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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:
Annette32123 · 04/04/2022 16:45

@DuvetHugger

I paid £600 for 3 nights, which I suppose is quite cheap for a cottage?
Just tell her if she needs to cancel the booking from her end, for any reason, to please do so.

Since you do not need to cancel, you should not be initiating the cancellation. If she is worried about any negative consequences she can contact the parent company and have them make an exception when she provides them with evidence of then refugees arrival.

lollipoprainbow · 04/04/2022 16:48

Bloody rude and I'd be annoyed. Serves her and the people cancelling wedding bookings right if they lose business over this.

SiobhanSharpe · 04/04/2022 16:49

If she has registered to house refugees I am wondering if, like the person upthread, that she had to offer to put up the refugees for 4 to 6 months.
For holiday property owners this might be a good deal as it would give them guaranteed income through the low season, and possibly longer, and not just June to August.

grapewines · 04/04/2022 16:49

Rude. Let her do the cancelling. YANBU.

godmum56 · 04/04/2022 16:49

@girlmom21
"It's per family"

Its per residential address per month...so for a whole month they wll get just over half what you would pay for 3 nights...and if they have got other accommodation they will offer to refugees at the same address, they won't get any more money.

I'd put money on this being an excuse.......

Dunelmer · 04/04/2022 16:49

The UK has a housing and accommodation shortage. Europe (incl UK) had just had 4mn refugees arrive - as a result of a war.

They are fleeing mass execution, rapes of young women.

I'm really sorry for your inconvenience - but have a heart and perhaps understand why the hotelier wanted to use the accommodation to a better purpose.

As for those suggesting it is for profits from the £350/month ukrainian scheme - nonsense. This business will lose a lot of money by hosting.

lollipoprainbow · 04/04/2022 16:51

Can you not book a local premier inn/travelodge locally?

What and take pets??

Original poster
DuvetHugger · 04/04/2022 16:51

The terms and conditions that I have read so far state that she should find me suitable alternative accommodation.

I will email DFC tonight and see what they say

OP posts:
2bazookas · 04/04/2022 16:51

@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.

Its 350 per month per home, not per refugee. 350 a MONTH probably won't even cover the property owner's costs (fuel, power, insurance, CT.) . Hosts have to guarantee 6 months accommodation to refugees so the grand total govt payment will be £ 2100. A huge financial loss compared to letting income.

Holiday houses in Scotland currently let for a minimum 800 per WEEK, 2800 per month. Often far more.

godmum56 · 04/04/2022 16:52

@SiobhanSharpe

If she has registered to house refugees I am wondering if, like the person upthread, that she had to offer to put up the refugees for 4 to 6 months. For holiday property owners this might be a good deal as it would give them guaranteed income through the low season, and possibly longer, and not just June to August.
I am not sure even so its a good deal....heating light, hot water, laundry...general wear and tear for 350 per month regardless of ho many people....I mean yes its extremely kind but I don't think its even a break even situation.
Bootothegoose · 04/04/2022 16:52

@Ozanj

A lot of land /estate / farmland owners are keen to get in ‘Ukranian refugees’ who in reality are farmhands (and their friends / families) that worked for them before. There is a lot of abuse going on.
This in spades.

I think the scheme is an appalling idea. It's a very kind thing that many are undertaking but they are completely ill-equipped to deal with traumatised refugees. Also there are so many who will be doing it for the completely wrong reasons.

These are extremely vulnerable victims of war, many of whom are completely isolated, without any support financially or otherwise, many of whom will not speak English and even more who will not speak English fluently thus making them even further isolated, unable to advocate for themselves and furthering their dependance of their hosts.

Their 'sponsors' are being trusted entirely with their wellbeing and also are being made responsible of extremely traumatised strangers. It is unfair in both respects.

How many of these poor souls will be abused, exploited, mistreated, possibly even trafficked? How many will suffer from extremely complex PTSD as a result of what they have endured? What will that PTSD look like? Depression? Violence? Psychosis? Will they have access to adequate counselling or support? Will they have opportunity for independence? No.

A colleague of DH's is sponsoring a mother, grandmother and young child all of whom are staying in his back bedroom. £350 is nowhere near enough to adequately house, feed and clothe one adult let alone multiple. When asked how he will communicate he shrugged and responded 'they can download Duolingo can't they'.

If the government wanted to help and accept responsibility they should have set up official refuge facilities where all individuals had access to counselling, therapy, advocates etc and local communities could have offered respite housing/employment/skill courses whatever they saw fit.

But no, we are now facing swarths of refugees entering the country, many of whom will face further trauma, others who will disappear off the face of the earth as someone is pocketing £350 in the meantime.

FitAt50 · 04/04/2022 16:53

First thing I would do it loom at the listing and see if its not full for at least the next six months - this will show if she is genuine. Once you have done that, come back and tell us.

For all those saying how awful that you have only been given 3 months notice to rebook - or how terrible of the hotel to cancel all bookings to give rooms to refugees. I ask did you not watch the news last night. Did you not see the burnt bodies of women and children lyign in the streets of Ukraine. Did not hear the report of Russian soldiers gang raping women and young girls and then killing them. Please try and have some perspective on whats 'Awful' and 'Horrid'.

DogInATent · 04/04/2022 16:53

@Nicholethejewellery

My first thought is, why is she asking you to cancel? Is this a platform where a host cancelling would be considered a problem? I certainly wouldn't cancel myself in your circumstances. If you do it you lose any rights you have. If the host has to change plans, the host has to cancel it themselves and risk the negative consequences that may entail.
^ this

Do not cancel the booking yourself. Even if the Ukrainian refugee story is true, she's not handling this correctly and is looking to push the cancellation onto you in order to protect herself from any consequences with the agency of cancelling as the host.

At this point you ought to take it to the agency, but you may wish to give her one more chance to do the right thing.

lollipoprainbow · 04/04/2022 16:53

The UK has a housing and accommodation shortage

You don't say !!! So everyone has to change their plans to house refugees now ?

1FootInTheRave · 04/04/2022 16:53

I would take it to the company you've booked through.

Wouldn't be making it easy for her at all.

Butchyrestingface · 04/04/2022 16:53

@DuvetHugger

The terms and conditions that I have read so far state that she should find me suitable alternative accommodation.

I will email DFC tonight and see what they say

That's probably why she wants YOU to cancel.
gettingolderandgrumpy · 04/04/2022 16:54

Meh I don’t buy some people housing refugees out of the kindness of their heart . Yes many are and I saw a story this morning on the news that melted my heart , but holiday home owners turfing out paying customers nah . I’d reply saying I’m not cancelling sorry I’ve booked .

bagsforlife20 · 04/04/2022 16:56

It’s a weird one. She’s phrasing it as both you have the “option” to cancel and that you have no option but to cancel. Is the room available or not??? I would just go ahead with the booking as normal if she’s saying it’s optional

listsandbudgets · 04/04/2022 16:58

@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.

Its £350 per property per month. they could definitely make more by letting it out
Leftbutcameback · 04/04/2022 16:59

As I understand it the number of people who have said they have space / properties is about 10 times the number of current visa applications, although I appreciate there will be more applying for visas. It's a bit strange her cancelling on the basis they've applied, rather than there is a firm arrangement, as there is no guarantee they will have a refugee family staying in the barn. That's why I voted YANBU. Having said that self contained dog friendly accommodation might be very sought after, which might explain her confidence.

cakewench · 04/04/2022 17:00

Agree with those saying to let her cancel, if she's the one who wants it cancelled.

Also while yes, it's wonderful for someone to be able to put up refugees from war, there's no proof that's actually happening, and in reality if this is a business for the cottage owner, it's more likely that they're getting more money from someone else.

BanjoKnickers · 04/04/2022 17:01

It's very nice for generous people to forfeit their own rights to help out Ukrainian refugees. But she is forfeiting yours as well.

She no longer has an unqualified right over the property. She has let it out to you and presumably various other people who now have a claim. If she wants to be generous then she should hand over her right - the rent she's receiving - to Ukrainian charities.

Sapphirejane · 04/04/2022 17:01

@listsandbudgets - yes as I said above I am happy to be told otherwise and I was.

MaggieFS · 04/04/2022 17:01

This is so weird. It can't possibly be for financial gain and if she's that kindly and altruistic, I'm surprised she thinks it's acceptable to do that to people's holiday plans.

Scianel · 04/04/2022 17:04

Hmmm... I'm cynical as to that being the real reason.