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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think my childminder shouldn't run an Airbnb?

66 replies

eggsforbreaking · 30/08/2022 17:07

My kids have been going to a childminder for several years. I've just discovered that she has now set up an Airbnb and I don't know if I am unreasonable to feel uncomfortable.

She lives right next door to a paint balling centre, and tells me most of her clients are from there, which to me suggests a predominantly male clientele. I'm sure she wouldn't intentionally leave any of her kids unattended, but at times she will surely be out helping one go to the toilet (or going herself!)

It's renting rooms in her main house, and she tells me she also offers a cooked breakfast. She does have a number of reception rooms downstairs, so there's no need for them to mix, but they will be in close proximity.

I've tried searching, but can't find out whether she's allowed to run both businesses out of the same premises, and if she is, am I being totally over the top to be concerned?

OP posts:
Mama3737 · 30/08/2022 17:41

Contact Ofsted.

WhenISnappedAndFarted · 30/08/2022 17:49

Can you check AirBnB to see if she's only doing it over the weekend?

SunnyD44 · 30/08/2022 18:34

YANBU
I wouldn’t care who the clientele are she shouldn’t be doing it.

As the PP said maybe check it’s not just for the weekends as I wouldn’t have an issue if it was.

Ariela · 30/08/2022 18:38

Look on Airbnb and see if you can book a weekday

lunar1 · 30/08/2022 18:38

I'd have to pull my children out of that arrangement, it's not a risk I'd be willing to take.

Summersdreaming · 30/08/2022 18:40

Look an Air bnb and see if you can book for a weekday, see what the check in and out times are, and if there's a crossover then speak to her.

NovaDeltas · 30/08/2022 18:46

She has so little commitment to her role as a childminder she's got time to run a B&B for randoms?

If childminding leaves her with so much free time, attention and energy it's clearly not the role for her. She shouldn't be running a business when she's supposed to be caring.

And yes, it's unsafe.

Perpop · 30/08/2022 18:49

My child wouldn’t be back there, sorry. Not worth the risk.

GettingItOutThere · 30/08/2022 18:56

id pull my kids out asap wiht no notice - then inform ofsted.

everyone around your kids at a childminder neesd a dbs/same house
are the customers there all dbs checked? unlikely!!

i am flabbergated!!!

RandomMess · 30/08/2022 19:00

I would ask to see her revised risk assessment now that Air B&B is not restricted to Friday and Saturday nights.

It's a way of raising that it's an issue without burning your bridges.

BelleMarionette · 30/08/2022 19:02

No, it's not allowed, as any adults at the property need a DBS check, and there is no way she is doing one on all the Airbnb guests.

The only possible way this could be acceptable is if she only has guests when she doesn't have children in the house.

Palmtree9 · 30/08/2022 19:02

Big red flag, I'd pull my kids out immediately. My childminders older kids live with her (in their 20s) and she let us meet them so that we knew who would be around our children. I'm fine with that, and they're really nice, polite people. Random strangers staying is totally not acceptable. There might be separate reception rooms, but that's not safe enough.

nokidshere · 30/08/2022 19:04

Either way you will need a new childminder.

Creepymanonagoatfarm · 30/08/2022 19:06

I know quite a few hosts. Only 1 with dc.
Very horrifyingly she was seriously assaulted in front of her young dc and stopped hosting.
Vile men. Not man.. A group of men.
Not worth the risk imo.

Summerfun54321 · 30/08/2022 19:07

Just tell her you’re concerned and ask if she could explain the set up in a little more detail so you’re reassured the childminding service is unchanged.

It sounds absolutely bonkers so I’d want to know more before jumping to conclusions.

FairyLightAddict · 30/08/2022 19:21

That's crazy. Ask her for more details.

Looneytune253 · 30/08/2022 19:27

I'm a childminder and I really can't see Ofsted being ok with this. There really shouldn't be regular visitors to the house when she's childminding

Dibbydoos · 30/08/2022 19:27

She could use locks to keep people separate, but does she then have enough toilets?

Sounds like a nightmare, I would not be happy or accept that.

autienotnaughty · 30/08/2022 19:30

I use to be a childminder, anyone living in the property needs a dbs but visitors including over night guests do not need a dbs but they must not be left alone with the children. However I can not see e how ofsted would allow this and she would need to notify them and do a risk assessment which she would need to share with parents.

balalake · 30/08/2022 19:30

I think you should be finding another child minder.

MaggieFS · 30/08/2022 19:31

No way. People in annexes or outhouses is one thing, as are weekend guests. But random people in the same building with unrestricted access to the same areas where children are is just a big fat no.

timeforfunfunfun · 30/08/2022 19:32

mrstea301 · Today 17:15
To be fair, I probably wouldn't want to book an Air BnB that was also being used as a childminders! Surely that must impact her business?

i don't know how you’d know that at the time of booking though? Presumably she’s not advertising her childminder services on Airbnb

bowchicawowwow · 30/08/2022 19:39

It wouldn't be a hard no from me but I would want to know more. If the guests weren't present when my child was there I wouldn't be concerned. I wouldn't be happy if she was dealing with guests during the hours she is paid to mind my child.

Has she completed risk assessments? Ofsted and the NCMA (if they still exist) would probably need to be informed too.

GoneWithTheWine1 · 30/08/2022 19:42

I'd be finding a new childminder, and telling her the reasons why.

Huge red flags. These men won't be DBS checked - god knows who she's allowing in!

Booklover3 · 30/08/2022 19:49

I think you need to have another conversation with your child minder… but no I wouldn’t be too happy