Airbnb and building work
Discussion
So after a first minor faux paux getting an electric hire car (which isn't too bad tbh) we got unti a flat over lunchtime which is lovely, then went out for lunch came back and the block of flats appeared to be a building site around us. (with builders back after lunch!)
This is next door
I have spoken to the agency that run it and will be talking in the morning.
Absolutely none of this was on the advert, the price has remained the same on other dates and when first contacting the agency they said they wasn't aware.
I'm in two or three minds all with aggro.
1. Pack up and move with a refund tomorrow
2. Ask for a discount for the inconvenience and stomach it, the place will be lovely in the evenings and on the weekend
Has anyone else had this as its a first for me with using airbnb and other platforms that's for sure
This is next door
I have spoken to the agency that run it and will be talking in the morning.
Absolutely none of this was on the advert, the price has remained the same on other dates and when first contacting the agency they said they wasn't aware.
I'm in two or three minds all with aggro.
1. Pack up and move with a refund tomorrow
2. Ask for a discount for the inconvenience and stomach it, the place will be lovely in the evenings and on the weekend
Has anyone else had this as its a first for me with using airbnb and other platforms that's for sure
I thought I’d write up about this as nobody seemed to reply.
We turned up to a lovely apartment in Cannes for the week in a residential block, everything inside was exactly what we needed, marble throughout, bathrooms were of boutique hotel quality, I could go on. Outside had a gorgeous garden area and pool etc.
We went out for a bite to eat and got back with anything industrial tearing down a place upstairs, I thought they’d drill through at one point, then next door started going, a look over the balcony and this wasn’t good, it was a building site.
I reported the issue mid afternoon and they said they knew nothing about it so would enquire with the janitor.
This was going to waft into day 2 so we thought optimistically it might end the next day.
We are early risers (3 year old) so got out on the road early for a morning out, which in hindsight we shouldn’t had. After lunch we got back and the work was yet again full on.
With the day before being so long I noticed a notice but didn’t bother to check it, this confirmed work had in fact been going on for weeks before!
The “Owner” who were in fact a local property agency said they would move us to an alternative…..all looked nice we thought, except it bordered the train line! AND was about 400 Euros shorter on cost to the one we’d booked…..when I politely mentioned this and asked how they would sort the difference this went in circles as I wasn’t pay less for more etc….they seemed to think the AirBnB rates inflated the original property (Yeh ok)….
Put the phone down and got hold of AirBnB, who tbh were actually really good, the phone call was on a web call and the agent bless them did the phone call in the property.
They went back and said they can do refunds as the host had airbnb cover for indemnity….this meant as we’d stayed in the place for a night we’d get 30% back for that night and then refunds that were shorter than what I’d paid, however they met the gap with a coupon to reuse on another rental, so it meant being about 40 odd quid short.
It was then by the time this had happened 4pm, another holiday day ruined tbh.
This was the next calamity (When it was pissing down with rain), We found another one locally as I’d had an original list…..with of course how airbnb works contacting the Owner isn’t instant but it wasn’t booked and we decided to just drive down to antibes…..get a message on the way, we can’t do until tomorrow as we don’t have the linen and place ready *yet it was available)….found another on in the Antibes area….“It’s got scaffolding around the property is this going to be an issue” LOL…..another one found…..”won’t be ready until tomorrow. It wasn’t going well and this was now knocking on 5!
With luck we found something, which was of good enough quality yet cheaper, perfect, the guy tbh was at the property within 20 mins and we just couldn’t had asked for more, with the only problem being the pool…..UNDER RENOVATION…at this point we’d just had enough, the whole property was brand spanking new and my gut said just stay on with it.
Work wise they were doing minor amounts of work, it was 5 floors down and ended up being ok in the end, but was just a shame we couldn’t use the pool.
The big issue with this was none of these owners advertised any of the works going on in any of these properties. Airbnb need to seriously start sorting this out as it’s not on and isn’t regulated like hotels would be. Also something I will be very careful about in future and have as a question.
We turned up to a lovely apartment in Cannes for the week in a residential block, everything inside was exactly what we needed, marble throughout, bathrooms were of boutique hotel quality, I could go on. Outside had a gorgeous garden area and pool etc.
We went out for a bite to eat and got back with anything industrial tearing down a place upstairs, I thought they’d drill through at one point, then next door started going, a look over the balcony and this wasn’t good, it was a building site.
I reported the issue mid afternoon and they said they knew nothing about it so would enquire with the janitor.
This was going to waft into day 2 so we thought optimistically it might end the next day.
We are early risers (3 year old) so got out on the road early for a morning out, which in hindsight we shouldn’t had. After lunch we got back and the work was yet again full on.
With the day before being so long I noticed a notice but didn’t bother to check it, this confirmed work had in fact been going on for weeks before!
The “Owner” who were in fact a local property agency said they would move us to an alternative…..all looked nice we thought, except it bordered the train line! AND was about 400 Euros shorter on cost to the one we’d booked…..when I politely mentioned this and asked how they would sort the difference this went in circles as I wasn’t pay less for more etc….they seemed to think the AirBnB rates inflated the original property (Yeh ok)….
Put the phone down and got hold of AirBnB, who tbh were actually really good, the phone call was on a web call and the agent bless them did the phone call in the property.
They went back and said they can do refunds as the host had airbnb cover for indemnity….this meant as we’d stayed in the place for a night we’d get 30% back for that night and then refunds that were shorter than what I’d paid, however they met the gap with a coupon to reuse on another rental, so it meant being about 40 odd quid short.
It was then by the time this had happened 4pm, another holiday day ruined tbh.
This was the next calamity (When it was pissing down with rain), We found another one locally as I’d had an original list…..with of course how airbnb works contacting the Owner isn’t instant but it wasn’t booked and we decided to just drive down to antibes…..get a message on the way, we can’t do until tomorrow as we don’t have the linen and place ready *yet it was available)….found another on in the Antibes area….“It’s got scaffolding around the property is this going to be an issue” LOL…..another one found…..”won’t be ready until tomorrow. It wasn’t going well and this was now knocking on 5!
With luck we found something, which was of good enough quality yet cheaper, perfect, the guy tbh was at the property within 20 mins and we just couldn’t had asked for more, with the only problem being the pool…..UNDER RENOVATION…at this point we’d just had enough, the whole property was brand spanking new and my gut said just stay on with it.
Work wise they were doing minor amounts of work, it was 5 floors down and ended up being ok in the end, but was just a shame we couldn’t use the pool.
The big issue with this was none of these owners advertised any of the works going on in any of these properties. Airbnb need to seriously start sorting this out as it’s not on and isn’t regulated like hotels would be. Also something I will be very careful about in future and have as a question.
redrabbit29 said:
I've done endless searching on Air BnB and trust it less and less the more I look. I've heard a lot of negatives with people saying that over the years it's degraded in quality and reliability.
It doesn't sound like you had a good or relaxing experience!
Thanks for sharing
We use Air BnB around the UK up to a dozen times each summer but we have a golden rule: never more than two nights. I also always take ear plugs, just in case.It doesn't sound like you had a good or relaxing experience!
Thanks for sharing
I've used AirBNB and VRBO for years, never had an issue like this.
I thought I'd post about how good Airbnb actually were.
If the host had no "insurance" I guess it would had been a different potential story. I'd had argued the toss anyway with it and just dealt with the fallout when I got home, but didn't need to on this occasion.
I thought I'd post about how good Airbnb actually were.
If the host had no "insurance" I guess it would had been a different potential story. I'd had argued the toss anyway with it and just dealt with the fallout when I got home, but didn't need to on this occasion.
I've had 13 previous Air BnB stays (just looked on my account and counted them!) since 2019 and fortunately never had a bad one.
All in the UK, mind you. I'm currently trying to plan a little Euro tour for the summer, probably using 2 or 3 Air BnBs and it's certainly giving me a bit of anxiety. Dealing with issues like above would be bearable in a place where you know the language and know home is not far away...however, getting halfway across Europe and then having this stress would be another thing for me.
All in the UK, mind you. I'm currently trying to plan a little Euro tour for the summer, probably using 2 or 3 Air BnBs and it's certainly giving me a bit of anxiety. Dealing with issues like above would be bearable in a place where you know the language and know home is not far away...however, getting halfway across Europe and then having this stress would be another thing for me.
There was a Holiday Watchdog-type programme some years ago in which repeated reports of building work at a particular Spanish hotel resulted in the programme sending a reporter to interview guests staying at the hotel that week. The one that stuck in the mind was an extended family in which the reporter asked the mother, "Has the building work next door ruined your holiday?"
Her reply, "Oh no, not at all. My husband and the boys are builders back home, and they're having a great time watching how they do things here."
Her reply, "Oh no, not at all. My husband and the boys are builders back home, and they're having a great time watching how they do things here."
Edited by GliderRider on Friday 26th April 15:16
Edited by GliderRider on Friday 26th April 16:52
I have been using AirBnB 10+ years. We have stayed at probably 30+ as we tend to stay in 2-3 places on each holiday.
We have had 2 issues of note. 1) we stayed in the same place twice in one year. Once before Summer and once after. Our first stay was perfect. The place was huge and had a pool. It was so good that we booked it 6 months later. unfortunately, it had been empty over Summer and on our return we had cockroaches. We were relocated to a brand new property but It ruined the holiday.
The second happened a few weeks ago. I live in the US and landed in Ireland to drive to Belfast with the family. About an hour outside of Belfast we received a message saying the apartment we booked had an issue and we were being moved to an equivalent. The equivalent was miles out of town and was a 2 bed terrace house not a 4 bed apartment. I pointed out a like for like apartment that was available in the building next door. I was told it was too expensive. My response, it wasn't at the time I booked. It was the same price. Do the right thing. They hung up and then refused to refund my money for a week. We ended up booking 2 rooms in a hotel next door.
Airbnb used to be our only source of accommodation. We have stayed in some crazy places that have really enhanced the experience. We had a massive apartment just off Champs-Élysées. We had a place next to Buckingham palace and a mews house in Nottinghill.
But, with the additional services charges getting very high and being messed about by owners, it has meant we look elsewhere now. I try to rent direct with the owner if possible.
We have had 2 issues of note. 1) we stayed in the same place twice in one year. Once before Summer and once after. Our first stay was perfect. The place was huge and had a pool. It was so good that we booked it 6 months later. unfortunately, it had been empty over Summer and on our return we had cockroaches. We were relocated to a brand new property but It ruined the holiday.
The second happened a few weeks ago. I live in the US and landed in Ireland to drive to Belfast with the family. About an hour outside of Belfast we received a message saying the apartment we booked had an issue and we were being moved to an equivalent. The equivalent was miles out of town and was a 2 bed terrace house not a 4 bed apartment. I pointed out a like for like apartment that was available in the building next door. I was told it was too expensive. My response, it wasn't at the time I booked. It was the same price. Do the right thing. They hung up and then refused to refund my money for a week. We ended up booking 2 rooms in a hotel next door.
Airbnb used to be our only source of accommodation. We have stayed in some crazy places that have really enhanced the experience. We had a massive apartment just off Champs-Élysées. We had a place next to Buckingham palace and a mews house in Nottinghill.
But, with the additional services charges getting very high and being messed about by owners, it has meant we look elsewhere now. I try to rent direct with the owner if possible.
Agree that AirBNB is running into a spot of problem now, the bubbles bursting a bit. VRBO is the only other one but they are just as bad, I had an issue with a rental last year regarding the owner wanting cash deposit, we sorted it in the end as it was just a cultural/age thing with the owner.
I wouldn't worry about the language issue if things go wrong, AirbNb phone/voip support was brilliant.
I wouldn't worry about the language issue if things go wrong, AirbNb phone/voip support was brilliant.
I've just sold a small apartment on the Algarve.
We used it Feb/March and Sept/Oct into November. It was in a condomenium building of about 35 units over three levels. Construction was re enforced concrete and the building was built in 1984. Every time someone, somewhere in the building used a hammer or a drill, everyone heard it.
Building management banned all except emergency building work in June, July and August, leaving the rest of the year for renovation and maintainance work.
Rest of the year work was restricted to 9am to 5pm and Monday to Friday.
I regularly had to explain this policy to visitors who were renting at the times that I was using my place.
OP, the works have to be done at some point, I feel that you were perhaps a bit unlucky in your choice of holiday period.
We used it Feb/March and Sept/Oct into November. It was in a condomenium building of about 35 units over three levels. Construction was re enforced concrete and the building was built in 1984. Every time someone, somewhere in the building used a hammer or a drill, everyone heard it.
Building management banned all except emergency building work in June, July and August, leaving the rest of the year for renovation and maintainance work.
Rest of the year work was restricted to 9am to 5pm and Monday to Friday.
I regularly had to explain this policy to visitors who were renting at the times that I was using my place.
OP, the works have to be done at some point, I feel that you were perhaps a bit unlucky in your choice of holiday period.
ferret50 said:
I've just sold a small apartment on the Algarve.
We used it Feb/March and Sept/Oct into November. It was in a condomenium building of about 35 units over three levels. Construction was re enforced concrete and the building was built in 1984. Every time someone, somewhere in the building used a hammer or a drill, everyone heard it.
Building management banned all except emergency building work in June, July and August, leaving the rest of the year for renovation and maintainance work.
Rest of the year work was restricted to 9am to 5pm and Monday to Friday.
I regularly had to explain this policy to visitors who were renting at the times that I was using my place.
OP, the works have to be done at some point, I feel that you were perhaps a bit unlucky in your choice of holiday period.
Yes agreed that the works have to happen so as you did I'd had expected them to advertise this and I think work is probably not done as said in peak summer season.We used it Feb/March and Sept/Oct into November. It was in a condomenium building of about 35 units over three levels. Construction was re enforced concrete and the building was built in 1984. Every time someone, somewhere in the building used a hammer or a drill, everyone heard it.
Building management banned all except emergency building work in June, July and August, leaving the rest of the year for renovation and maintainance work.
Rest of the year work was restricted to 9am to 5pm and Monday to Friday.
I regularly had to explain this policy to visitors who were renting at the times that I was using my place.
OP, the works have to be done at some point, I feel that you were perhaps a bit unlucky in your choice of holiday period.
When you make a booking the host can tell you this easily enough. I had one do this when I had to rebook so it was a flat "non"....
Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff