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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To keep their deposit!!

1000 replies

LivFG · 15/11/2023 03:20

DH and I have a couple of properties we rent out. We have been renting to a young couple who always seemed like good tenants. We gave them notice a couple of months ago as we are going to start renting on AirBnB instead as DH thinks we will get more money (don't get me started).

Anyway, they moved out on Saturday and everything seemed fine. Today I went to get everything cleaned and I found (what I think to be) weed residue next to the sink. I'm Furious. I feel completely violated and uncomfortable being inside the property. I'm sick with worry that they have been using illegal drugs in my home and what the legal ramifications could be!!

Obviously we have their deposit. I was planning to refund it this week. After my discovery today, I now feel incredibly reluctant to make any sort of refund. The idea of supporting/funding their lifestyle makes me very uncomfortable. And they never would have been given permission to abuse my property in this way.

DH seems to think none of this is a problem and seems to completely miss the point - it isn't about cleaning it up - it's about the abuse of our trust.

AIBU?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
Ds888888 · 15/11/2023 18:25

I'm thinking it probably wasn't weed that op found. If weed had been in the house as a non weed smoker. They would have smelt it the moment they went in the property. Also when they don't checks.

Sallyh87 · 15/11/2023 18:25

I think this question could be rephrased as ‘AIBU to steal from my tenants?’

Heyhoherewegoagain · 15/11/2023 18:30

and a threat of prosecution should this rule be broken.

Since when we’re you the CPS 😂😂

Don’t get me wrong, I’d be pissed of if someone was using drugs in my property, but that’s why we use a reputable agent, who places deposits in a protected scheme and vets the tenants very closely.

I don’t think you’re cut out to be a landlord…has no one told you about people using air b’n’bs for weekend parties etc?

NovemberName · 15/11/2023 18:42

including no illegal use of drugs - and a threat of prosecution should this rule be broken.

Good luck with that!!! Hilarious!

Just for my amusement (if this is real) are you planning on cleaning the Airbnb yourself!

If you are you will need to take some smelling salts! I don't think you're going to cope!

Scrapper142 · 15/11/2023 18:43

Christ you're going to be one of those hosts who fine guests for breaking a wine glass, while providing those shit ones that smash if you look at them wrong.

I don't think you have a clue what is involved in being a host. The whole place will need painting, potentially new furniture, kitchen fully kitted out. Quick turnarounds with cleaning to a high (hotel) standard. A written list of rules will be put in bin by first guess so you'll be writing that list a lot. You'll be on call 24 hrs.

Plus Airbnbs are often used as pop up brothels and the really nice ones for porn shoots. If you have men working away from home they'll be bringing prostitutes back. There will be illegal drug use and writing some rules isn't going to stop that.

Just because you've repaid the tennants deposit doesn't undo you breaking the law for the entire tenancy.

littlehorsesthatrun · 15/11/2023 18:46

This needed to be said

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 15/11/2023 18:50

LivFG · 15/11/2023 14:31

Let me say it again, the deposit will be refunded. As such, I can't be accused of being the immoral one or behaving illegally. It's amazing just how this has been twisted so that I am apparently the one in the wrong when the post was about illegal drug use in my property!!

I understand the point about the deposit scheme - and DH has been firmly told to do the admin properly and to make sure in future everything is done correctly. It certainly wasn't an attempt to 'steal' their deposit. We've had 101 things to deal with over the last year.

It is attitudes like some of those shared here that have resulted in the normalisation of illegal behaviours. I find it all very concerning tbh.

The hypocrisy of you is hilarious.

it’s attitudes like yours in attempting to excuse and normalise both the ignoring of the deposit scheme (your illegal actions!) and the instant train of thought of “we’re keeping the money” that means we need a deposit scheme.

Look at your own illegal actions and behaviour before being such a judgemental person toward others.

Your husband didn’t simply fail to do the admin properly. He broke the law and your attempts at normalising that is hypocrisy at its finest. And given you are planning on letting our your property ongoing its very concerning.

littlehorsesthatrun · 15/11/2023 18:53

You normalised illegal behaviour. The immoral and illegal failure to fulfil your LEGAL obligations as a landlord.
You are receiving this response because you don’t seem able to recognise the serious nature of this and why it worse than your tenants maybe or maybe not smoking weed!

Cosyblankets · 15/11/2023 18:54

I'm just here for the comedy value now.
Of course it is their home while they are renting! That's why you're not allowed to walk in unannounced etc.
And as for your rules, no one is going to say ooo I'd love a spliff but that piece of paper says it's naughty so we'd better not.
You're on another planet. You really are

isadoradancing123 · 15/11/2023 18:55

Calm down for goodness sake and get off your high horse. Everything doesnt need to be bleached

Mummyoflittledragon · 15/11/2023 19:01

Of course it was their home. It’s your house. Not your home. You don’t live there.

Whiteday · 15/11/2023 19:01

LivFG · 15/11/2023 17:34

I don’t agree that by renting it becomes their home. If you buy a seat on a plane, you don’t start claiming you have a right to the aircraft! Yes, of course it’s important the house is in a good and liveable condition (and I can assure you it is) but renting doesn’t give someone the right to break laws, or treat me/the property with total disrespect.

You’ll all be delighted to know I have sent back the deposit. I was very tempted to tell DH to take the property off AirBnB, but since we already have bookings I don’t feel that’s an option. I will be writing a list of rules and leaving it on the kitchen table for check-in - including no illegal use of drugs - and a threat of prosecution should this rule be broken.

Thank you for all of your good wishes (not).

Please do come back and update us after six months! It'll be a scream!

Megifer · 15/11/2023 19:02

Wait til you discover someone using a chipped Sky box in your property 😬

Megifer · 15/11/2023 19:04

"including no illegal use of drugs - and a threat of prosecution should this rule be broken."

Missed this 🤣🤣🤣 awwww bless you op. Someone will absolutely roll that note up to use it to snort a few lines just for shits n giggles.

SwingTheMonkey · 15/11/2023 19:05

YeahIsaidit · 15/11/2023 17:44

I'm imagining a post in a few weeks "air bnb hosts put hidden cameras all over the house"

Show quote history

Oh god, don’t give her ideas!

Newlydivorcedyay · 15/11/2023 19:08

Can we suggest some more rules for the list?

  1. No cheating on your wife in this property
  2. Ditto, but swap 'wife' for 'husband'
  3. But absolutely no wife swapping
4....
QueenofTerrasen · 15/11/2023 19:09

LivFG · 15/11/2023 03:48

Clearly if it's illegal I'll be forced to give it back!! It isn't me who has broken the law. And if it is the world has gone mad. The point isn't the cleaning! It's the fact illegal activities have taken place in a property I own. That surely isn't acceptable and I have a good mind to report it to the police!

Well you have broken the law by not putting their deposit in a scheme.
You'd get in more shit for that than they would for smoking a bit of weed. Give them their money and get a fucking grip.

reesewithoutaspoon · 15/11/2023 19:10

You gave up a regular tenant, who was looking after the place, for a random bunch of people every few days who you have no clue about and wont be invested in looking after the place because its not their home.
God help you the first drunken party goers you get

Bloopadoop · 15/11/2023 19:11

The requirement to put tenancy deposits in a deposit scheme is 20 years old. Not knowing this (and doing it) makes you a substandard landlord. Calling yourself a very good landlord is a joke.

and smoking weed isn’t actually a crime…sure possessing it is, but the smoking of it, not so much…

Bloopadoop · 15/11/2023 19:11

And you are way more likely to get illegal activities going on in an Airbnb! 🤣

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 15/11/2023 19:13

There is no way you are going to cope with hosting an AirBnB if you are this dramatic.
You realise it's weed (but probably yea leaves or some ancient Starwood's herbs), not Novichok?

SwingTheMonkey · 15/11/2023 19:14

@LivFG Do you really think that you have the authority to decide if someone is prosecuted for drug use?! That’s hilarious.

QueenofTerrasen · 15/11/2023 19:17

I genuinely hope one of the air b&b guests does lines off the table so I can watch the utter meltdown that unfolds. 😂

MargotBamborough · 15/11/2023 19:17

LivFG · 15/11/2023 17:34

I don’t agree that by renting it becomes their home. If you buy a seat on a plane, you don’t start claiming you have a right to the aircraft! Yes, of course it’s important the house is in a good and liveable condition (and I can assure you it is) but renting doesn’t give someone the right to break laws, or treat me/the property with total disrespect.

You’ll all be delighted to know I have sent back the deposit. I was very tempted to tell DH to take the property off AirBnB, but since we already have bookings I don’t feel that’s an option. I will be writing a list of rules and leaving it on the kitchen table for check-in - including no illegal use of drugs - and a threat of prosecution should this rule be broken.

Thank you for all of your good wishes (not).

Of course it becomes their home, OP. That's why they have the right to peaceful occupation of it, without you poking your nose in where it's not wanted.

Howling about the idea of your list of rules for Airbnb guests including "no drugs on threat of prosecution".

😂

Seagrassbasket · 15/11/2023 19:17

Go on OP, put the air bnb listing on here. We can all take turns booking it, shag on every surface whilst leaving ‘residue’ and have giant spliffs in the bath 🤣

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