AIBU to be a bit taken aback by some of these ‘House Rules’?

[Speckly]

So I’ve booked an Air bnb for a long weekend. Going on this break will be myself (F54) DH (58) and our two DS (29 and 27). Neither of them live with us any longer but will each be meeting us there. In case it’s relevant the price for 3 nights was £346, which I think is a good price. There was no mention of particular rules in their listing (the first image is the list of rules on the actual Air bnb listing) but today (the day before we leave), we were emailed another list of very specific house rules (the second image is the list received from the owner today).
Now obviously we’re going to respect their property and be careful (we always do when we go away), but I do feel like some of these rules are a little bit over the top: Rules 5 and 6 particularly. Out of interest, do you think it’s ok to tell people what they can and can’t cook in the property when they’ve paid to stay there? To not let people cook fish seems unacceptable to me. Personally, I also don’t think it’s acceptable to tell me where in the property I can and can’t eat. Surely as long as I look after the property and it’s left in a good clean condition, I’ve fulfilled my part of the hire contract? I understand the owners want to keep their property in the best condition possible and I will respect their space, but I just feel like I’m not going to relax now and will be overthinking everything we do while we’re there. So AIBU or are these very specific rules a step too far, especially as they weren’t stated upfront?

I'm afraid I have found AirBNB owners to be generally fairly painful.

The shit English is more annoying to me. I would cancel as couldn't stand being dictated to by second home arseholes.

Wow. I would be enjoying my curry and red wine with my feet up on their sofa after reading that list. I would take my shoes off though!

Too much. Many could be covered with the rule - look after the property and keep it clean.

Most of them are fair enough but I would say don’t really need to be said as they’re air BnB teams and conditions right?
I would ignore 5 and 6 though to be honest; if I want to eat on a sofa or in a bedroom where I’ve paid to stay I’ll do that and obviously pay if I damage anything

This reminds me of a Vrbo property I stayed at near Barcelona. The host met us at the property and stayed about 45 minutes explaining how everything worked and what we could/could not do. There was another 45 minutes for the inspection before we left. The property was beautiful, he had filled it with antique furniture. I was terrified for the whole stay that I was going to break or damage something. I did wonder why he rented out his precious home to strangers.

Yep… looks like they’ll be no movie and popcorn night this weekend 😉 Oh I can imagine telling my 2 adult sons “We’re going to watch * but if you want popcorn, you’ll need to sit up to the table!” 🤣🤣🤣

Agree. It's the tone. Authoritarian and overly condescending

When it comes to damages/claims, AirBnB sides with the guest 99.9% of the time, so I’m guessing the extensive list is the result of a particularly fussy host multiplied by a couple of ‘it wasn’t explicitly stated in the house rules, so we’re not paying out’ claims.

still not the most relaxing environment, though. As PP have said, most people don’t need to be told not to do illegal things in their holiday cottage, and those that will aren’t going to say, ‘Woah, pack up the meth lab, Mary!’ just because they’ve read it on a laminated A4 sheet.

I think they are all fine except no eating on sofa or cooking fish or curries.

No eating on the sofa. So no popcorn with a movie or a bag of sweeties. Yeah I’m not following that rule.

They should really just say no dogs. As seen on here dogs owners have said before they don’t care and will let their dogs sleep on the beds and such. It’s why I’d never book pet friendly.

No curries would make me order one in to sit and eat tbh. Always want to eat what I’m told I cannot. Not too keen on red wine but I do love a good blue cocktail if that counts.

I have a holiday let and whilst the rules are my ideal, I wouldn’t send that.

my in-laws had a GREAT one last month. Went to visit friends, one of whom had been unwell. Booked via phone, a small air and b in a village near them.

arrived to a list of rules,

ABSOLUTELY NO VISITORS.

now my in-laws and there friends are in their 80s. So unlikely, although great fun, to hold a rave.

the owner came to say hello, they pointed out that they had explained they were booking to visit friends, and that thus they would like friends to be able to visit them, less hassle than them having to cook etc.

ABSOLUTELY not.

in the end the host booked them a table for afternoon tea in the village pub and paid for it, but said no cups of tea to be provided from her rental!

We would never go to an Air BnB because of stuff like this. Love the bit at the end about a relaxing stay

I always read the reviews and hosts' responses if I'm looking for Airbnb type lettings. Any hint of arseholery on the part of the owner and I don't touch it with a barge pole.
If someone has a criticism of the property the owners need to be at least gracious in reply even if they disagree with it. Otherwise it just reflects badly on then.

I would be ignoring that. I have POTS, which means that eating meals upright at a table is really uncomfortable even painful, so I eat most of my meals sat on the sofa with my legs horizontal.

This is one of the reasons we stopped doing Air BNB, some properties come with so many rules and requirements that it doesn't feel like a holiday. I found the rules and requirements really stepped up post Covid. I have heard a lot of have calmed down with all their requirements in the last year or so. We are well behaved, respectful guests who have always left properties clean and as we found them. Unfortunately not all guests are.

Some of the house rules for this property suggest the owners have had some bad experiences and have likely experienced some damage as a result of bad behavior. They have likely put rules in place to try and circumvent some of the bad behavior they have experienced. It's likely that the dog rules have come about as they have had a previous guest or guests who have allowed their pets on furniture/ beds. A very wet/muddy period has probably meant that a guest with dogs has left lots of muddy footprints and trails everywhere - especially common if the property is in a scenic walking area where people enjoy taking their dogs for a walk and is as much a holiday for the dog as the owners. Not all dog owners are great at cleaning up after their dog. The curry/ fish one is again, probably an inconsiderate guest who has ordered/ cooked a curry or fish and not cleaned up after themselves and left it out for cleaners to do.

It's against Airbnb's rules to add rules after booking! Ignore them and let Airbnb know if there are any issues.

If I can’t have a curry watching TV on holiday then it isn’t much of a holiday! I would ignore TBH

Treat it as your own home, providing you don't have a salmon fillet for dinner, or a curry. I think that's out of order actually. If I was going away for a special birthday or something I'd already have food planned and possibly bought and it might well be salmon as we have pescatarians in our family.

Honestly i would usually completely ignore a batshit list like that
My view is you leave it as you found it. Which means if you cook something smelly you ventilate etc.

Actually surprised there isn’t a dog cannot be left alone one. That is standard, they missed it though.

Our guest reviews are also all 5 stars but I’m a bit concerned that with this one they’ll find something to moan about. Unfortunately it’s too late to cancel as we’re off tomorrow and going for an event 😔

If you don’t like their rules then don’t stay, it’s not expensive either.

And to the people saying they would deliberately ignore the requests, how childish. Why not respect the owners wishes, and if you can’t find the ability to do that then go elsewhere

Most are yes but it just sucks the joy out of a holiday if you are issued with these instructions when they are not needed. Most are just common decency, I don't need to be told not to bring mud into a house. It's irritating at best, condescending at worst. I would absolutely be commenting on this in my published review.

One set of towels for 7 days? Am i the only one who thinks this is a bit rubbish. I use mine for about 4 days