To think that holiday let owners with 'unusual' house rules should have to make them clear on the advert?

[bsidecside]

We're regular holiday let-stayers as a we have loads of kids (5), and so have seen a variety of 'house rules' over the years. We're currently staying in an otherwise lovely holiday let that has a house rule that 'all refuse and recycling must be removed from the property'. We're not staying very remotely (small town on the coast close to other small towns) so I can't see any 'need' for this rule other than to cut down the cleaning at the end. Having to remove all our litter (which I'm trying to keep on top of as we go) is making me increasingly cross. I'm not saying I definitely wouldn't have booked if we'd seen this rule, but I certainly would have considered other options more carefully first!

Cheer me up with your tales of the weirdest - unexpected - house rules you've come across in a holiday let!

I would assume they meant put rubbish in outside bin and if you make so much rubbish that that bin is full then take it to the tip.

Yes, if stripping beds is 'standard' nowadays, it seems to be a COVID-hangover. The first time I encountered it was in the Lake District during lockdown and the owners put up signs everywhere so we could not miss it - I thought fair enough, the owners are cautious and by-the-book. The other property we were in did not have that rule.

Nah, I don't strip beds nowadays. This is a business for the owners. They have to run it like a business. We keep their property clean and take care not to damage stuff but cleaning is the owners' problem and they often charge a fee anyway.

Like a PP, our local tip has retained the covid restrictions, as users prefer having a pre-booked slot.
Of course that works for local residents, but would be a complete ball ache for a visitor. Who wants to spend their holiday logging into the local refuse site website?!

Maybe the cottage in the OP's example is close to a tip where they don't have stupid rules about who can use it (in my view anyone should be able to use any tip) but even if you can, the opening hours are often very restricted - eg 9-4.

Where I live you have to be local (in county, even if you live over the border and it's your nearest tip - tough), register your car AND book a slot in advance!

Yes, holiday cottage owners should facilitate rubbish disposal (outside bin) and it's standard to empty the kitchen bin, use a bin bag etc but a trip to the dump? That's a bit of an ask.

However, I hate people cramming and blocking public bins with household waste when they're just meant for litter/dog poo etc. I once saw a woman roll up in a car and force an over stuffed bin bag into a public bin then drive off leaving the bin completely unusable. I'd rather double bag it and take it home but I can see that's not always possible.

NRFT but they are doing this to avoid paying for a commercial waste bin.
the property will be on business rates and then exempt as it’s only low rateable value so they won’t pay any business rates and rubbish collection does not come free from the council for business properties.

Do you also charge them a cleaning fee? If yes, any cleaning is too much to ask of the guests customers.

We were in an Airbnb in the winter and the owner mentioned in his review of us that we'd left crumbs. Fuck that, I'm not vacuuming a flat when I've paid a cleaning fee.

Recently returned from a family wedding at a lovely venue, group of converted barns including 15 ensuite bedrooms and large lounge/kitchen area for you to do
your own catering. ( Wedding day food was done by caterers ).
All rubbish had to be completely removed from the property .. and there was a lot of rubbish from 30 plus people for two nights .

Maybe you shouldn’t wait so long to clean after your guests that it’s attracting rats?

Oh the Friday starts are such a pain! I work in a school so don’t have the option of taking an extra day if I want a half term break it is really difficult to find somewhere suitable that has a Saturday start.

But I always make sure everything is clean when I leave a rental and I do strip the beds. It’s easier to be sure nothing has been left behind that way.

Always empty bins but there’s always been wheelie bins outside the property (except one place we go to in France where you do have to drive your rubbish to a municipal rubbish point and renters are given a special card to use).

I had a holiday cottage and whilst you dont pay council tax you’re supposed to pay commercial rates for rubbish disposal. Mines was a converted outbuilding next door so easy for me to manage though.

unreasonable if you turn up and find that out.

If the owners want to avoid paying business rates, can they not take the rubbish to the dump themselves?

That way, the guests just have to put it outside.

In addition, there is nothing to stop the owners taking the guests' rubbish home with them if the owners want to be so tightfisted. Not sure why it is reasonable to ask the guests to do it.

As an aside, I am amazed at all the compliant mntters here. I clearly need to up my game on house rules.

Never been anywhere like that how strange. Been to a couple where they can’t get recycling services to the property so you either have to take anything that can be recycled away or throw away in black
bins but at least there were outside bins!

Not if you're paying a cleaning charge I would say

Weirdest one I've ever come across is "No perfume, scents or aftershaves to be sprayed or applied in the house"

This was apparently in case of it triggering allergies for future guests. Yet under the bed was inch thick tumbleweed style dust.

I guess dust allergies aren't a thing.

It’s hilarious really - most places you pay a cleaning fee and are then expected to clean before you leave and remove your rubbish?
Not saying leave rubbish everywhere but I am paying for a holiday let, not to clean the place before your next overcharged customer comes along.
No end to people taking the piss out of customers, really

It really does.

it’s always amazing on here how many people do the “Oh I’m sure they meant X” over things that the OP has been quite clear about.

I mean multiple people are “sure” they mean use the outside bin and take any excess to the tip when the OP says it says not to use the outside bin at all…

It’s unreal.

Leave a clear review so others know.
I think that's outrageous. Rubbish to the bins outside - fine, to the dump? Naw.

I only empty the food caddy once a week in my own house, unless the weather is hot and overflowing, which is rare. Not sure where these vermin and flies are coming from.

I would expect the owner to clean on the day I am asked to vacate, which is often before 11 am on the last day, in order to facilitate their cleaning. Not my problem if the owner wants to leave it for a few days before cleaning.

It is very common that people don't read things properly. I say that as a lawyer, which is basically a job where I am paid to read stuff for other people. I am guilty of that myself whilst on holiday or buying stuff on eBay.

I am a little more forgiving of that.

I'm very intrigued re the rules on how to speak to the ducks 😅🦆

I wonder if this is to avoid commercial waste collection charges, as this is waste generated from a business and not a local domestic council tax user!

Agreed.
And you raise another point, actually - why have a check out time in the morning if the owner/their staff are coming days after to clean?

Having worked in the industry for years - and with hundreds of owners this only happens when they are cost savings. They will only pay fit cleaners on change over day and therefore that doesn’t usually aline with bin day. Nice owners will pay extra for someone to pop over and do this, or if they are close will manage it. I’d avoid houses like this as it’s telling of the rest of the management of their property.

• for. I have no idea if the cleaners are fit.