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AIBU?

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Original poster

Holiday cottage cleaning - is this agent taking the piss?

127 replies

Bunpea · 14/04/2023 20:29

Is this agent taking the piss? I’ve just booked a 2 bedroom holiday cottage for a week in July, in St Ives in Cornwall. £1600. Just spotted in the agent’s fine print that I must “i) on the End Date, remove belongings and refuse from the Property and leave the Property clean and tidy so that the Property is ready for immediate re- occupation“. It’s that last bit that gets me - and there is a threat of retaining my deposit. Checkout by 10:00 is usually a scramble, I expect to wipe surfaces, sweep floor, basic bathroom clean etc but that’s it - always assumed a housekeeper would be in. How clean is the place likely to be when I check in, if it depends on the previous guest? Want to cancel now.

OP posts:
mackthepony · 14/04/2023 21:20

This is why I'm off renting holiday cottages

It's more expensive and they want you to fucking clean too??

The place we rented in March also charged for parking?!

TheVelvetOnion · 14/04/2023 21:20

Surely that can't be what they mean. I'd ask just to clarify 🤔

mackthepony · 14/04/2023 21:20

I would be asking them if this means that the cottage won’t be professionally cleaned for your arrival

^

And this!!!

Twocoffeesisbetterthanone · 14/04/2023 21:21

Name and shame OP!

Caterina99 · 14/04/2023 21:21

That is ridiculous. I would bet that’s not what it means, but I’d definitely double check!

We have a holiday let, and request that it is left in tidy condition. Washing up done, bins emptied etc, but that’s it. A cleaner goes in at 10.15 (check out is 10am) and actually cleans it.

No way would I trust the previous guests to clean for the next set. Especially not at that price tag!

Original poster
Bunpea · 14/04/2023 21:21

I’ve cancelled - Cooling off period.

I want properly cleaned holiday accommodation so I’m giving this agent a wide berth. Pity, because their properties look nice and reviews (on their website -so who knows how genuine they are? ) are glowing.
in general, reviews seem to be worthless. I’ve abandoned AirBnB because almost everything is rated 5 stars, even when it isn’t. I thought a small locally based agent would be better!

OP posts:
TheVelvetOnion · 14/04/2023 21:22

And for that price you are paying I'd expect it professionally cleaned before my arrival!

Withnailandeye · 14/04/2023 21:22

The company we use for our holiday lettings state the property must be left as found, which I always find ridiculous. We (obviously) use cleaners to do a full changeover clean and everyone we know does, so check with the agent what it actually means. Since covid guests seem to be a lot more thoughtful and mostly strip beds and there appears to be some unwritten universal rule where 90% of holiday makers leave their used towels in the (empty) bath, but anything above a mess is a bonus. It’s very much appreciated that guests clean worktops, sinks of toothpaste etc but I would never dream of expecting guests to clean and launder my cottages for me!

ChateauMargaux · 14/04/2023 21:23

Are they French? This is something we have come to expect in France, but usually comes with the option to pay the cleaning fee.. which I do - no way am I being responsible for ensuring a place is clean enough for a rental by 10:00 on a holiday departure day.

Wheredoallthehairbandsgo · 14/04/2023 21:24

Noooooway!!! Who’s cleaned before you? Blue for the loo…. Pink for the sink? Or just a whip round with what ever …. Same cloth for loo as plates? And where’s the insurance covering this?
Also ‘care of substances hazardous to health’ COSHH … imagine if you got cleaning product in your eye? …what if you spilt cleaning product in a carpet? does the insurance cover you as a cleaner?

LindorDoubleChoc · 14/04/2023 21:25

Glad you've cancelled OP. No one arriving at a holiday rental deserves to come into a house that has been "cleaned" by the previous occupants, just as no previous occupants should be expected to spend the last day of their holiday deep cleaning.

cornishmonkfish · 14/04/2023 21:26

Bunpea · 14/04/2023 21:21

I’ve cancelled - Cooling off period.

I want properly cleaned holiday accommodation so I’m giving this agent a wide berth. Pity, because their properties look nice and reviews (on their website -so who knows how genuine they are? ) are glowing.
in general, reviews seem to be worthless. I’ve abandoned AirBnB because almost everything is rated 5 stars, even when it isn’t. I thought a small locally based agent would be better!

Cool! St Ives is crap anyway.

Go somewhere more friendly and less claustrophobic. Which company was it? Quite a few of these businesses are abslute shysters and guess how much they pay their staff? Sweet fuck all! ☹️

LindorDoubleChoc · 14/04/2023 21:27

ChateauMargaux · 14/04/2023 21:23

Are they French? This is something we have come to expect in France, but usually comes with the option to pay the cleaning fee.. which I do - no way am I being responsible for ensuring a place is clean enough for a rental by 10:00 on a holiday departure day.

The house is in Cornwall (first line of OP) so it doesn't matter if the owners are French or not.

LindorDoubleChoc · 14/04/2023 21:27

But also could you just name and shame OP? Why not?

FannyCann · 14/04/2023 21:30

The place we rented in March also charged for parking?!

Wot???

Was that in a private driveway? How can they charge parking???

CornishTiger · 14/04/2023 21:32

Glad you have cancelled. Bet they aren’t playing business rates either- remove all rubbish told me that!

ginghamstarfish · 14/04/2023 21:34

Steer clear. I would expect any paid accommodation to be cleaned properly between guests, and not by the guests. Cheeky fuckers, and at that price. I wouldn't even be stripping beds, just leave tidy and remove rubbish.

cornishmonkfish · 14/04/2023 21:42

When I say shysters - similar businesses have been set up by idiots who come down for the lifestyle of pissing about on speedboats & posting golf selfies on LinkedIn...who fail to pay their business rates, staff and suppliers. They end up in administration without paying anyone.

And set up another. And another. And sometimes a gift shop too 😂

scoobydoo1971 · 14/04/2023 21:50

I run holiday rentals. Apart from cleaning, they are checked after every occupation for any obvious health & safety issues such as leaking pipework, electrical damage and so forth. It is just common sense, and a requirement of buildings insurance. My guess would be that the owner doesn't have a cleaner, lives locally and just hopes that by guests cleaning up before leaving then they will have less of a job to sort out. It just builds resentment in guests before they have even stepped in the door tbh.

knittingaddict · 14/04/2023 21:53

Ridiculous. I wouldn't rent a cottage with that in the terms and conditions.

We have rented many, many holiday homes over the last 40 years. I've never seen that in a description. I'm one of those annoying people who cleans and tidies more they they should when they leave a rental like that. Even with my pickiness I doubt I would leave good enough for immadiate occupation.

Also imagine if the people renting before you were slobs. No, no, no.

Original poster
Bunpea · 14/04/2023 21:55

cornishmonkfish · 14/04/2023 21:42

When I say shysters - similar businesses have been set up by idiots who come down for the lifestyle of pissing about on speedboats & posting golf selfies on LinkedIn...who fail to pay their business rates, staff and suppliers. They end up in administration without paying anyone.

And set up another. And another. And sometimes a gift shop too 😂

I like St Ives, it’s a special place.

Sorry to hear about the shysters - they sound incompetent, careless and even criminal - hope I manage to steer clear. Why hasn’t Companies House shut them down? I thought if you went bankrupt you couldn’t be a Director again for a while?
Looking now at properties from another agent - a bit bigger outfit but still Cornish. At least their reviews look honest - there are actually a few complaints!

OP posts:
Original poster
Bunpea · 14/04/2023 21:57

scoobydoo1971 · 14/04/2023 21:50

I run holiday rentals. Apart from cleaning, they are checked after every occupation for any obvious health & safety issues such as leaking pipework, electrical damage and so forth. It is just common sense, and a requirement of buildings insurance. My guess would be that the owner doesn't have a cleaner, lives locally and just hopes that by guests cleaning up before leaving then they will have less of a job to sort out. It just builds resentment in guests before they have even stepped in the door tbh.

Yes, I’m glad I spotted it in time to cancel.

OP posts:
faffadoodledo · 14/04/2023 22:03

We have a rule with our holiday let: when people arrive at 3pm on a Friday the place must be as if no one was in the previous week. Not a smear on a mirror, not a hair in a plug hole, not a crumb on a counter or spill in the fridge. Only a professional cleaner can achieve that level of cleanliness

KarmaStar · 14/04/2023 22:07

Which agency is it?
There are some really nasty companies that try very hard to ruin holidays with clauses,fees and cover ups.

Rewis · 14/04/2023 22:11

It's been like this on most places I've looked up in the past few years. I just stopped with air bnb, holidays let's, cottages etc. And now go to a hotel. Can't be asked to wake up early and deep clean and pay the premium.