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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU for not replacing a broken wine glass on holiday?

311 replies

OtterlyMad · 12/06/2023 11:05

My DH and I have just spent a week in a rural holiday cottage. We accidentally broke a wine glass while washing up on the last night of our trip, so we messaged the owner the next morning to let them know and apologise for the inconvenience.

After we checked out, we received a text from the owner complaining that it’s the norm to either replace breakages ourselves or leave a £5 note. Is everyone else aware of this “rule”?Because we weren’t! In fairness I don’t think we’ve ever broken anything in a holiday let before so no experience of this situation. Obviously if we’d damaged something big or stained a carpet or whatever then I would expect to reimburse them, but I suppose I assumed that breakages of small/cheap things like glassware, crockery etc. would be super common and therefore factored into the price. It’s also quite difficult to buy a singular wine glass. Would they not care about it matching the rest of their glassware? Or do you think they would expect a whole new set?

It got broken around 11pm and we had to check out before 10am the next morning, so frankly we wouldn’t have had time to buy a replacement even if we’d known that was the expectation. The rule wasn’t mentioned anywhere in the online listing or in the welcome pack. We also don’t tend to carry cash, so as above, couldn’t have left a £5 note even if we’d wanted to. Most irritating of all is that lots of the kitchen sets were already incomplete e.g. there were only 3 wine glasses to begin with (the property is advertised for 4 people). We didn’t mind as it was just the 2 of us, but it’s clear the owners don’t actually check and replace items that get lost/broken… makes me think we just shouldn’t have mentioned it. Too honest for our own good!

I feel guilty as we strive to be excellent guests, but I also think it’s a dumb rule and I’m annoyed that they’ve cast a shadow over our holiday for the sake of a £1.50 glass (especially as we paid over £500 for the cottage).

Did we act unreasonably?

YABU - the owner is right, and you should have carried change on you to leave in case of a breakage.
YANBU - the owner is being petty, a broken glass is normal wear and tear.

OP posts:
Bobbyelvis4ever · 12/06/2023 11:08

I'd expect this to be completely normal, and that they'd have a stash of cheap IKEA or supermarket glasses / plates / bowls / mugs ready to replace when this happens.

Clearly they don't, seeing as there weren't enough in the first place.

Don't give it anymore headspace 😊

Skinnermarink · 12/06/2023 11:09

Petty. It was decent of you to let them know.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 12/06/2023 11:11

I would offer to replace or pay - but I would also expect the host to say "don't be silly, it was an accident".

Huytffdddc · 12/06/2023 11:11

There is the cost of the glass and their time.

lanthanum · 12/06/2023 11:12

I've never heard of any custom of leaving cash to cover a breakage, and it would only make sense to replace if you knew where to find a matching one. We had a similar breakage, we let them know, and they said not to worry about it. I think sometimes the owners (particularly if they have more than one property) already have spares, or at least know where they got the glasses, so more sense for them to replace. Most would not bother charging for something that small.

I think I'd be inclined to reply "Happy to forward you a fiver; if that needs to go to a different account than our booking, please let me know. Please note that there were only three wine glasses when we arrived, so you may want to replace the missing one too"

TheMurderousGoose · 12/06/2023 11:12

Petty of them.

But pettiness seems to be a thing with some holiday let owners.

Bellaboo01 · 12/06/2023 11:12

OtterlyMad · 12/06/2023 11:05

My DH and I have just spent a week in a rural holiday cottage. We accidentally broke a wine glass while washing up on the last night of our trip, so we messaged the owner the next morning to let them know and apologise for the inconvenience.

After we checked out, we received a text from the owner complaining that it’s the norm to either replace breakages ourselves or leave a £5 note. Is everyone else aware of this “rule”?Because we weren’t! In fairness I don’t think we’ve ever broken anything in a holiday let before so no experience of this situation. Obviously if we’d damaged something big or stained a carpet or whatever then I would expect to reimburse them, but I suppose I assumed that breakages of small/cheap things like glassware, crockery etc. would be super common and therefore factored into the price. It’s also quite difficult to buy a singular wine glass. Would they not care about it matching the rest of their glassware? Or do you think they would expect a whole new set?

It got broken around 11pm and we had to check out before 10am the next morning, so frankly we wouldn’t have had time to buy a replacement even if we’d known that was the expectation. The rule wasn’t mentioned anywhere in the online listing or in the welcome pack. We also don’t tend to carry cash, so as above, couldn’t have left a £5 note even if we’d wanted to. Most irritating of all is that lots of the kitchen sets were already incomplete e.g. there were only 3 wine glasses to begin with (the property is advertised for 4 people). We didn’t mind as it was just the 2 of us, but it’s clear the owners don’t actually check and replace items that get lost/broken… makes me think we just shouldn’t have mentioned it. Too honest for our own good!

I feel guilty as we strive to be excellent guests, but I also think it’s a dumb rule and I’m annoyed that they’ve cast a shadow over our holiday for the sake of a £1.50 glass (especially as we paid over £500 for the cottage).

Did we act unreasonably?

YABU - the owner is right, and you should have carried change on you to leave in case of a breakage.
YANBU - the owner is being petty, a broken glass is normal wear and tear.

Just leave a £5.00 (plus a tip) - end of, no drama surely and not sure why this would cast a shadow over your holiday. You broke the glass, replace or leave a very small amount of money of £5.00 to replace it!

TheHumanSatsuma · 12/06/2023 11:13

If I’ve broken anything, I’ve replaced it

Preps · 12/06/2023 11:13

I don't think it would even occur to me to let them know. I'd just assume it was a normal cost involved in running this kind of business. I also think it's highly unlikely that wine glasses in a holiday home cost £5 each.

CaptainMyCaptain · 12/06/2023 11:14

I would replace it.

steppemum · 12/06/2023 11:16

we used to rent out a holiday house.

We expected a certain amount of wear and tear as part of the rent. The odd plate/glass etc.

frustrating when it is aprt of a matching set. Especially when someone loses a towel for example.

But it is part of the rent.

If they are petty they can take it from the deposit, but we only did that if it was a large expensive thing that was broken and not part of reasonable wear and tear.

BlameItOnTheGoose · 12/06/2023 11:18

Well no, there is no rule that guests should replace an individual broken wine glass. That is just silly. If the host cares that much about broken items she should take a deposit include appropriate terms in the rental agreement. I wouldn't worry about it if I were you.

Skinnermarink · 12/06/2023 11:19

They cost about £1.20 in Ikea.

OP said there was no time to replace it, they had to check out (and everyone knows what a pain in the arse it is to run round a holiday let doing all the last minute bits etc and stripping beds by 10am. You're not likely to factor in a trip to bloody Ikea are you)

JenniferBarkley · 12/06/2023 11:20

Wouldn't even occur to me to mention one broken glass (or plate etc). I would file that under normal wear and tear.

Lilacsilver · 12/06/2023 11:21

We stayed in a holiday cottage recently. There was only one wine glass hanging from a hook. DH didn't see it and knocked it off. I swept up the glass and binned it in dustbin. Messaged the owner to let them know. They then rang me to ask where the glass was and what about the other glass. Clearly didn't believe there was only one as " the cleaner always checks".

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 12/06/2023 11:22

I think it's a bit crap that so many people wouldn't even mention they'd done it.

While I agree it's "wear and tear" and part of owing a holiday cottage, the decent thing to do is to at least give the host a heads up!

ConstantlyConfusedBird · 12/06/2023 11:23

If you break it then you replace it? Why should they be out of pocket and not have enough glasses because you broke something that belongs to someone else in their property?

GoodChat · 12/06/2023 11:25

They're about 50p in Asda. Why would she expect a fiver?

She should have given you the options at the time, if you notified her when you were still there.

steppemum · 12/06/2023 11:26

yes as PP said, we did always appreciate a heads up if something is broken, as the cleaner doesn't have time to count everything, just a check by eye.

as an owner, I would rather people DIDN'T replace, as they replace with somethign that doesn't match/fit in the cupboard/ go in the dishwasher etc. Better for owner to do it.

and I would never leave cash. In most places the only person in between guests is the cleaner, and the cash puts them in a difficult postion.

MasterBeth · 12/06/2023 11:27

Huytffdddc · 12/06/2023 11:11

There is the cost of the glass and their time.

Which is part of general wear and tear of renting a cottage.

maximist · 12/06/2023 11:27

I recently stayed in a holiday cottage. We couldn't find any dishwasher tablets, so I called the owner to ask if they were somewhere we hadn't looked (there were plenty of other supplies, including two packets of dishwasher salt, so def should have been there). She apologised and told me where their secret supplies were hidden - including lots of spare glasses, mugs etc. So I'd expect owners to see replacing the odd breakage as completely normal.

steppemum · 12/06/2023 11:28

ConstantlyConfusedBird · 12/06/2023 11:23

If you break it then you replace it? Why should they be out of pocket and not have enough glasses because you broke something that belongs to someone else in their property?

because it is part of the natural wear and tear of a holiday house, and owners take it into consideration as part of their costs, along with needing to replace sheets and toweks periodically and redecorating.

TheMurderousGoose · 12/06/2023 11:28

If they were grumbling about it I'd send them £1 via paypal and tell them that I considered the matter to be closed. I'd also bring up the fact that there were only three wine glasses in the let despite them stating there were four.

pinkginfizz9 · 12/06/2023 11:29

There was probably something in the T&Cs. Just pay the £5 and forget it. I know the glass may only be £1.50 but there is still the time and fuel costs of replacing it as well.

JenniferBarkley · 12/06/2023 11:30

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 12/06/2023 11:22

I think it's a bit crap that so many people wouldn't even mention they'd done it.

While I agree it's "wear and tear" and part of owing a holiday cottage, the decent thing to do is to at least give the host a heads up!

Honestly, within 5 minutes of tidying it I'd have forgotten all about it.

An appliance, an armful of delft etc, sure but a single glass would just get dealt with an moved on from.