Cleaning fee

[Sabrina1691]

Are we allowed  to ask guests to leave the house "the same way then when they arrived (i.e.cleaning)", else an extra charge will be asked?

I see a huge difference with some guests extremely respectful, doing dishes and so and others just leave it as such...

[Shelley159]

Hi @Sabrina1691 

I think the issue is not so much what we're allowed to ask, but more how guests will likely respond (in the form of reviews and complaints). This will depend on the guest (where they're from and what they expect), what your competitors usually require, and what level of cleaning you ask for. For example, I require no cleaning, but in my area it's traditionally somewhat unusual to expect guests to clean. Many of them choose to do the dishes and leave the place generally tidy anyway. Your situation may be very different. Here's another recent discussion on the topic:

Solved: Re: No cleaning fee - what to expect? - Airbnb Community

In general, I'd say that if you require guests to clean thoroughly, you have to be aware that there's a risk some of them may not be used to it and may not like it. However, if you feel it's justified in your situation to ask them to clean, make it very clear in your listing and in your messages (so that people who are uncomfortable with it will rather not book). Everything usually works out when the listing and the guest are a good match.

[Sabrina1691]

@Shelley159 Would that be an option to say, "in case the place is not tidy as when you arrived" a cleaning fee of X amount will be charged. ?

Or propose a cleaning fee? This is very common here, both in France and in Switzerland.

I do always clean the places I rent as a guest, if I stay several days, I clean it deeply before leaving, to avoid cleaning fees 🙂 

[Shelley159]

Yes @Sabrina1691 both are options. I charge a cleaning fee on all bookings because most costs (cleaning, laundry and re-stocking) happen at guest changeovers. So it's a good way to match income and expenses while keeping nighly rates reasonable.

You can also ask a guest who left a mess to pay afterwards - you use the "send or receive money" button on the booking. If they don't agree to pay, Airbnb can get involved. I haven't done that myself, but there are many hosts here who have. The risk is, of course, that it could start friction between you and the guest.

From your original post I could tell that you would always leave a place very clean when you're the guest. That's why it surprises you when others don't! As you know there are many surprises in hosting - fortunately some of them are pleasant 😀 

[Frances3408]

@Sabrina1691. Hi Sabrina. Your place is lovely and I can see you are pitching it as a romantic get away. As @Shelley159 says guest cleaning standards on exit can vary greatly. I once had a guest at at our studio ask for the vacuum cleaner because they wanted to be able to clean up the sand each time, especially from their dog. They left the place immaculate!

I do not believe holiday makers should spend hours bringing a place back to the same clean standard they found it or they will be stressed out, resent it and likely reflect in their reviews.

I believe there is a comfortable middle ground of a few clear, simple requests, which you can explain why in your Check Out instructions. For example we ask guests in our studio listing to wash used dishes and put trash in bin outside as there is no dishwasher and it can otherwise attract pests in our rural location.  Provide some cleaning materials and the great guests will know how to use them.

I have never had to charge an excessive cleaning fee (so far): I just sort it out, mark them down if necessary and move on.

Hope this helps. 🙂