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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:
Everydaydayisaschoolday · 04/04/2022 17:59

There is no chance she is offering her barn to refugees. She's pulling a fast one - or trying to. Stick to your guns, tell her you expect her to honour the booking and don't be bamboozled.

oakleaffy · 04/04/2022 17:59

@DuvetHugger
My immediate reaction was “
There are no Refugees- she has found people willing to pay more for her barn rental.

ArcheryAnnie · 04/04/2022 18:00

@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.
The scheme really needs to get itself together in terms of safeguards, modern slavery, etc. I can see this scenario happening all too easily.
SucculentChalice · 04/04/2022 18:00

YANBU because its too short notice and really annoying.

But I am wondering if this is going to happen in Scotland a lot this year due to the Scottish Government deciding to inspect and license all holiday lets. Even caravans that are let out for 2 weeks per year. Its going to be time consuming and the requirements will vary for each local authority. I've already heard of people stopping offering holiday accommodation because it just isn't worth the hassle.

Its not kicking in fully until 2023 but at the moment if theres any complaint from the neighbours to the local authority about an unlicensed holiday let, they just close it down by serving a notice on it. e.g. www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/scottish-news/20039773.glasgow-airbnb-flat-owners-lose-appeal-councils-plan-stop-lets-complaint/

I can understand why owners would rather take a guaranteed £350 per month tax free for refugee hosting rather than going through the palaver of the licensing regime.

LoveSpringDaffs · 04/04/2022 18:01

@lollipoprainbow

The UK has a housing and accommodation shortage

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

Fucking he'll. yes, why not? Have you bothered to see what they're fleeing from?

A holiday in Scotland is lovely & possibly 'needed', but nowhere near as much as these poor souls need a roof over their heads.

£350 per month is nothing! No one in holiday rentals is doing it for financial gain FFS

@DuvetHugger I'm sorry you're disappointed & the owner hasn't handled it well, but I do think the refugees come before holidays. If I were in your position I'd look to see what her 'availability' shows & see what the T&C are for an owner cancelling. I wouldn't want her to be out of pocket if she cancels, but not if I did. It's disappointing she hasn't arranged other options for you to consider, most holiday rental owners know others in the area.

Don't get further wound up by the drama on here, just get the info you can & the facts sorted & try to find other accommodation.

Is taking your dog critical or could they stay with family/friends?

Best of luck getting sorted.

ohMaggieMaggieMae · 04/04/2022 18:01

@Georgeskitchen

Not able to post a link but a hotel complex in Lancashire has cancelled all its bookings to house refugees. Several weddings have been cancelled. I suppose its a no win situation for those whose weddings have been cancelled as I am pretty sure if they complain they will be called all the usual names under the sun
My Sister leaves near that Hotel. It is not Ukrainian refugees they are housing it is asylum seekers that come across the channel. 150.mainly men. A lot of weddings cancelled one with a months notice and aswell as other celebrations including a high school prom.
Cyw2018 · 04/04/2022 18:03

If everyone with a holiday let or second home with a single booking already in diary used this as a reason to not offer there property up for refugees, then that would be very sad.

It is a shame that your holiday plans have been messed up but at least you have a home that you can leave to go on holiday.

707smile · 04/04/2022 18:03

@LoveSpringDaffs but there is the very distinct possibility that she may just be lying, particularly as she's taking bookings around the date that the OP has booked for. Surely she'd need a block of six months cancelled if she is really going to house Ukranians?

Puzzledandpissedoff · 04/04/2022 18:06

I don't believe for one second she is going to be housing refugees. She is still taking bookings (I just checked), and why would she cancel everyone before it has even been confirmed that she can house refugees?

Because she's clearly grubbing money out of others who'll pay more?
I'm afraid the "still taking bookings" was no surprise, and probably she's latched onto the refugee thing as a way to avoid the flak for what she's doing

Personally I'd disabuse her of that idea, both with the holiday company and on social media

ilovebrie8 · 04/04/2022 18:07

Hmmm my first thought OP is that she has got a better offer and someone willing to pay more for the rental. That’s my hunch. Don’t think it’s true what she is saying..I’d name and shame it’s not a nice move by the host especially the way she’s handled it ...

DogInATent · 04/04/2022 18:09

@LoveSpringDaffs
If your employer declared they were going to give a substantial donation to support refugees, and then told you they were docking your wages 10% to pay for it - would you suck it up as the right thing to do? After all, they need they need it more than you do.

Before you say, "That's not the same thing" - think about it, the OP is being expected to share the costs of someone else's charity.

JollyHolly30 · 04/04/2022 18:12

Absolutely refuse to cancel. She should have some consequences for cancelling your accommodation - just like you're going to have.

NdefH81 · 04/04/2022 18:14

Given her stance
Given your bafflement why cancelling when only applies

Do you really want to stay in her property?

Ophanim · 04/04/2022 18:14

@thinking123

You said you have booked for three nights. I bet someone wants the full week and is willing to pay way more
That’s what I think, too
ArcheryAnnie · 04/04/2022 18:15

MargaretThursday we have a lot of those types of "hotels" where I live. Families stuck in them for months, having to eat tiny portions of cold food while sitting on the bed, nowhere to cook. People see the word "hotel" and think it's people living large, but the reality I will agree with you is grim. (I very much doubt this case is in any way really related to a refugee family being hosted, however, if the cottage is still available for booking, as the OP says.)

MrMrsJones · 04/04/2022 18:17

If they cancel then rebook for a higher price, it shouldn't allow her to do so.

They should only be able to book out the week/days at the same price once confirmed.

It would put a stop to these shenanigans

stormswiftlysweetafton · 04/04/2022 18:18

Very suspicious. I wouldn't make it easy for her.

SnackSizeRaisin · 04/04/2022 18:18

The owner is perfectly entitled to cancel the booking herself without giving any reason. That is what she should be doing.
Not virtue signalling and expecting people who have booked in good faith to lose out.

I also think she's really rude in the way she has worded the emails.

meganorks · 04/04/2022 18:19

I, like others don't believe the refugees thing. Because if that was the reason she could cancel the booking. The fact that she is asking you to cancel suggests its because she doesn't want some negative impact on her rating (or whatever the consequence is). But using it for refugees is probably the only way she can think of to get you to cancel.

Sapphirejane · 04/04/2022 18:20

@ArcheryAnnie I agree, we have one near us that was a run down dump and they are now using it to house families from Afghanistan. I thought it had been closed down until I saw children playing in the car park and realised what was going on. Poor people, not the new life any of them would have imagined.

Overthebow · 04/04/2022 18:22

Don’t cancel, make the owner do it.

gettingolderandgrumpy · 04/04/2022 18:22

@LoveSpringDaffs your quite we should all sacrifice our holiday for refugees . Have you booked a holiday this year , If so you won’t mind if they cancel will you? .

springtimeishereagain · 04/04/2022 18:23

£600 for 3 nights is not cheap...

I'd contact the holiday company, say what's happened, see what they say.

Livelovebehappy · 04/04/2022 18:23

Very rude. Clearly she has done it as the money received probably is more for refugees than she was getting from you, so doubt its being done out of the goodness of her heart. Just find somewhere else, where the owners have a better moral compass.

DDivaStar · 04/04/2022 18:23

The synic in me thinks they must be in a very privileged position if they can cancel lucrative bookings to house refugees. Especially after the difficulties in the tourist industry the last couple of years, so many are struggling to survive already.