AirBnB/holiday cottage owners 'popping in'

[bringincrazyback]

Wondering what people's thoughts are on this. I'm talking about when the owner pops in on the first day to 'check you're settling in OK' (and, I've always assumed, to check the tenants aren't savages trashing the place 😄)

Also, if you own a holiday property, is it something you tend to do?

Will explain context later (longstanding member btw, not a researcher or anything 😄)

YABU = I like it/do it
YANBU = I don't like it/do it

We run a holiday let and don't do this. It's almost ten miles from where we live and there's no need. People message us if they need anything/have got questions.

A couple of times we've rented a holiday let in a very remote part of the Highlands and the guy who owns it is very friendly and usually calls round halfway through the week but that's partly to empty the outside bin as I don't think there's refuse collection. I was happy to see him and have a chat.

Absolutely fucking not. A quick 'hello, hope you've arrived safely, here's what to do in the event of any problems' via text or WhatsApp is fine, otherwise fuck off and leave me in peace.

The OH and I rented a cottage many years ago (when I was younger and less feisty) which was totally ruined by the owner 'popping over' at least once a day, then effectively angrily herding us out at 15 minutes prior to the check-out time (literally standing on the drive as we were packing the car).

I still occasionally fantasise about what Proper Grown-Up Me would say to them now.

We rented a room in a converted church. Turned up and the host had a small afternoon tea set out in the main kitchen..
For 3 people..
Was very awkward..
We aren't at all sociable!!

This would put me off completely. We travel with young children who are often tired or over excited when we get to our destination especially if it's been a long journey. I usually just want to take the bags in and get settled on the first day or night.

We rented a holiday home in France from a British couple, who were lovely. They met us at the property with beer and wine for us and soft drinks and ice creams for the children. We got on so well with them that they invited us to their house in the next village for drinks the next night and we had them over for a curry.

I hate it when owners pop in. I purposely book places with a key safe and will avoid places if it's mentioned on the reviews. I also try to avoid places that are attached to other properties or on land with other properties.

I'm on holiday and letting the place so this is going to be my home for the duration of my stay. I don't want strangers to pop in when they feel like. I'm like this at home too, one of my pet hates is people just popping in when passing. Don't get me wrong I love having visitors but only when I know about it.

I also think it's against the t&cs for website like air b&b for owner to pop in

I stayed somewhere and the owners kept "popping in" was very intrusive. Won't go to that property again. Had purposely looked for somewhere remote. Didn't realise they lived next door.

Have to admit - I would hate this. Over the years I have learned never to book accommodation where the owner is next door or is an annexe to their house. Happiest when it is a keybox and you only contact the owners if necessary!

That does sound nice. Obviously it can work sometimes. (Reminds me of how we struck up a friendship with the people buying our house and they'd come over with beers to discuss specifics 😄still friends now.)

I think someone mentioned messaging to explain, I've not managed to find a way to do this (booked via a chain) but sticking a note on the door as a pp mentioned is a good idea, I think I'll take post-its with me. 😄

I'm really glad it's not just me who isn't a fan of pop-ins on holiday, too!

Stayed in a cottage once and the property manager called in at least once a day to either "check in with you" and/or check something in the property. She checked the oil level in the tank every day too! She didn't just stop by quickly, she'd stay for ages and talked about her family/neighbours as if we knew them. Earnest was getting chemo for prostate cancer, we got his whole treatment regimen and where exactly the cancer was confined to, Sophie had been rushed to hospital the previous year with suspected meningitis (they were 4 hours away from nearest children's A&E) and Barbara was very fancy and went to a different Christmas market every year.
Lockboxes all the way!

YANBU I book AirBnB to avoid having to chat to the owners, otherwise it's not much different to a B&B. If they want to be helpful then contact details are good to have, and enough!

Blimey, what a friendly lot 🙄

I have used AirBnB quite a lot on the original premise- that you stay in someone's spare room and that there's usually a bit of interaction with the host. It's been really nice, usually (apart from Annoying Polish Man in Genoa 🙄). I've learnt so much, and had so many interesting conversations with people. This was originally AirBnB's USP, so it's no surprise if some hosts still feel that they need to be there in case you have questions. Don't you find it useful to get a bit of local knowledge and background?

It also explains why, living in Cornwall, you get the distinct impression from some tourists that locals are an inconvenience to be ignored and looked straight through. By existing we're obviously spoiling their view and ruining their lovely people free holiday 🙄

Judging by the thread the other day where the Airbnb owner popped in to deliver some crockery and got absolutely slated for it by hundreds of mumsnetters losing their minds, YANBU; nobody likes it!

No we never do.

We leave guests to get on with it. They have my contact details if they need me and I keep my phone close when we have guests in

I think it's very off putting as a guest unless you're prepared for it.

I love it when you don't see the owners at all, lock box me please.

One place looked like it had its own front door but it was very sneakily done so you weren't sure but actually it was a doorway from the first floor of this huge mansion to the top floor flat ( servants' quarters naturally).
It really freaked DH out but it was an amazing view and good value but not again). The host was doing tai chi in the garden one day which was very hilarious for sone reason, you don't want to see the host doing tai chi generally.

We've only had this elsewhere in Europe. All done very politely, checking what time would be convenient etc.

If it is a worry then message her. I reckon almost anything you ask of an AirBnB host or similar is something they've heard and answered 100 times before.

I wouldn’t like a regular pop-in from the owner. That said, we have rented the same cottage for a short break for many years so the owners, a lovely couple are very friendly. One of them meets us on arrival just to give us a run through if any changes have been made in the cottage ie. they’ve changed from a living flame gas fire to a wood burner so gave us advice for this. The woman is an amazing baker so we always arrive to find a welcome pack containing a lovely freshly baked cake. Invariably, at some time during our stay we return from our day out to find some freshly baked scones in the kitchen with a small jar of jam and a tub of cream in the fridge. They never disturb us though.

I wish holiday details would make it clear before you book if there's a key box, if they're are other properties, where the owner is (if nearby) etc. I just want to have the knowledge.

The key thing is really annoying because they often ask for details about when you're arriving which can be really stressful if there's traffic etc. I know it's sometimes necessary but it starts the holiday off stressfully.

We went somewhere recently where the owner's property was actually attached with an interconnecting door. They had a whizzo fire alarm that set off a phone alert and they opened the interconnecting door and stood in the doorway and checked everything was ok. This happened about 3 times because the alarm went off pretty much every time anything was cooked on the stove!!! I did understand because it was an incredibly old farmhouse with a lot of wood but I felt extremely embarrassed disturbing them so many times. It was a bit awkward.

He sounds like an absolute nightmare - like somebody who isn't quite well. I may be way off, but I'm imagining him as Pop from The League of Gentlemen!

I have used AirBnB quite a lot on the original premise- that you stay in someone's spare room and that there's usually a bit of interaction with the host.

Yes, that's how it started; but they're now actively steering away from that being perceived as the norm.

You only have to see their current TV advert, where their main selling point is that you get a whole house/flat/property with AirBnB, so you don't have to go to bed at the same time as your kids, as you would in a 'normal' BnB, where you only have the one single room.

On check in sure fine they may need to show us house niggles may save reading 50 signs on what to do or not, once that happens and we wave goodbye and have a 'we will miss you cry...don't leave us' they need to go, ok massive exaggeration that last bit

seriously though they better cut the ties after that

I will add we never use airbnb just normal stand alone holiday places

We rented a cottage in the highlands a couple of years ago. The owner lived next door in the adjoining cottage. It didn’t bother me in the slightest. I saw her outside once and chatted for ages. She was lovely.

we have had natural chats a few times and that is fine but what isnt is 'oh I just need to measure for curtains'çan I just pop in to see if the fridge needs milk' 'can I just go upstairs there is something i want to check on' because they cant tear themselves away from the place

I managed a big airbnb for years. I would always either be there to meet the guests or pop over shortly after their arrival, however it was communicated to them that I’d do this. There was a few things that I always pointed out - light switches in funny places, how to access the woodland walk, hidden drawers in the kitchen and what was in there, how to boost the hot water, rubbish and recycling instructions. Yes it was all in the guest book but who wants to sit there reading through all that, I just told them the key points and answered any questions.

What we did find was that, in the rare instances no one could be there to meet guests and they let themselves in and didn’t have anyone pop over later, in 100% of cases these ended up being the ‘problem guests’, who would not respect the property, or leave bad reviews. It made a huge difference being there to meet them and welcome them

To add to that due to the size of the property it was always large groups, so if I couldn’t get there until an hour or two after they checked in, it was unlikely they’d be having a shagathon or anything. Might have been more awkward if it was a smaller place that a couple might book.