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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AirBnB - cheeky with this deposit?

30 replies

madIam · 24/01/2022 21:05

Last night I booked a Uk 4 night stay at an AirbnB property for half term. I'm a bit taken aback to have just received a text saying they will require a photo of my ID (not really an issue) a signed copy of the house rules (ok I suppose but I can't really see the point) and £300 deposit which will be kept for up to 4 days after my departure.

I've stayed at maybe 20 AirBnBs here and abroad and never had any of that. It's making me think twice especially as I've just double-checked the listing and none of it is mentioned. It seems like a lot of scanning shit which is a faff and the money thing annoys me as I'll have to keep checking my account to check it's there and I think it's off to just assume everyone has access to this 'extra' cash when you're quite a low-priced place and it's not mentioned on the listing. Financially it's not really an issue but I feel high levels of faff that I cba with. I mean what's the point of a signed copy of the rules - it won't be legally binding will it and they will have my deposit...

I have free cancellation but AIBU to use it?

OP posts:
cherrytreecottage · 24/01/2022 21:11

I had this with an Airbnb in Liverpool. It was a last minute and desperate booking so didn't have a choice...I made sure to take videos and pictures of everything as soon as we got there and did get the deposit back no issues.

Crazycatlady202020 · 24/01/2022 21:11

YANBU. I would cancel too, as they didn't mention all of this before you booked it!

Ellavoday · 24/01/2022 21:13

Sounds stressful, of course you should make use of the free cancellation, that’s what it’s there for.

mugglenutmeg · 24/01/2022 21:15

Oh gosh...what a faff! I'd find somewhere else!

ChuckGarabedian · 24/01/2022 21:16

It does seem like a lot of faff - maybe they have had problems with people wrecking the place before or something and feel they have to cover themselves. As regards the scanning, I had to provide a copy of ID last week when booking an AirBnB and I just took a pic of my drivers licence with my phone. They accepted it fine, I think as long as it’s legible it’s essentially the same as scanning it.

SpikeySmooth · 24/01/2022 21:21

I'm an AirBnB novice and have only stayed in one.

There was no deposit or anything. We read the bumpf on the host page about damages etc but she would charge these on our debit card if anything was amiss. We paid upfront and that was that.

I think you should cancel.

ANameChangeAgain · 24/01/2022 21:26

For every rule there would be a backstory of a bad previous renter. Nothing about whet they are asking is cheeky, but if those are their terms then you accept them or stay elsewhere. I would be of the opinion that it isn't worth the faff too.

bumbledeedum · 24/01/2022 21:26

We just had a similar request with an apartment through booking.com only they wanted a copy of ID, the credit card and a selfie to prove it was our ID Hmm I objected and they've waived it as we'd paid through booking and it wasn't mentioned anywhere. I would have cancelled otherwise, it's seems unnecessary and intrusive when you're booking through Airbnb or other website.

Whatsonmymindgrapes · 24/01/2022 21:26

Yeah I’d cancel that would annoy me

Original poster
madIam · 24/01/2022 21:29

Thanks all - what a PITA... I was looking forward to staying there too. I totally understand they want to cover themselves but I just wish they had it on the listing and can't see a good reason not to...

OP posts:
JenniferAlisonPhilippaSue · 24/01/2022 21:31

I just wouldn’t do it. Let them cancel on you rather than vice versa. They need to give Airbnb a valid reason.

Zero123 · 24/01/2022 21:35

I use airbnb for apartments/villas because they don't ask for a deposit. It's based on your previous reviews someone decides to rent to you. If you have no history it's probably worth it but you are risking the money in my opinion.

OldMMC · 24/01/2022 21:35

If a host is asking for money outside the Airbnb system you should cancel and report them to Airbnb. We've had to do this in the past. You have no chance of getting the money back if you send it directly to the host.

Original poster
madIam · 24/01/2022 21:41

@OldMMC

If a host is asking for money outside the Airbnb system you should cancel and report them to Airbnb. We've had to do this in the past. You have no chance of getting the money back if you send it directly to the host.
That's interesting - they have messaged through AirBnB but it says the money will be 'held by a third party system which is separate from AirBnB.' FFS - why be on AirBnB then...

...and why do I keep capitalising the Bs when I don't need to?!

OP posts:
Mumdiva99 · 24/01/2022 21:46

It doesn't sound legit at all. Airbnb use their own systems. The fact they would have your personal details and your visa card details - which they need to pay the money back makes this sound suspect. Are they super hosts? Are their verified reviews on the page? Does anyone mention this in the review? Because you would think someone would....

Wormwoodgal · 24/01/2022 21:46

Don't cancel your booking, as you can only do so a certain number of times per year with Airbnb and still get your money back.
My advice would be to report these demands to Airbnb - it's not allowed by them.
If the host insists, tell them to cancel your booking themselves - they won't want to do this as it impacts their Airbnb rating. They will probably tell you this is not true, but it is.

shouldistop · 24/01/2022 21:49

They shouldn't be asking for money outside air bnb, report them to the site.

Beth856 · 24/01/2022 21:54

Sounds suspicious 😒 and also be careful to read your Airbnb cancellation policy. Some are free cancellation except the first 30 nights 😬

CrappyXmasMarket · 24/01/2022 21:58

Agree OP

I had this with a break in the summer and the damage deposit was as much as the accommodation! I only realised when I came to pay, there was nothing in the particulars. I raised it with the owner and no joy. They weren't very nice about it so bullet dodged I reckon.

I would cancel.

WoolyMammoth55 · 24/01/2022 22:05

OP I've hosted on Airbnb before and would NEVER do this.

We had insurance which covered any damage, and Airbnb also has a fairly decent policy on refunding damage which I used successfully once after a particularly weird and annoying breakage.

The guests don't pay, Airbnb stumps up the cash.

If the hosts wanted all this it should be flagged up to guests before booking. Tell them no, politely, and see what happens.

It's not on you to cancel, it's on them. But certainly don't pay.

TBH same with ID - we do need ID (for the insurance to be valid) but we get guests to send before we let them book, so if anyone has concerns they can book elsewhere. Springing it all on you after you've paid is rubbish.

PatsyJStone · 24/01/2022 22:08

Not keen on the fact they will have your signature, ID and bank details from when you send the deposit. And you can’t find any information. Could be very genuine but personally I’d try something else

PainterMummy · 24/01/2022 22:12

Reading with interest. I have rented houses twice via Airbnb, once here in uk and once in Florida. Never did I need to give ID to the host not pay direct to host (or third party outside Airbnb) a deposit.
Most definitely contact Airbnb about this.

MallampatiCatty · 24/01/2022 22:20

I absolutely wouldn't be happy with this. So fishy. We've stayed in 10+ Airbnbs in the UK and abroad. Never heard of anything like this. Sorry OP! I'd go elsewhere.

Original poster
madIam · 24/01/2022 22:35

Well, I have contacted Airbnb in case it came back on me to cancel. They did point out that it does mention a deposit in the house rules, though it alludes to it not being refunded if you are noisy/break anything but there isn't a separate bullet point about it and it doesn't say the amount. So that bit is on me.

However, Airbnb have said NOT to pay through a third party so I've politely messaged to that effect and Airbnb will contact them too. Then they have 72 hours to respond. What a pain - wish I'd read it more carefully now....

OP posts:
JollyAndBright · 24/01/2022 23:05

You’ve 1000% done the right thing.

You should never pay anything outside of Airbnb, it’s in the T&Cs and they take a dim view of it even being suggested.

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