More confused than ever!! COVID

[Kerry14]

So ... Airbnb are letting guests cancel in the UK up to July 31st. Government says yesterday accommodation can reopen 4th July subject to some guidelines. 

2 households can stay over night in the same house no rules about bathrooms

etc. 

But today’s advice or “clarification of the rules” saying that accommodation could only open if have one bathroom per guest room - unless you’re a campsite which has shared bathrooms for lots of people as long as they are kept clean?!?!? 

I can host one household at my place, or 2 households or no one as I don’t have one bathroom per bedroom? 

This is like torture. I don’t qualify for government hand out and obviously not a mythical Airbnb grant - but have been threatened with an unlimited fine by the local council as a “business” due to the fact I let a key worker’s daughter self isolate for free at my place (one person - 4 bed house - do the math!!) and my neighbours reported me as having holiday makers staying! 

Wonder if they knew I’d lost my job and was living in a tent which is why I started renting to make ends meet - and now in danger of being back in a tent with no rentals - they’d have reported me or if they thought I was one of these “out of town folk” that they’re raging about online and making tourists feel unwelcome. 

Does anybody have anywhere I could find some clarity about the “rules” or “guidelines” and if it’s not the law can they actually fine me like I’ve been threatened anyway. 

[Kerry14]

@Trevor243  You clearly came here for a fight and I tried very hard not to rise to your first passive aggressive post but you continue to berate someone who came to ask for help. 

The government advice that is where I have been keeping my eyes on is the same place Helen sent me and was last updated 5th June. 

So far I haven’t been in breach and I don’t intend to start now. 

As my mother always told me; if you have nothing nice to say ... so thank you very much for your input and enjoy the rest of your day. 

[Helen350]

@Trevor243 @Kerry14  Ooops I missed the bit about it being a keyworker's DAUGHTER that Kerry hosted, not actually a keyworker! Had the guest been a keyworker it would have been OK, but Yes, everyone was supposed to shelter in place not go somewhere nicer, prettier..... Having said that, people WERE allowed  to move house.... I use the UK 'Spare Room' site for getting both lodgers in my house and tenants for my LTR & Spare Room's guidelines make it clear that changing permanent address is OK.....

Whether you charged or not is not the issue, being kind is not the issue; the issue was/still is that ONLY keyworkers in essential occupations were/are allowed to stay overnight away from their main home.  Trevor is right, the keyworker (mother) could have legitimately stayed at Kerry's, (assuming her work was in that area, & it was too far to travel back to her main residence out of area) - but not the daughter, who it appears had no reason for being there.... BUT, THE LEGISLATION SAYS THOSE NEEDING TO SELF ISOLATE BY LAW can stay in tourist accommodation.... So was your guest in this category, Kerry? In which case = OK! - All a bit grey area!

Trevor, - rest assured ALL my guests have been keyworkers during this time; those whom the government permits to stay nights away from home!- Health & Social Care!, + one nuclear safety bod making sure we' re not blown sky high/contaminated!

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-advice-for-accommodation-providers 

- If your lady was covered by the above legislation Kerry, then present this piece of gov.uk info to the Council!

[Kerry14]

@Helen350 @Trevor243  Please stop assuming that you are correct about having the lodger that I did. She moved in AFTER people were allowed to move house, on top of which she was allowed to stay to self isolate as well as for mental health issues. She is local to the area and hasn’t come down from anywhere outside. My house was empty several weeks before and she was alone. 

I had a 2hr conversation with the council who confirmed I was working within rules/laws/guidelines and I’ll take their judgment over yours. 

The ISSUE (as we’re now it seems highlight in caps) was I was reported as having a GROUP of holiday makers in because a PHONECALL was over heard. 

I haven’t done anything wrong and I plan to continue that way which is why I’m looking for UP TO DATE legislation. I’m aware of the link you have shared Helen it was last updated the 5th June. 

[Trevor243]

You're changing your story now. I'll take the official government advice (which is the law) as shown in the link that Helen posted above anything you and the council may have discussed ....

[Kerry14]

@Trevor243 I haven’t changed any story. I advised I’d already been spoken to by the council which is why I was looking for official advice. 

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Trevor243 Just to be pedantic all government advice is not law. There is far more advice on covid than there are laws.

[Helen350]

Sorry @Kerry14 , I thought I was being supportive! - Whilst musing & rambling  over the difficulties we all face in doing the right thing! 🙂

[Kerry14]

@Helen350 Thank you Helen. I only came looking for some links for help. 

The link you passed is out of date and I don’t want to have a further issue. I’ve read stories of the armed police turning up at properties “to check” people are being compliant. Would rather remain closed than put guests through that!! 

I know I haven’t done anything wrong despite what Trevor is trying to suggest. 

First post asking for help in the community and realise it’s perhaps the place to ask for opinion and not fact. 

[Helen350]

@Kerry14 I think it's genuinely a  problem of interpretation sometimes.... On one level the gov.uk advice is clear, but some issues have never been covered, up till now, eg. shared bathrooms....

The link I provided WAS up to date, in as much as things have not changed between 23 March & 4 July, so the early guidelines (law) are still current.... As was observed on another post, the details for post 4 July have not been added to the gov.uk site yet! - Takes a while!

What we Do know is:

1) Hotels/Guesthouses/B&Bs can host multiple households IF each has their own bathroom.

2) TWO households can meet up indoors - regardless of  bathroom situation.

- SO an 'entire place' property should only allow groups from 2 households. 

         a listing with the landlord on site should only allow  guests from 1 household.

We await to see if the forthcoming  gov.uk updates  spell this out crystal clearly!

- There are other posts in recent days on the same subject folks.. Try the 'search' feature top right?

[Kerry14]

@Helen350 Thank you. It’s the should that’s the problem 😆 

I’ve been reading other posts around but it seems that there isn’t any crystal clear answers at the moment. 

I’m joining a Business Regulatory webinar run by the council on Monday specifically aimed at clearing up the confusion for self contained accommodation. The one this week was more aimed at Hotels and B&B’s 

In in the mean time I’ll work through making my COVID risk assessments and continue with my cleaner to create our plan and products for keeping her and guests safe. 

Thank you very much for your input. 

[Cathie19]

Hi @Kerry14 .

I can’t help you with UK area requirements as I’m in Australia and for us, each state has separate regulations happening, as well as our overriding umbrella of federal law.

Just want to say that you putting together a risk assessment (in writing as a document) is an extremely important action and piece of mitigation. Showing your ways of reducing risk, that you action,  which may include the number of people in the home (as per law/bylaws) is so important.

Cover all areas, such as cleaning, disinfecting,  spatial distance, use of common traffic spaces and rooms, bathroom, kitchen, laundry etc to name some of the basics. Contact via check in, check out, communication etc. The PPE you will choose to wear and what extra you may supply such as extra soap, paper towels, disinfectant spray bottles etc for spot clean ups to the guests. 

We all need to be doing one, even though we are all governed by separate laws in our countries and state or local county/ council by laws.

If we as hosts  can’t mitigate the risks and they stay high, then we shouldn’t be currently open on Airbnb or other STR platforms.

However, as so many hosts are making specific changes to maintain high levels of safety to improve well-being and drastically reduce Covid19 risk, we are showing that we are a sector that deserves recognition. Those who aren’t doing either, should be outed at this time for complacency and lack of due diligence.

Yes, we do need to follow the laws and regulations or codes of practise that are either being covered by standard commercial requirements, or Covid19 emergency health acts. 

So nice to see that you care for doing the right thing, by reaching out to other hosts in the CC. But make sure that risk management plan includes keeping yourself safe.  💐

[Kerry14]

@Cathie19  Thank you so much for your support. 

Its really appreciated. I’m hoping tomorrow with the seminar put on by the Council everything will becomes clear. 

I spent some time and money over lock down upgrading some of my decoration (2 weeks of intense painting was exhausting 🤣) - currently planning where to try and store all my new soft furnishings to reduce risks. 

I’m going to ask my guests if travelling in by car to perhaps bring their own pillows if concerned all though have got enough to swap out and quarantine In between stays. 

We only really get one shot at this so being careful and diligent means we should hopefully make up for lost start of season with a longer late season ... if everything gets shut down again due to increased cases and we weren’t doing everything we could to prevent and educate guests then we haven’t been doing our duty - protecting our community and guests. 

Thank you again

[Malcolm153]

What follows is a series of messages to the Specialist Airbnb Support  that I commenced sending on Tuesday 23rd June and have repeated every day since......with no reply at all from the official Airbnb Specialist Support, which is a total "SCAM" just to make the boys at the top look good to the outside world as they want to float the company and become "MILLIONAIRES" !!! So my advice to all hosts is don't expect to get any sensible assistance  from any aspect of AIRBNB. !

Here goes and judge for yourself.

Messages 1 and 2.

Airbnb prematurely and incorrectly cancelled my booking refrence "HMM328TJN8" notifying me it was due to the UK Covid 19 situation. The booking was not until the 9th July and the UK Government lifted a number of the restictions yesterday thas means Airbnb properties like mine can honour advance bookings for guests to stay from the 4th July and take new bookings for guests to commence staying from this date.
Airbnb were hasty, premature and incorrectly cancelled my booking due to start on the 9th July, you should have either waited until the guests arrival date had passed and was not able to occur due to the Government restrictions or waited until the legal Government position was further clarified nearer the date as it is under constant review by them.This is a major mistake made by Airbnb and its staff acting prematurely and incorrectly.

I wish to make a formal complaint about the premature and incorrect cancellation of my booking refrence "HMM328TJN8" by Airbnb. valued at £3.909.98 being the payment to me from you.
I require a full payment of this sum on the date that I would have expected to receive it , if the booking had gone ahead. This is a major mistake made by Airbnb and its staff acting prematurely and incorrectly.
If you do not accept that you made a mistake and do pay me what is rightfully due to me, then I will need to consider my legal course of action as well as announcing what you have done and how I have been treated on social media. I certainly hope that you take the responsible course of action and learn from this for the future. There is an old saying you would do well to remember..." Act in haste then you repent in laisure " !
Malcolm Chamberlain ( Superhost)

[Malcolm153]

What follows is a series of messages to the Specialist Airbnb Support  that I commenced sending on Tuesday 23rd June and have repeated every day since......with no reply at all from the official Airbnb Specialist Support, which is a total "SCAM" just to make the boys at the top look good to the outside world as they want to float the company and become "MILLIONAIRES" !!! So my advice to all hosts is don't expect to get any sensible assistance  from any aspect of AIRBNB. !

Here goes and judge for yourself.

Messages 1 and 2.

Airbnb prematurely and incorrectly cancelled my booking refrence "HMM328TJN8" notifying me it was due to the UK Covid 19 situation. The booking was not until the 9th July and the UK Government lifted a number of the restictions yesterday thas means Airbnb properties like mine can honour advance bookings for guests to stay from the 4th July and take new bookings for guests to commence staying from this date.
Airbnb were hasty, premature and incorrectly cancelled my booking due to start on the 9th July, you should have either waited until the guests arrival date had passed and was not able to occur due to the Government restrictions or waited until the legal Government position was further clarified nearer the date as it is under constant review by them.This is a major mistake made by Airbnb and its staff acting prematurely and incorrectly.

I wish to make a formal complaint about the premature and incorrect cancellation of my booking refrence "HMM328TJN8" by Airbnb. valued at £3.909.98 being the payment to me from you.
I require a full payment of this sum on the date that I would have expected to receive it , if the booking had gone ahead. This is a major mistake made by Airbnb and its staff acting prematurely and incorrectly.
If you do not accept that you made a mistake and do pay me what is rightfully due to me, then I will need to consider my legal course of action as well as announcing what you have done and how I have been treated on social media. I certainly hope that you take the responsible course of action and learn from this for the future. There is an old saying you would do well to remember..." Act in haste then you repent in laisure " !
Malcolm Chamberlain ( Superhost)

[Helen427]

@Kerry14 @Malcolm153 @Trevor243 @Helen350 @Mike-And-Jane0 

The person / people responsible for these world wide fiascos is fair and square within Professor Neil "Lockdown" and teams as they are ultimately responsible for relying on and " rubber stamping / plagiarism" information from Chinese Scientists where what has been officially called Covid 19 that Governments and others across the world have relied on.

 It's a known fact the pandemic plans and somehow "modelling" was somehow compared with the Influenza Epidemic from 1918-1919 situation which is beyond belief.

[Stephanie]

Hiya @Kerry14 and all UK hosts,

Thank you for raising your concerns around the government working and what that means for getting back into hosting. I'm feeding all your comments back to the appropriate team so we can ensure we are being as clear as possible when hosting returns this week. All UK hosts should be expecting an email about the resume dependant one which country they are in (Wales unlocking early for example) based on the resumption of hospitality here in Britain.

Thanks

(good to see you again @Trevor243 !)