Strange AirBnB situation...

GoldPlayer · 31/08/2024 22:29

Sounds like you got a very weird vibe. Trust your instinct

MotherOfCrocodiles · 31/08/2024 22:32

Sounds really awkward but I'm assuming they didn't go out all night or anything.

My DD (7) would say exactly that kind of thing if I went out to the car or shed for 2min and there was someone she didn't know in the house. Eg if a friend from work dropped round to borrow a tool and I had to get it from the shed, so left her alone with someone that she hadn't met before, in our house, for a couple of minutes whilst I was in the shed- she would definitely say that kind of thing.

It's not great that the hosts are doing air bnb with kids at home, especially if the kids don't feel safe. I guess they need the money.

Pocketfullofdogtreats · 31/08/2024 22:33

Are you saying she was out all night? Did you see/ hear the hosts when you got back?
Maybe she just nipped to the shop in the early morning and her DD didn't know she'd gone?

Mumandcarer80 · 31/08/2024 22:34

Definitely report she's used the opportunity to leave the children overnight. That's neglect you could have been anyonr. Child protection will take this seriously.

Thatcat · 31/08/2024 22:35

It sounds like you weren’t fully informed of the nature of the stay.

The mother might usually sleep in the livingroom, but really needs the extra cash? I’d imagine the older kid might have been looking after the younger one, but still 13 is too young for an overnight. For all the mother knew knew, you could have been a drunk creep. Poor kids.

Original poster

Takeittoheart · 31/08/2024 22:36

We didn't see/hear anyone when we got back. But we were back late and as we were downstairs and they were all upstairs I just assumed they were all in bed. I suppose it makes sense she could have just popped out without her DD knowing, it was how distressed she sounded and the mum shushing her which made me think it was a bit odd.

OP posts:

MotherOfCrocodiles · 31/08/2024 22:37

Sorry my post there was rambling. I mean that if she was out all night that would be really worrying, but she might have just gone to get her coat out of the car and the kid was over reacting

Even so I feel bad for the kids with strangers sleeping in their lounge (and feel bad for you, how awkward)

DinosaurMunch · 31/08/2024 22:37

You don't know they were away all night, in fact that seems unlikely. More likely the mum just nipped to the shop.

Andwegoroundagain · 31/08/2024 22:38

It sounds awkward and really they should have made clear on listing. I don't think you have enough facts to do anything more though .. reporting to SS seems rather extreme given she could have just popped out for a pint of milk

jollyholly222 · 31/08/2024 22:38

Takeittoheart · 31/08/2024 22:25

Posting for the first time here as I genuinely want opinions on the very odd AirBnB situation I experienced yesterday.

My partner and I booked an AirBnB in London so we could see a show. Just a room in someone's house, not ideal but it was all we could afford. We arrived at the AirBnB, were given keys and shown to our room (the front room with a sofa bed, all fine) and met the hosts two children. I thought it was a bit odd the listing didn't mention children, but no biggie. There was a boy who I would say was 12/13 and a girl probably around 7/8 although I'm guessing here. As we had a pre theatre meal booked, we headed out pretty soon after, had a great evening and came back home to bed.

In the morning, I woke up to the front door closing (we were in the front room). Didn't think much of it until I heard the daughter coming downstairs saying "where were you!?". The mum was shushing her but the girl kept asking and also said "we didn't know where you were" and "those people were here". She took them away from our door and into the kitchen so I didn't hear anymore. So from what I can work out, this woman left her children in a house with two complete strangers (she doesn't know us from Adam), they were frightened and we were absolutely none the wiser. I really dread to think what might have happened if anything had happened to one of them. It really shook us up and we left pretty much immediately without seeing them.

Would you report this in the circumstances, or am I being dramatic? Partner thinks we should leave it as there was an older kid there but I really feel for those kids and the fact that they were scared overnight.

Any advice appreciated.

That sounds really strange, even if the oldest was 13. From a safeguarding perspective, she has no idea who you are or your history towards children. I'd report it. If it was just a 2 min trip to shop, then nothing to worry about imo but still concerning they had no idea where mother was. If it was an overnight stay, mother needs to be warned.

God forbid nothing is said and the next users of the air bnb aren't like yourselves. Appreciate times are tough financially but never a reason to put your children at risk.

cinammonfishsticks · 31/08/2024 22:39

I don't think a responsible parent would have strangers paying to stay in their front room with full access to their children. Which makes me also think that she probably did leave them. Clearly her responsibility and stranger danger radar is switched off. Could you anonymously report?

Pocketfullofdogtreats · 31/08/2024 22:40

Maybe the shushing was she didn't want to wake you. Or, didn't want you to assume she'd left her kids alone when she'd only been out for minute. Or all night - but you don't know that. If you didn't hear her go out in the evening then she must've already been out, and the dch were on their own until you got back?

Saltedbutter · 31/08/2024 22:42

I would assume she just nipped up the road for some milk rather than somewhere overnight.
I do however worry that you could have been complete weirdos and she’s putting her children in a very vulnerable position.

Spinet · 31/08/2024 22:42

I don't know the laws about it but to my mind it is a bit negligent to host strangers in your house when you have children anyway, especially in communal spaces like the living room. Leaving then alone even to nip to the shop is not on. I think this is a bit off generally and I think I would tell someone, yes. It is possible you have got the ages completely wrong but that can be cleared up if necessary.

As a rule I'd say it's not your place to judge, but it is your place to raise the alarm if you're worried and let someone qualified judge.

BobbyBiscuits · 31/08/2024 22:44

Id say if they'd left the kids overnight with just you there asleep that's pretty unlikely.
It's more probably the kid was confused and maybe they hadn't had many air b&b guests before. And hadn't adequately explained it to the kid. There's no actual evidence of abandonment or safeguarding concerns I don't think just based on that overheard convo.
I'd say don't use them again though. A set up with a front room in a house that may not have been explained, with hosts plus kids is bound to feel a little off.

Mumandcarer80 · 31/08/2024 22:44

DinosaurMunch · 31/08/2024 22:37

You don't know they were away all night, in fact that seems unlikely. More likely the mum just nipped to the shop.

If she had just nipped to the shop why wouldn't she say she's just nipping to the shop? Especially with an 8 year old in the house.

WouldYouLikeMeToSpellThatForYou · 31/08/2024 22:45

cinammonfishsticks · 31/08/2024 22:39

I don't think a responsible parent would have strangers paying to stay in their front room with full access to their children. Which makes me also think that she probably did leave them. Clearly her responsibility and stranger danger radar is switched off. Could you anonymously report?

^

Seas164 · 31/08/2024 22:45

It depends if she'd nipped out for milk before they woke up, or if she'd left them overnight. I don't know how you find out which it was in order to take any further action, without asking the host, and unlikely if the latter you'd get the truth unfortunately.

blueshoes · 31/08/2024 22:46

Maybe she went to sleep in the car because the front room sofa bed is where she normally sleeps. Or she went out to work on the night shift. If so, I would feel bad that she needed the money so much. Did she look like she came back from a night out on the tiles?

It is really unsafe to leave her children with strangers overnight.

But you do not know how long she was out of the house so I don't think you should report her.

KerryBlues · 31/08/2024 22:46

It’s quite a stretch to assume she was out all night, op?
Far more likely she ran out of milk and popped to the shop.

TwitchyJerk · 31/08/2024 22:50

I don't think it would be reasonable to say "we have kids" on the listing as that might attract weirdos.

She was probably just out briefly in the morning, and what about the dad? Kid could have been moaning but perfectly safe...

theeyeofdoe · 31/08/2024 22:52

Poor kids. Where was it?

I would call the safeguarding team local to where you were staying. Eg - type in safeguarding plus harrow and chat to them.

Noseybookworm · 31/08/2024 22:54

I would assume that she'd just popped out that morning for milk or bread or something! Highly unlikely that she'd been out all night leaving young children in the house with 2 strangers in her front room. Also, might not her partner have been upstairs in bed?

EmberAsh · 31/08/2024 22:57

I'd report it to the local children's services. Anyone happy to have unvetted strangers around their children overnight is irresponsible.

wonderstuff · 31/08/2024 23:03

I would call children’s services and report. It may be nothing at all, in which case they will look at it and find no problem, or these kids may be at risk, in which case SS should be involved. Will take a few minutes to make the call and you’ll know you’ve done what you can. I personally always worry about the worst case scenario.