I am now already in a +10 day discussion with Airbnb on an i...
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I am now already in a +10 day discussion with Airbnb on an issue of blocked days that are being switched to 'active' in the c...
Latest reply
Hello,
I am just wondering what the rules are for tenants entering the premises when you are not there. I had accidently left the AC and a screen door open when I ran to the grocery store and during that time the renter must have drove back and looked in and saw. They shut the door, turned the AC off and then left us a message asking us not to do that again. I completely understand that I made a mistake however, I am extremely uncomfortable that they entered without me knowing and all my things there, and I have now seen them drive by for the second time. I do not want to stay here and would love some advice on how I can go about this situation.
@Amanda1069, I am a little confused by your post but I am guessing that you are the guest and the host came over to shut the door and turn off the AC while you were at the grocery store? I don't necessarily think that it is a matter of invading your privacy. This host could likely have your personal safety in mind and closed the door as to not "invite" anyone else from walking right in. Was the screen door locked? As a host, three times now I have walked passed the apartment that I rent (I live across the street) and the front door has been left wide open. Of course I am going to shut it! I wouldn't shut off an AC but if I noticed anything suspicious going on I would enter and check things out. I mean, who leaves a door wide open?! As a host, I have the safety of my guests AND the safety of my place constantly in mind. Not that this is any excuse, but you would not want to stay at a hotel anymore if you went down to breakfast and came back to find the maid in your room? I think the best course of action here is to communicate with your host. Ask them what they expect of you and let them know what you expect of them.
@Amanda1069 ... I am a host, and I have also been a guest several times with Airbnb. I am going to make this short:
As a host: No I do not think it is right for a host to enter a unit you have rented for the reason of turning off an AC. The only reason I would enter without my guests present and without asking first, would be for an emergency.
As a guest: I would also be bothered that the host went into the unit without notifying me first.
@Amanda1069 Hosts are divided on this issue. There are some who feel entitled to enter and turn off lights, turn down AC or heat, etc, because if guests leave them on when they're not home, some really unattentive and disrespectful guests can actually run up a utility bill that's higher than the profit the host is making on the booking. Not to mention that we all need to be mindful of unnecessary waste of resources because of the environmental impact. And if a host sees the front door left open, with no one there, of course that's a huge security issue, for both host and guests.
But generally speaking, guests are entitled to feel that the space they booked will be private for the course of their stay (unless the host has made it clear in the listing that they go in once a week to clean and change bedding, for instance, or there's a emergency situation, like flooding or a fire), regardless of whether it's a private room in the host's home or an entire place. I never go in my guests' private room unless they ask me to for some reason, but once I went in when the windows were left open and it started to rain hard. I texted the guest to let her know I was going to do that.
In the situation you experienced, I think @Emilia42's suggestion is good- message the host and apologize for leaving the door open and the AC on, explain that you had just stepped out for a quick shop, that you'll be mindful in the future, and let them know that them coming in when you weren't there made you uncomfortable. Good, polite, honest communication between hosts and guests can solve a lot of issues without them turning into some major source of contention.
You can rest assured that the majority of hosts, even if they feel the need to go in for some reason, will just take care of business, they aren't interested in snooping through your stuff or anything like that. But I do well understand that it can feel like a violation.