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?

If the cleaning fee is hefty, I would agree.

If it is fairly nominal, stripping beds and emptying bins doesn’t sound awful - although I don’t know how complicated the bin situation down the lane is.

I do think some of the Air BnB rules on cleaning can be terrible. There was one thread where all rubbish had to be taken away from the site (presumably the owners hadn’t paid to get the bins emptied) and the dishwasher had to have been emptied and put away (and all cutlery / crockery washed and dried). That’s really hard to do if you have to check out early.

Depends if there is a cleaning fee or not. At the last place we stayed I emptied all the bins and gave the kitchen (we only ever had breakfast there, so did no actual cooking) a quick wipe down and made sure the rooms were tidy. I didn't strip the beds and it wasn't stated anywhere that I had to. I'd leave a place tidy always but in your case if they expected you to do that level of cleaning then they are cf for taking a cleaning deposit and I would be stating that in my review. Yanbu.

That's understandable. Sometimes there are good reasons to ask that guests do their own recycling. Usually party houses will have much more than the average family holiday let.

I came across a rental "cottage" in Mevagissey yesterday. It sleeps 10 and costs £2800 a week at peak times. The cleaning fee is £180.

I won't be going there, but if I did, and I was spending that much, I wouldn't be doing anymore than leaving it tidy. I definitely wouldn't be stripping beds or emptying bins!

I'd consider all of those reasonable requests. Hoovering and mopping and cleaning all the surfaces would be a bit much but stripping beds and taking out bins is pretty standard.

I think I’d deal with both things separately. I always strip the beds, empty the bins & make sure everything is clean & tidy in any rental - it takes 5 minutes - & makes me feel like everything will definitely be clean for the next people (unlikely to put dirty sheets back on 😂)
Regarding the broken heating - I’d expect some money back - Airbnb are pretty good at mediating in disputes. Did you let them know their instructions didn’t work though? That might be a sticking point!

We rent a caravan out on Airbnb. And all of the cleaning companies available to us ask that guests do this otherwise they charge extra. We charge £25 for a clean on Airbnb but it actually costs £55 (no one books if you charge £55), when you condsider our site fee's, energy bills and general maintenance we make zero profit but often have to pay extra to the cleaners bacause of additional work left for them despite mentioning these requirements in the advert. I personally don't like asking this of guests but am left with no choice.

You should ask for a refund regarding the heating. I would have offered this outright if this were my guests.

so you're making a loss on each rental? why do it? genuinely curious

Please don’t remake the beds. This is a pet hate of mine. As a host, you can’t tell if the beds been slept in and also, it takes longer to strip the bed. Just strip beds and leave sheets in the bed. Bins out. Complain about the heating or he won’t fix it.

I would never strip a bed unless asked to (I did during covid as asked too & didn’t during covid when asked not to as no one was in after us for a few weeks, so they were going to just leave it).

empty the bins. That’s just basic common sense. As is washing up after breakfast. If there’s a dish washer I’ll often fill it, turn it on and leave.

it’s clean. They can empty it.

I wonder what would happen @Senseonhorizons if you requested a chargeback from your bank for not having the service? Given the lack of heating.

This. It is fairly normal now, although not everyone asks you to strip beds (post covid) I have been to a few that do. I would always wipe round in the kitchen and empty the bins as it’s just habit.

I would ask for compensation re heating though.

12 degrees C is bloody freezing.
Sounds like a damp cold cottage - the sort where you see your breath steaming indoors.

GRIM.

Cold cottages are dismal as heck.

As a holiday let owner I feel that unless it was in the details then YANBU
Sometimes i get lucky and guests have stripped the beds and leave the bedding in the middle , most these days leave all used towels in the bath or shower, most also empty the bin into the wheelie bin but this is not requested in my details.
Having said all that my place is cosy and warm.
I would put in a complaint about the temperature and poor instruction in a review?

I’ve managed rental properties for years I have never come across a cleaner or cleaning company that charges extra for stripping beds, that’s one of the key things you pay them for. And you pay them by hour or total fee.

If your rental income is not covering your outgoings then you need to consider whether the business is viable.

No heating merits a far lower rating than 3* OP it’s totally unforgivable.

The owner is trying to pocket the cleaning fee and make you do the work.

I have never been asked to strip beds! I wouldn’t do this - it’s a cleaning job. Leave the place clean and tidy and put the bins out.

I would follow up with a formal complaint re heating that isn’t good enough - it’s freezing and only 4c here

Are you suggesting it’s too warm for heating in the U.K.? I am in London so obviously warmer here than other parts but even here it was chilly last week. Weekend was lovely weather - almost like summer on Saturday - but today it’s cold again. It’s 11 degrees but feels colder in the wind and my heating is back on!!!

Not my problem! This is your job, not mine and I am paying more than enough as it is!

I've always stripped bedding and emptied bins in all the self catering places I've ever stayed in! It's a pretty typical expectation.

Only place I don't do it is in a hotel.

I can't be bothered with airbnb. You seem to pay for the privilege of getting it cleaned and then have to also clean it. We would never leave anywhere in a bad state but I do not want to be doing more housework on holiday than I do at home. Hotels all the way.

I thought it was going to be they wanted you to do the cleaning which would be unreasonable. What they've said sounds OK though. The lack of heating isn't though if it's cold

I wouldn't have done any of those tasks either, especially with the cleaning charge.

I always leave the place tidy, rubbish bagged, dishwasher empty, surfaces wiped etc., etc.,

However, when they charge £££ for cleaning fees and then leave you a list including all bedding stripped and sorted, whites in the washing machine, towels in the bath, recycling sorted and bagged accordingly, rubbish taken out to bins (a good 10 min walk away uphill!) as happened to us in an air bnb in France, then I am happy to ignore it!

They left us a poor review, but we had left them a similar one, so even stevens.

I always do that anyway without being asked. Always strip beds in hotels. They don't have much time it's just being respectful.

Last time we stayed somewhere we emptied bins, swept the kitchen & mopped a small hall as there were obviously boot marks.

Had a message back saying thanks for doing so much!

What sort of state must some people leave places in!