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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think holiday cottage company is taking the p**s

306 replies

HettyMeg · 03/09/2023 22:17

We don't stay in holiday cottages very often so I don't know if we are a bit out of touch. But the one we're staying in has got a list as long as your arm of things we need to do before check out, including strip the beds and place all bedding and towels in a bag for laundry. It also says categorically do not put glass bottles in the bin, but there is no recycling for glass or information about where to recycle so we just need to take them home with us. If you get makeup on a towel you will be made to pay for a new one, which seems OTT to me as they can surely wash out a bit of foundation?!

OP posts:
IWillNoLie · 04/09/2023 10:15

skyeisthelimit · 04/09/2023 10:05

We stayed in an airbnb that had white carpets, and there was a tray for guests to leave their shoes in beside the front door, particularly if wet. There was another tray in the room.

I could understand that in a way., although I won't take my shoes off due to mobility issues, but it didn't really fit with my discovery that I could write my name in the dust in the window sill.

I don’t understand white carpets. Even in your own house, but in a rental property? Why?

BIossomtoes · 04/09/2023 10:17

I don't mind filling the dishwasher, cleaning the work surfaces, emptying the bins and a little light hoovering if they have provided a decent hoover. But I won't be stripping the beds.

I just don’t understand this. There’s no way I’d hoover but stripping the bed is so much easier and quicker than even getting the hoover out, let alone deploying it.

Missedmytoe · 04/09/2023 10:22

Most places are checkout by 10, check in after 4, so whilst the dishwasher running as you leave isn't a massive issue, it does mean that if there are any breakages/items that don't get clean, they may be overlooked depending on the time the cleaner(s) arrive and depart.

I've got no issue with stripping beds, taking away glass etc.
I prefer rental properties as I don't like to be tied to a schedule of meal times, and don't want to be round a load of other people.

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 04/09/2023 10:31

IWillNoLie · 04/09/2023 10:15

I don’t understand white carpets. Even in your own house, but in a rental property? Why?

We stayed in a flat with white carpet ( and white sofas too). The owner said we had to take our shoes off ( in October) I told her I would change into my house slippers at the front door, because I can’t walk in bare feet, I have to have insole fitted footwear.

I think it was the show flat, and they had bought it furnished. The owner was pretty unpleasant in other ways , which was a shame as we liked the flat and we would have gone every year at the same time if she hadn’t been so tricksy.

NettleTea · 04/09/2023 10:42

Im laughing at this 'just takes a few mins to make the beds and run the hoover round' for the cleaner!

Id bet you would HATE to arrive at a place where that is all that the cleaner did.

we have a team of cleaners who clean our cottage - there are 2 of them, take about 2 hours (so in line with the lady upthread who quoted 4-5 hours to turn round a cottage) and it takes a hell of alot of skill and professionalism to clean to a standard that people expect when they arrive- all worksurfaces must be cleaned, cupboards inside and out / door fronts. cooker cleaned, hob cleaned, dishwasher wiped out and dried, and washing machine. checking scuffs and marks on walls / bannisters / doors and handles. windows cleaned, rugs hoovered, floors hoovered and then washed, mirrors washed, bathrooms fully cleaned, including shower doors/tiles. dusting throughout, all wood polished, make sure all the info packs are in place, everything tidied and in the right place, emptying bins and replacing liners, topping up all dishwasher tabs, washing up liquids, hand wash, hand creams, etc. And then making up the beds, folding towels, etc. and then checking the outside space too.

That said we still had someone complain this week and the management company has insisted I send in and provide proof of, a deep clean

TenderDandelions · 04/09/2023 10:43

We've staying in a lot of cottages with varying rules. Some ask to strip the beds and others don't. To be honest, I don't mind stripping the bed. It doesn't take long.

With the dishwasher I always run in the night before then wash up breakfast stuff by hand the next morning anyway.

I like to leave a place as I've found it in terms of tidiness and things put away in the kitchen, meaning the only thing the cleaners need to focus on is actually cleaning and making the beds.

The biggest difference, however, is that we don't have children, so clearing up after a couple with one bed is a much different exercise than 3 or 4 beds when you're trying to be out by 10.

My biggest bugbear, however, is when the owner doesn't leave clear enough instructions about recycling. In OP's post she mentions no glass. Where my parents live they can't recycle glass in their domestic recycling. They have to save it all up and go to the bottle bank still.

Which is fine, if that's the case at a holiday cottage but a) let us know; and b) tell us where the nearest bottle bank is!

We had one cottage that said all recycling had to go in the "big green bag" outside the door. Never did find a big green bag. There was a bin though, which we used, but we never did figure out whether it was correct or not.

We have previously googled local councils to see what the recycling rules actually are where we're staying.

I wish we were consistent across the country!

lonelylou09 · 04/09/2023 10:48

Holiday let cleaner here so here goes...
I do 2 cottages but my main one sleeps 10 between 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.
Guests vary with how they leave it and it massively affects the cleaners.
Check out at 10 and check in at 3. I like to have it done and be out of the way so guests can rock up and it's ready.
They are meant to strip beds and bag up bedding and towels as well as empty bins.
So it will take me between 2/3 hours to make beds, (flat sheets) place towels and remove all the rubbish in its varying forms (local council recycling has us with 6 different bin types).
I also have to lug all the bins over to the storage area and bring the empty ones back as well as taking all the dirty laundry over to the storage area out of sight and carrying back the clean laundry and unpacking it all.
I also have to replenish supplies like tea, coffee, sugar, toilet rolls, dishwasher tablets, hand wash ect .
That then leaves me 2/3 hours to clean 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, living room, kitchen and diner so a high standard plus checking all lights/lamps are working, replacing all bin bags. I also have to check the log burner is clean and the BBQ. I also check all drawers,wardrobes, behind beds ect as no one wants to find someone else's pants or socks.
Even when the guests leave it clean and tidy it takes 5 hours. If we have messy guests or I have to do a load of extra things like clean the BBQ, empty the log burner, tidy all the kitchen cupboards, empty the dishwasher ect it means I have less time to clean properly or I'm running over time and I'm still there at check in.
We've had some super messy guests who leave all the bins everywhere..move furniture around the house and if they don't pay attention to the bin information I have to sort through the rubbish too or the council won't take it.
So that's what we are doing in-between!

BloodyHellKen · 04/09/2023 10:49

That all sounds quite normal for the UK. If having to do that is a pain OP I would give renting a gite in France a miss. In France many owners expect you do all this, clean the bathroom and then lick the floor clean as you leave.

It's the French way as my relatives who live in France like to say 😂

SpanielsMatter · 04/09/2023 10:50

I wonder why holiday lets do not publish their rules and regs in the advert. Would make it easier to decide whether to stay or not.

Teabag37 · 04/09/2023 10:50

I property manage 3 apartments in Florence, Italy, no bed stripping, no cleaning (you pay a cleaning fee !!) we only ask that you take the rubbish out ........i find the demands made on guests unbelievable

Ladameauxyeuxbruns · 04/09/2023 11:06

I manage holiday lets and the makeup thing really is reasonable. There's one house in particular (no clue why it's always this house!) that constantly has towels and sheets absolutely covered in makeup and fake tan. Last year, every single towel had to be thrown away and replaced because, despite many bleach washes and treatments, they were wrecked. It's a big house sleeping 20 as well, so the cost was huge. We see it every year and it's not always foundation, but waterproof mascara which is a bastard!

Mydietstartstomorrow · 04/09/2023 11:29

Need I say anymore?

To think holiday cottage company is taking the p**s
To think holiday cottage company is taking the p**s
TabbyM · 04/09/2023 11:32

I'm peri and have left some bloody sheets before, I assume hotels have industrial laundry facilities but after monster period of over 2 months have had enough.

NonMiDispiace · 04/09/2023 12:06

It’s never bothered me tuppence that I’ve been asked to strip the beds, perhaps I am too easy going? It’s hardly strenuous for the majority of people.
I’m returning to the same cottage for the 4th time soon, we strip beds, leave the dw on, quickly tidy through, make sure all dog poo is picked up and always get our deposit back.
it’s dog friendly, I take old sheets to cover the furniture in case the dog gets up on the sofa etc.
I respect other people’s properties, I don’t expect someone else to have to clear or clean up my mess 🤷🏼‍♀️
I’ve even been known to push the vacuum around mid stay if we’ve been staying for more than a week.

HettyMeg · 04/09/2023 12:42

The reason it frustrated me was that they instructed us not to put glass in the bin OR leave it next to bin - instructions explicitly told us to remove glass and recycle it ourselves. We are obviously not local as we are there on holiday so we had to ask a neighbour who told us where to take it (a 5 min drive away, which we did!) But I feel all this is quite unreasonable after paying almost £500 to stay somewhere.

OP posts:
Twiglets1 · 04/09/2023 12:46

That is unreasonable @HettyMeg

Thelonelygiraffe · 04/09/2023 13:04

Foundation doesn't always wash out. Sounds like they have added this after having a bad experience with mucky guests...

Stripping the bed is common (esp after Covid) and no recycling for glasses standard too. We don't have glass recycling at home - do you? So why should the home owner take your glass to be recycled?

Thelonelygiraffe · 04/09/2023 13:06

LadyAstor · 04/09/2023 06:57

Ive always wondered what the cleaners do all day between me checking out before 10am and the next guest arriving after 4pm.After all, Ive stripped the beds, washed and dried the dishes, tidied up, put the towels in the laundry basket. Surely it doesnt take six hours to make the beds, clean the bathroom and run the hoover round?

I do prefer a cottage v a hotel but like the late checkout option in a hotel. I also miss being able to check into a place from 2pm like i did before covid.

The cleaners will have several holiday homes to get around in that time, and they have to drive in between them...

Maddy70 · 04/09/2023 13:07

Nope not stripping the beds. That's why I come on holiday

No glass In bin reasonable put glass in a separate bag for life and leave on the counter

Towels , some makeup doesn't come off white towels. Use make up remover or your own flannel for make up

OrangeBlossomsinthesun · 04/09/2023 13:12

Thelonelygiraffe · 04/09/2023 13:06

The cleaners will have several holiday homes to get around in that time, and they have to drive in between them...

They need more cleaners then

Thelonelygiraffe · 04/09/2023 13:34

They need more cleaners then

And that will mean higher rental costs, @OrangeBlossomsinthesun ...

Ciarianna · 04/09/2023 13:37

Thelonelygiraffe · 04/09/2023 13:04

Foundation doesn't always wash out. Sounds like they have added this after having a bad experience with mucky guests...

Stripping the bed is common (esp after Covid) and no recycling for glasses standard too. We don't have glass recycling at home - do you? So why should the home owner take your glass to be recycled?

We have glass recycling at home. If the air bnb want the glass recycling then they need to provide the means to do so

Thelonelygiraffe · 04/09/2023 13:43

@Ciarianna - We have glass recycling at home. If the air bnb want the glass recycling then they need to provide the means to do so

...but lots of places in the UK don't have glass recycling. Holiday home owners may not have the storage to store glass or the time to take it to a bottle bank. You wouldn't expect them to get rid of any other rubbish for you, so why expect them to get rid of glass?

spitefulandbadgrammar · 04/09/2023 13:53

twinmum2007 · 04/09/2023 08:28

I don't get all this stuff about the dishwasher thing. How much washing up does breakfast generate? Just wash& dry the breakfast things before you leave & pop them back in their cupboards. How hard can it be?

We usually do extended family holidays so eight adults and six children: 14 bowls, 14 plates, 14 knives, 14 spoons, butter dish, giant saucepan for porridge, big plate for toast or hot cross buns, 14 water glasses, 14 coffee cups or tea mugs, teapot, cafetière, additional bowls and spoons for cereal, chopping board and knife for fruit… We could all eat a piece of dry toast over the sink but we’re on holiday, about to travel a long way, and have to strip 10 beds, pack four cars, and follow an arcane bin system all before 9am. Being able to stick the dishwasher on makes the departure morning infinitely easier, and for the prices charged I don’t want to wash up, dry and put away that much stuff. I’m quite happy to unload a full, clean dishwasher on arrival, though.

LadyAstor · 04/09/2023 14:07

Well, I consider myself educated after reading all the replies.

I assumed (incorrectly) that there would be a tram of four cleaners doing each job - like a hotel - but I see now thats not the case.

Full respect to cleaners who tidy up after us.