Kids damage Airbnb and I’m made to feel like a hopeless parent

[Retromumma]

On our way home from our Airbnb today the host texted to say that they had been resanding and painting floorboards after our visit because they said one of our kids dropped oil on it from the oil diffuser “they must have been waving one of the sticks around and it has removed paint from the floorboards” I am absolutely staggered by this because a) I cleaned and left everything spotless before leaving and b) certainly didn’t notice any damage to the floor and I would have noticed because I went around checking it for Lego before leaving.

I’m also astonished that oil reed diffusers can strip paint, not sure it should have just been left on display if it is so corrosive, what if it had burned one of my kids skin?

Or am I being unreasonable? Should I offer to pay for any damage? I am an honest person and never damaged anything, this has really soured the trip for us, I feel terrible!

I have apologised by text. Said I’m very sorry, checked and cleaned everywhere before leaving (we left it spotless) didn’t wear our shoes inside as requested and nothing was out of place. Both myself and husband checked everywhere inc under beds, sofas etc before leaving because my son had some Lego with him and we didn’t want to leave any behind. We are absolutely certain there was no damage and totally shocked when we received their text. It has made me think twice about using Airbnb again. And no, they didn’t send us any evidence. If they had sent us a picture and we had missed something we would definitely have paid for a repair but we have had nothing.

I am also shocked that a reed diffuser is capable of causing so much damage, it’s unbelievable that paint stripper is kept in an open bottle in the sitting room

They are at it they are looking for money and I would tell them to jog on.

Unless she can prove you did it id tell her to fuck off.

Why are you apologising and admitting to something you don't think was your fault?

Don't get into negotiations and discussions about it outside of AirBnB - you shouldn't pay anything through any method that isn't regulated and managed by the business designed to be the middleman.

I'd get in touch with the AirBnB team and send screenshots of your correspondence etc. Let them handle the dispute - they'll be very well practiced in this stuff!

How much money does host want?
Did you bring diffuser or did they put it there, who put oil in?
Do people normally wave the reeds around, is that normal part of how they are used?

Adults damage property all the time, kids are just another sort of person. Not worth feeling mortified about the damage.

Why did you ignore everyone and apologise for something you didn't do?

If I saw a stain on my floor like you describe, how would I know it was caused by a reed diffuser? Seems peculiar that they can immediately identify the cause.

We've not spilled one so can't say I know what a reed diffuser spill looks like, are they really so immediately identifiable?

This sounds ridiculous.You checked,you didn't see you children do anything - how would that work anyway? If they were racing around with the diffuser you'd have seen,if they'd knocked it over,you'd have seen,if they'd taken out a spill surely you'd have found that too?
There's no evidence that your family caused the damage ( or in fact that there is any damage ), and even if they did if the hosts were aware oil diffusers could cause that kind of damage they shouldn't have had them out in a property they were renting to a family with children.Accidents happen,that why you have insurance however inconvenient it might be to use it.

You sound really wet. Why did you apologise?!

Presumably the alleged stain would be perfumed if caused by such a spill.

If I saw marks on my floor I wouldn't automatically think a child had taken screed from the diffuser and waved it around.

I might say there were some marks on the floor, but I'd also put this down to wear and tear that will occur if you let your place as an Airbnb.

Unless the reed was lying in the floor they being ridiculous.