miss the wedding so will literally put them up on any floor space we can find between my home and my other sister but we all already have other family staying so will be a very tight squeeze.

No my question. Whilst driving to my sisters to drop off some stuff for the wedding I passed the cottage my sister had booked. Only to see a car parked in the drive with a roof box on top and a man and woman obviously unloading suitcases ...

It is also obvious what has happened. The host got a 'better offer' and dumped my sisters booking in favour of this one. With less than 12 hours notice. . and didn't have a single moral issue with screwing up someone else's long made holiday wedding plans for simple greed.

AIBU to say that my sister should write a review of this 'host' to warn others off.. as well as telling Airbnb what she has done. ?

The hurt arm is obviously a lie. She could have paid someone to come and clean and still made a profit, if she was unable to do the cleaning herself. Seeing someone actually parked and unpacking seems like proof enough to make a complaint with AirBnB.

I also think that if you/your sister are too honest about the situation and the information you're seeking, the new occupants may not want to get involved. They're on holiday and might not even want to answer the door, tbh!

@TheWeatherWitch

Airbnb will already know the host has had to cancel. The host will lose out because her ratings are not only from her guest review but from her availability, so cancelling will have cost her points. Points from Airbnb go towards her super host status.

You can not review a place you’ve not stopped at.

Hope this helps and hope you never have an injury that means you have to miss work. I doubt a self employed Airbnb host has hurt her arm just to piss you off. What a thoroughly nasty thread.

@TheWeatherWitch I doubt a self employed Airbnb host has hurt her arm at all.

I am appalled - of course your sister should. Have not RTFT and I expect a lawyer will have already advised... but I really wouldn't be surprised if she's broken a ton of rules by doing that.

I have read a tiny bit now. If I wanted to ask a Q I'd pretend to have a delivery or be selling something and ask where some local (not obvious) road was or something.

What a bitch.

Because rocking up and saying “oi Simone, I was supposed to be renting this place this week. How much you payin?” Isn’t exactly going to get the gazumpers to tell the truth is it!

I'd knock on the door and ask for your sister.

I won't use Airbnb again after they ignored a request for help after staying somewhere. Too risky.

You could post the property here (with dots so it doesn't come up on google) and well can inundate her with questions!

I would, if you are absolutely sure. If you’re sure then that is very bad form and others should be warned. I’ve heard of this, it’s plain and simple greed.

Go with a bunch of flowers for Mrs Sister. A kind gift from a thankful niece for attending her wedding. 😇

I would say that since she's sadly broken her arm I am of course happy to clean the place myself, so the booking can go ahead. See what she says. But yes, go round and be up front with the people. Tell them your Dsis's booking was canx and ask them when they booked. Then complain to Airb&b.

You don’t know for certain and it’s not even your booking so I’d keep out. Those people could have been family members who have come to help the air BnB owner because of her injury.

I’d have been sceptical about the cancelling. She was prepared to forego £1k+ and not hire a cleaner instead for maybe £80? It sounded like a BS excuse.

I'd get a picture of their car on the driveway as well to back your story up.

Whilst I agree it is probably a lame excuse I’m highly amused that so many here think she should just get a cleaner in!

Getting a last minute cleaner for a one off holiday let clean over the August bank holiday? Yeah Good luck with that!

It’s probably the owner of her friends staying in it so I’d knock on the door and say innocently you’re looking for your sister because as far as you know she’s booked it, when they say she’s not there say oh I’d better ring her and see where she is, then get as many of your family members to do the same every hour on the hour to disrupt their holiday.

It's happening a lot, same happened to me (thankfully not a wedding so we are going elsewhere)

Assuming the new people aren't in cahoots with the owner I wouldn't involve them or fill them in on the situation as it's not their fault and it will probably really spoil their holiday. I know if it were me I'd feel (irationally) guilty about it.

I think just driving past at night and seeing if there are lights on should be all the proof you need that it is occupied.

It doesn't make any sense. Even if she wasn't able to get a cleaner short notice, she could have explained the situation to your sister and said: "Look, I'm unable to clean this property due to a broken arm, I've got noone to clean it for me, but if you still want to come, I can give you a 25 % discount".

Most people also have family and friends who can do a quick hoover....

Knock on the door, say you heard what happened and can you help - clean the house for your sister. Then act totally confused by the people being guests.

This is why I no longer use AirBnB. Hosts can cancel your booking at the last minute and there’s nothing you can do. I had this happen to me (turned out host wanted to use apartment for visiting family instead) and I’d already booked flights to, and various activities in, the destination. Luckily I was able to find other accommodation, but it’s a stress I’d prefer to avoid in the future.

Its bullshit because if true, she would of just paid someone £40 to clean it

I would personally knock on the door and say ‘hi’

This is awful. I’ve just stayed in an AirBnb and didn’t realise they could cancel you. Will think twice in future.

She can't give a review if the stay was cancelled but there will be an automatic review posted saying 'the host cancelled the stay one day before' which should put off anyone sensible from booking there. This is utterly shit behaviour and you can't even complain to Airbnb as they will have sanctioned her - but if she can make £££ more by renting it on another site it won't matter.

@Benjispruce5

This is awful. I’ve just stayed in an AirBnb and didn’t realise they could cancel you. Will think twice in future.

They can but hosts get penalised for cancellations including fines and losing status/even losing their listing if they do it too many times so most don't. Summer 2021 has sent everyone insane and they just have pound signs in their eyes...

Don't harrass the new occupants (if that is what they are). They haven't done anything wrong. And as for encouraging the posting of the property details here so people can harrass the host: what is wrong with people? Your sister booked it, why can't she sort it out with air BnB?

Shame for decent hosts to be lumped in with greedy bastards.