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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Being asked to strip beds in holiday cottage

380 replies

librarian55 · 09/03/2023 16:29

We have just returned from a long weekend in the Lake District which was organised by my DD. We stayed in a very nice cottage. The day before we left, the letting agent texted my DD asking us to leave the place clean and tidy (fair enough, we would do that anyway) but they also asked us to strip the beds. AIBU in thinking this was very cheeky? The cost of cleaning would be included in the rental price and since we were expected to vacate by 10am, we didn't have that much time in the morning. I know it doesn't take much time, but I go on holiday to get away from such chores.

OP posts:
WombatChocolate · 11/03/2023 14:54

Scooby, that’s not a reasonable request.

Was it in the terms and conditions and had you read them beforehand?

In the past there were more cheap and basic holiday lets than now. You didn’t pay much, but you might have to bring your own bedding and not all would have cleaned between lets. If you like, you got what you paid for.

Generally, people pay a lot more now. Not surprisingly they expect more. The difficulty is there is a grey and unagreed area about what expectations are okay and which are going too far. The different views on this thread show that difference of view. Lots still expect to and do strip beds and empty the bins and tidy round. Others don’t think they should be doing those things when they’ve paid a premium.

I’d say that owners should make sure the requirements at the end of the stay should be made clear to people before they book the accommodation, so they can make an informed decision about where to take the property. And holiday makers should make sure they read those terms and conditions.

Mirabai · 11/03/2023 15:35

@WombatChocolate

You talk in vague general terms without saying which areas you’re referring to, and the issue is very area specific. A friend of mine operates a large agency in Wales, and I know many people who live there - no problem getting cleaners there. I’ve commented on Devon, but London and the surrounding areas (including Home Counties easily accessible from London eg Surrey, Kent, Hertfordshire, Essex etc) - are completely different and there’s no problem getting cleaners there. That also applies to other large towns and cities with high immigrant numbers.

So unless you specify what areas you’re referring to and the number of properties involved I’m not convinced your wild generalisations hold.

SimplySipping · 11/03/2023 15:42

@WombatChocolate "I’d say that owners should make sure the requirements at the end of the stay should be made clear to people before they book the accommodation, so they can make an informed decision about where to take the property. And holiday makers should make sure they read those terms and conditions."

Yes I think this is half the frustration. We once arrived at a cottage in Cornwall to find a demand that we buy a particular size jiffy bag and stamps, and POST the key back to the owner at the end. These jiffy bags were not available to buy in the village and we were directed to go to a nearby town and buy one at a particular corner shop which stocked them specially. We rang the agent to query it and they seemed to think it was a completely reasonable request.

The cottage was otherwise lovely, if you could see past all the "Polite notices" in red capital letters around the place 😂. But you just never know what random expectations you're going to be hit with when you get there.

WombatChocolate · 11/03/2023 15:50

SimplySipping · 11/03/2023 15:42

@WombatChocolate "I’d say that owners should make sure the requirements at the end of the stay should be made clear to people before they book the accommodation, so they can make an informed decision about where to take the property. And holiday makers should make sure they read those terms and conditions."

Yes I think this is half the frustration. We once arrived at a cottage in Cornwall to find a demand that we buy a particular size jiffy bag and stamps, and POST the key back to the owner at the end. These jiffy bags were not available to buy in the village and we were directed to go to a nearby town and buy one at a particular corner shop which stocked them specially. We rang the agent to query it and they seemed to think it was a completely reasonable request.

The cottage was otherwise lovely, if you could see past all the "Polite notices" in red capital letters around the place 😂. But you just never know what random expectations you're going to be hit with when you get there.

Yes, it’s a feature of using a service which is often provided by individuals with their own unique sense of what is appropriate. Many holiday homes have ‘quirks’ in terms of furniture or requirements which make the holiday makers raise their eyebrows.

If you book through a large and expensive chain, you can have more of a sense of what to expect and are less likely to be asked to do unusual things, as the holiday chain will have stricter rules that the owners need to meet. However, there is an element of pit luck and you do t always know you’re going to a property owned by an eccentric owner who has very peculiar ideas about what the holiday maker should and shouldn’t be doing. It’s a reason why some people don’t like to go to self catering accommodation. Standards generally have risen and expectations too…but there is no absolutely common standard.

WombatChocolate · 11/03/2023 15:54

Mirabai · 11/03/2023 15:35

@WombatChocolate

You talk in vague general terms without saying which areas you’re referring to, and the issue is very area specific. A friend of mine operates a large agency in Wales, and I know many people who live there - no problem getting cleaners there. I’ve commented on Devon, but London and the surrounding areas (including Home Counties easily accessible from London eg Surrey, Kent, Hertfordshire, Essex etc) - are completely different and there’s no problem getting cleaners there. That also applies to other large towns and cities with high immigrant numbers.

So unless you specify what areas you’re referring to and the number of properties involved I’m not convinced your wild generalisations hold.

I’m thinking about particular areas of Cornwall, North Norfolk, Dorset and Devon.

I know all of these have a significant number of holiday properties. Some of the areas are older accommodation without private parking to most properties and very limited on-road parking…..all makes doing change-over in a short period of time very difficult and is compounded by a lack of cleaners and even more properties becoming second homes and being let in the summer.

It’s why more places started to offer Friday turnaround a few years ago…to try and spread the workload and ensure cleaners could be got for all the properties. But in some areas there’s still too much work and not enough people. But those going for a week usually don’t want to arrive on a Thursday or Fri and if you start allowing all kinds of random day starts (which might work well for cleaning) and length stays, you often end up with odd void periods. So it’s all quite tricky.

DelphiniumBlue · 11/03/2023 16:01

I don't mind stripping the beds, but I do object to cleaning, which seems to be expected in a lot of holiday lets. I also object to massive cleaning charges which can be almost as much as the fee for staying an extra night. This seems to be a new phenomena, and I think the holiday rent should cover all this.

Movinghouseatlast · 11/03/2023 16:12

The cleaning fee is- for me- a way of making short stays worth my while. I'm interested in what actual cleaning you have been asked to do? I have never seen any holiday cottage I have stayed in ask me to clean. Obviously I would tidy up after myself but I have never felt I was being asked to do cleaning.

lljkk · 11/03/2023 16:37

When you strip the beds, where do you leave the sheets & linens? On floor, by door, on bed?

Mirabai · 11/03/2023 16:48

@WombatChocolate

It’s why more places started to offer Friday turnaround a few years ago…to try and spread the workload and ensure cleaners could be got for all the properties. But in some areas there’s still too much work and not enough people. But those going for a week usually don’t want to arrive on a Thursday or Fri and if you start allowing all kinds of random day starts (which might work well for cleaning) and length stays, you often end up with odd void periods. So it’s all quite tricky.

Friday turnaround? - The industry has shifted over the last 5-10 years from weekend and 7 day bookings with set changeover days to flexible checkin/out. Across the board on agencies and listing sites - guests now expect to be able to arrive and leave when they like for a number of days of their choice. Airbnb and VRBO affected this but the shift was already happening. The other key shift is from many small random agencies with a few local houses on their books to large super-agencies covering all areas of the country with site-wide policies - this has been very much driven by the internet.

You refer to 3 contiguous areas in the SW, one of which I know the market very well. Unless you’re operating a small private agency in an obscure corner that has not kept abreast of the market it’s inconceivable you haven’t noticed this.

GerronBuzanDoThaWomwok · 11/03/2023 17:09

Its basic good manners to strip beds, surely?

saveforthat · 11/03/2023 17:57

GerronBuzanDoThaWomwok · 11/03/2023 17:09

Its basic good manners to strip beds, surely?

No not good manners and I've never done it on holiday in either a holiday home or hotel. Will do it with friends and family after asking if they want me to but I don't pay to stay with them. Good manners is not trashing the room, making sure all rubbish is in the bin. Kitchen surfaces wiped clean, washing up done or dishwasher loaded. I wouldn't hoover or mop. I've never stayed in an air bnb though and probably wouldn't after reading this thread.

Blossomtoes · 11/03/2023 21:54

lljkk · 11/03/2023 16:37

When you strip the beds, where do you leave the sheets & linens? On floor, by door, on bed?

In the plastic bags provided for the purpose.

Lucyh999 · 14/03/2023 08:32

I don’t think you’re being unreasonable BUT I tend to do this anyway as I feel slightly weird about someone being forced to touch my sexy/sweaty/slept in/insertanything sheets.

lieselotte · 14/03/2023 09:03

DelphiniumBlue · 11/03/2023 16:01

I don't mind stripping the beds, but I do object to cleaning, which seems to be expected in a lot of holiday lets. I also object to massive cleaning charges which can be almost as much as the fee for staying an extra night. This seems to be a new phenomena, and I think the holiday rent should cover all this.

I agree. Cleaning is a cost of doing business, and comes out of the owner's profit.

But I think a lot of people have bought second homes, which they use as holiday lets most of the time, and think everyone else owes them a living.

I don't like self-catering anyway, much prefer hotels and B&Bs, though get a bit fed up with some of the noise in hotels, but even if I did, these silly requirements would put me off. Turnaround times and problems getting cleaners are not the guest's problem. It's for the owner to sort them out.

As for the jiffy bag/key issue, it beggars belief that they would not tell you this in advance.

lieselotte · 14/03/2023 09:04

GerronBuzanDoThaWomwok · 11/03/2023 17:09

Its basic good manners to strip beds, surely?

If you are staying with a friend or your mum, yes.

When you are staying somewhere that is run as a business? I am not so sure.

CornishGem1975 · 14/03/2023 09:08

Stripping the beds, fine. I've been asked that a lot and it's no hardship, takes a couple of minute, but cleaning, no. I make sure everything is tidy and you know, there's not food thrown everywhere, stuff is in the bin or recycling, dishwasher on, but the cleaner has to clean...so I'm not about to start leaving the place spotless and doing their job for them!

Venetian2000 · 14/04/2023 09:12

I’ve paid a £120 cleaning fee and a £60 service charge in addition to the rental which was not cheap but the flat/location is fabulous. However, I was surprised to be left a note asking me to strip the two king size beds and place in laundry bag plus towels etc. I have to get my disabled husband and son out of the flat, which is difficult, and the last thing I want to do is strip the beds! Isn’t this why we pay a cleaning/service charge? 🙄

Movinghouseatlast · 14/04/2023 09:25

The service charge doesn't go to the owner, it goes to the website you booked through- I assume in this case Air BnB.

The cleaning fee is, for me, a way of making offering short breaks worthwhile. I agree though, it shouldn't be expected for you to strip the bed, although I love it when guests do it!

IrregularChoiceFan · 14/04/2023 09:28

I have never been asked to but I always strip the beds in holiday cottages/hotel rooms. Why wouldn't you try to make life easier for the cleaner?

SaraFoot · 02/07/2023 18:29

I run a cleaning company and we ask all of our holiday let guests to strip the beds. This helps us to get on with the more important issues that need tending to after guests have left. You have to remember that the next guests will (like the previous guests) want an early check in, or turn up when the property still isn't ready. It may take a few minutes of the guests time to strip a bed however if there are lots of beds that is a lot of time a cleaner needs to strip, this is precious time. Reg the comment about Airbnb having a cleaning charge out on, you need to remember that this is also to cover the cost of washing bedding and towels etc, it's not just for cleaning the property after guests!

Rosesandstars · 02/07/2023 18:44

I agree with you but stayed in a lot of holiday cottages last year (not as glamourous as that sounds!) and nearly all of them wanted the beds stripped before we left.

Rosesandstars · 02/07/2023 18:46

PS. Still didn't like having to do that though, particularly for those that didn't have particularly clean duvets under the covers!

G5000 · 02/07/2023 18:47

however if there are lots of beds that is a lot of time a cleaner needs to strip, this is precious time.

You need more staff then, instead of using paying guests to do your cleaners' job.

lieselotte · 02/07/2023 18:50

G5000 · 02/07/2023 18:47

however if there are lots of beds that is a lot of time a cleaner needs to strip, this is precious time.

You need more staff then, instead of using paying guests to do your cleaners' job.

I thought exactly the same. I am paying for the service - so not my problem.

Except that I don't stay in AirBnBs - and this is why.

YappyCamper · 02/07/2023 18:51

SaraFoot · 02/07/2023 18:29

I run a cleaning company and we ask all of our holiday let guests to strip the beds. This helps us to get on with the more important issues that need tending to after guests have left. You have to remember that the next guests will (like the previous guests) want an early check in, or turn up when the property still isn't ready. It may take a few minutes of the guests time to strip a bed however if there are lots of beds that is a lot of time a cleaner needs to strip, this is precious time. Reg the comment about Airbnb having a cleaning charge out on, you need to remember that this is also to cover the cost of washing bedding and towels etc, it's not just for cleaning the property after guests!

Early (or even decent) check in times seem to be a thing of the past. When I'm paying a cleaning fee I expect it to cover the cleaning - all of it.