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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Email from property owner - room cancelled for refugees

380 replies

DuvetHugger · 04/04/2022 16:03

I booked holiday accommodation last year for this coming June in Scotland. They allow pets so this was the main pull for us. We have booked tickets for a big gig taking place there and are travelling from south of the UK.

I just received this email from them:

"We have applied to use the barn for Ukranian refugees. if it's not a problem for you can you please cancel free of charge"

I replied saying we have booked some activities etc and is she sure the place wont be available at that time, we booked 8 months ago and her response was:

"No you need to book something else sorry".

AIBU in thinking this is rude?? Obviously, I have nothing against them housing refugees but I am a bit taken aback.

AIBU to be pissed off or AIBU for my first world problems when there are families to house?

Surely she would see a diary of full bookings and think "I am not yet in a position to use the barn to house others, but will stop taking bookings now to enable myself to do so at a later date"?

OP posts:
Usingit · 04/04/2022 19:43

The way it is worded makes it sound like they are doing OP a favour

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 04/04/2022 19:44

Friend of mine is offering her BnB accommodation for refugees. She is trying to find local businesses willing to take on her future bookings. It may very well be genuine. Don't be so cynical.

If she only wants to help the refugees and isn't after virtue signalling, why doesn't she just honour her own future bookings and use the income to pay the other local businesses the going market rate (maybe she could negotiate a bit of a discount) for the refugees to stay with them?

MurmuratingStarling · 04/04/2022 19:45

@DuvetHugger

Just had this
OMG!!! No way!
Email from property owner - room cancelled for refugees
Mummapenguin20 · 04/04/2022 19:46

I think she wants to rerent

GADDay · 04/04/2022 19:49

OP. I'd ask her straight up why she is still taking bookings? Then follow up with DFC.

Sounds possible that your 3 days may be in the middle of a much longer booking request.

I would give the owner the benefit of the doubt in tone, for now. Let DFC work it out.

caringcarer · 04/04/2022 19:52

Tell her she is cancelling not you and can you please have it in writing. Check if this person is still accepting bookings. Book Travel Inn. Leave a review stating host cancelled your booking made 8 months prior. She is wrong to do this. She could host Ukraine person in her home for the weeks she has committed to bookings if this is true.

Hoppinggreen · 04/04/2022 19:52

GADDay
The property owner is lying, she is using the Ukraine war as an excuse to get more money for her property
So how about you actually read the thread properly and then give YOUR head a MUCH needed wobble

SushiShopSearch · 04/04/2022 19:53

I think she could have worded it better. The refugees should come first but she does not seem very tactful about it.

Hoppinggreen · 04/04/2022 19:56

@SushiShopSearch

I think she could have worded it better. The refugees should come first but she does not seem very tactful about it.
FFS there are no refugees, she is advertising the property Does no one actually read the bloody thread?
namethattunein1 · 04/04/2022 19:57

@Sapphirejane

The good side of me is saying that your holiday is definitely trumped by the needs of people fleeing a war zone who need accommodation now not after the summer.

The cynical side of me is wondering how the £350 a month government scheme is worked out and whether they would make more money this way. I hope someone is able to put that thought to rest however.

This gov has a habit of making a pigs ear of handouts during a crisis, how much did they lose over Covid fraud ? SIXTEEN BILLION, I still can't believe more people aren't angry about this.

Of course business can offer accomodation, get paid legally from tax payers and then put them to work , legally , at minimum wage of course , it's almost designed for modern day slavery.

godmum56 · 04/04/2022 19:58

@KnowingMeKnowingYouAhaaaa

They'll have realised that what they are getting from the government to have it filled continously, will probably make them more money, than letting for odd events a few nights a week. I don't think a business would be cancelling bookings like this after a rough couple of years unless the money stacks up.

Why do they need you to cancel when they are the ones cancelling? I'd be very careful they aren't trying to avoid refunding you.

oh I doubt it....600 quid for 3 nights vs 350 quid a MONTH?
GreenClock · 04/04/2022 20:00

I’d contact DFC. I think you’re doing the right thing.

I very much hope she hasn’t just found a bigger payer and decided to use the war as an excuse to cancel your booking. That would be despicable.

Usingit · 04/04/2022 20:01

£350 a month and a ready made low paid workforce

cakewench · 04/04/2022 20:02

Email the company you booked through, send them the copies of the msgs from the owner and tell them if the owner wants to terminate the contract, she can do so. I'd stress that this cancellation is actually potentially putting you out of pocket (or something along those lines) as you've booked tickets to an event and this is leaving you with nowhere to stay with your dog as planned.

Thebestwaytoscareatory · 04/04/2022 20:04

Everyone’s up for helping people fleeing war…until it inconveniences them in a very minor way. Cancel the booking & book somewhere else. It’s 2 months away. If Russia could just stop invading for the summer so holiday rentals could honour their bookings that would be just lovely, but that isn’t happening. People need housed now. Not in October.

We have done exactly the same with our holiday rental (also Scotland). I don’t give a teeny tiny rats arse if it annoys people, or they don’t believe it’s genuine, or they think we’re in it for the money (hilarious, truly).

What did you do with the Syrian/Iraqi/Afghan/Yemeni refugees you were housing in your rental before? Surely you've not been letting to holiday makers when all those people desperately needed housing?

Duracellbunnywannabe · 04/04/2022 20:05

I was reply and say if she needs to cancel the booking then it is her responsibility to do so with the booking company.

katepilar · 04/04/2022 20:06

I dont get the post about running the summer and letting in the refugees in October. They might not be alive in October.

CoastalWave · 04/04/2022 20:09

Someone else wants to book it for the full week. That's what's happened. 100%.

Do not cancel. Make her cancel so you can claim on your insurance.

whiteroseredrose · 04/04/2022 20:10

Can I also agree DO NOT CANCEL!!!

Sorry to shout, but something similar happened to me (but without the refugees).

I was asked to cancel a long standing booking for an apartment in London by the owners. I refused and asked Booking.Com for advice.

They found alternative accommodation for me, which was about £200 more. Booking.Com then refunded the difference and charged the original owner.

Soringhaze · 04/04/2022 20:11

This is just the worst of Mumsnet. Christ.

Sapphirejane · 04/04/2022 20:11

How many rooms is the barn OP? I wonder how many refugees families are they intending to fit in the barn.

HardyBuckette · 04/04/2022 20:11

@CoastalWave

Someone else wants to book it for the full week. That's what's happened. 100%.

Do not cancel. Make her cancel so you can claim on your insurance.

Yep.
GADDay · 04/04/2022 20:12

@Hoppinggreen

GADDay The property owner is lying, she is using the Ukraine war as an excuse to get more money for her property So how about you actually read the thread properly and then give YOUR head a MUCH needed wobble
I have read the the thread. See my follow on comment about checking things out before taking action like bad reviews and compensation.

Unless you are the owner you have no way of knowing for certain without looking into it further.

mumwon · 04/04/2022 20:14

The kind of accommodation the refugees need is supported & near to facilities aka schools & towns
What they don't need is to be isolated without support aka in the middle of nowhere with no one to help them with forms & everyday needs & supplies ect
& people need to recognise this
(I noted there is another lovely thread on here about mn who has 2 young mums with a young child each & how a neighbour anonymously donated a slide & swing)

WhyOfCourse · 04/04/2022 20:16

Why are refugees being housed in a barn in the middle of nowhere?