Airbnb host check out demands - AIBU to ignore

[Senseonhorizons]

Been staying in Airbnb for last 3 nights, out of many, many we have stayed in this is our worst experience. There are lots of positives about the place, however it is f'ing freezing. Non functional heating on one floor so bedrooms were 12 degrees and we were all so cold in the night and now are ill, may or may not be connected.

I did contact host re heating on arrival and was given a load of instructions that don't work.

I have now received list of tasks to do on check out, none mentioned in property listing. They include stripping off beds and taking all sheets and towels downstairs, emptying bins in kitchen and bathrooms and taking to bins half way down the lane.

I feel like f'off do it yourself. We paid enough for the place. I know people did it in covid with sheets etc, but there is absolutely no reason to now

AIBU to ignore their demands?

ime (sister cleans holiday lets) you don't strip the protectors off

Bleeuurrgghhh!!! - though it explains some of the stinky stains found when I used to rent holiday properties, where I wondered just how long it was since they were changed

This "6 hours neede to turn the place around" is widely touted, and for those doing it properly is no doubt justified, but it's hardly needed for those who clean to a very basic domestic standard and sometimes not even that

Still, it's 6 hours less wear and tear on the place I suppose ...

I've never stripped a bed in an AirBnB. I've always paid (far too much) for cleaning though.

Puzzledandpissedoff I really wouldn’t expect the mattress protectors to be changed everytime anywhere unless they thought they were about to appear on Four in a Bed.

Beds and bins + leave property as you left it is normal in self-catering accommodation. Wipe down kitchen sides, bath and sink etc. That is not "cleaning" the property and takes no time at all. Get a hotel if you don't want to do this.

I used to manage an airbnb and clean it. Some people stripped the bed - great! some people left them as they were - absolutely fine, i didn't expect them to.

Some people left rubbish everywhere and dirty dishes and an absolute mess - not cool.

I think it's pretty bad customer service for your host to actually request that of you. They have to spend hours cleaning the place properly anyway- stripping beds and taking the bins out only takes minutes, it seems a pretty stupid thing to do to ask you to do it. It's not very 'good hosting'.

If you've paid a cleaning fee and it wasn't in a pre-agreement and you don't want to, then don't.

I would say about 20% of the time people stripped beds, if that. I was working in a nice house in a coastal area of Wales.

I think the fact that most of these responses say 'stripping the bed is normal' says more about the etiquette of MUMSnetters, than it does about what is actually standard.

I think most foreign customers don't do this.

I don't want to see the mattress with all the potential stains - we do check it a bit for bed bugs but that's only along the edge of the mattress.

of course you shouldn’t have to strip the beds etc if you are paying a cleaning fee! Madness. I think as a pp said, some women just are in the habit of not making themselves look bad with an unclean house.

I know in France they ask you to strip the beds even on Airbnb on top of the cleaning fee, but at least they make it clear.

And to be clear all my reviews for my airbnb guesting are excellent!

I'm so done with Airbnb, half the time it's more expensive than a hotel, which would be fine if it was hotel standard, or an amazing property. But half the time it's some generic house with polycotton sheets cleaned to an amateur standard on arrival so I'll only use it if there is no possible other option.

I just did a quick search for the place that I live, it's a small town of pretty much no interest to tourists but there are a long list of airbnb with nothing under £100 a night, plus various service or cleaning fees taking them to upwards of 150 per night for nothing special. In contrast there are 3 hotels between £40 and £120 per night, and there is hardly anywhere available to rent to live around here. Fair enough if you are renting out part of the place you live, but holiday lets are a scourge on lots of communities, so Airbnb owners moaning about the cost of running their Airbnb... no one is forcing you. Sell it so someone can live there.

Also, do people seriously strip or make beds in hotels? Why?? It's like people stacking plates in restaurants, you're probably ruining their system.

Let us know what kind of review the host leaves for you! If any.

Standard airbnb requests - I have no problem with this as they are really good value compared to hotels - also 12 degrees is not cold at all - perfect temperature for sleeping!

YANBU and adding rules that aren't mentioned before booking is against Airbnb policy

I always leave the place immaculate (seems rude not too) and put out the bins.
But I've never stripped the beds.
Made them - even in hotels.
I would if asked though.

You should contact airbnb now about heating.

I've ignored these demands too! Sorry not paying a cleaning fee then doing cleaning. If you Google there is a whole backlash movement against this.

For an eskimo 🙈

I’d just say the cold flared up your arthritis so badly you weren’t able to change the sheets or empty the bins.

I do not strip beds before I leave self catering accommodation. I assume that the host has included this in the price.

I always leave a property clean and tidy - not as I found it but probs not far off it, because we are clean and tidy people.

But I will not be stripping beds or cleaning on the last day on my holiday. Utter madness

I’m in complete agreement with you. In my experience with Air BnBs you always get charged a cleaning fee, so with that in mind there should be no question of doing anything above and beyond general leaving things neat and tidy, washing up plates etc done or in the dishwasher and leaving the toilet clean.

Most of us have children, so we are talking multiple beds! It’s too much when we are trying to pack up and be out by 10am! Especially as we have already paid for the service with a cleaning fee!

I especially don’t like the way many are set up with only the host/landlord in mind, and are not minded to care or offer any service at all to the guest, they are almost an irrelevance.
I use companies that specialise in holiday cottages when not booking hotels, because the service tends to be better but with air bnb it’s always about the profit - not about guest experience. I use super hosts etc and it’s still rubbish. The best in my view are unique home stays - they look after their guests properly. No bed stripping neccessary!

It’s a flooded market in some places, so I think these demands will fade eventually if everyone refuses to participate (pay twice!)

You always get people on threads like this saying 12 degrees or no heating is perfectly acceptable. FGS. That would be far too cold for me, the OP and many others. The OP stated she found it too cold and the owner ignored her complaints.
The usual race to the bottom on MN. We’re not living in the 1900s and if we want to feel comfortable on holiday we should be able to put the heating on.
I don’t strip beds either, yes leave places tidy but there is really no need to strip beds.

What’s the additional cleaning charge applied?

I’ve stayed in a lot of airbnbs and only once was asked to strip the beds. Found it a bit rude as I was also paying £100+ for cleaning!

I’ve been asked to take out the rubbish a few times though. I don’t love it, and also find it a bit cheeky as - like I said - I’m paying for cleaning.

I also used to be a host and never asked guests to strip bedding / take out rubbish.

I’ve stayed in lots of self catering accommodation and I have only been asked to strip the beds once. Perhaps others have asked but maybe I didn’t read the instructions to find out. I have never stripped the beds. That’s the hosts’ job - I’m paying them to do that. I do make sure that I don’t leave the place in a mess though and I empty bins. I don’t leave dirt behind but stripping beds is over the top! Don’t strip them!

I don't like holiday lets with loads of instructions. I don't strip the beds, even when it's "required" because I don't want to see the mattress or the pillows!

I think emptying bins is standard though and woukd do that anyway.

Beyond that, I leave a place tidy, clear up any spillages as we go, report any breakages, but I'm not cleaning. The place will look like home does when the weekly clean is due.

Stripping beds, leaving all towels in a pile and taking bins is normal wherever you stay, is it not? And a quick wipe down/sweep? I always do it, whether we are in a sun holiday caravan or a villa