Use of the kitchen

[Loyda0]

Hello, I hope someone can help me making a decision.  My current guests aske me to use my kitchen. My house reservation only include the Bedroom and the bathroom. Guests are not allow to use the kitcken because in my aprtment the common spaces are really small, my kitchen specially is an open space in my living room which is my personal space. Its stablished in my "house rules" and in My house guide which aparently guests never read before booking. Since they were not allow to use the kitchen my guests brought a electrical pot and are cooking rice and other stuff inside the bedroom, I finds out because of the smell. I send them this message "Hello Ying, Im sorry for the delay respond. My husband is currently home, so if you need anything just let him know. About your request to use the kitchen, unfortunately your reservation only included the Bedroom and the bathroom, we don't allow the use of the kitchen because in the past we have very bad experience with people leaving big mess and lots of garbage. The only thing we allow is to boil water in the tea pot, the use of the microwave and since there is NO absolutely eating inside the bedroom (please read my house rules) our guests can use our dinning table but they have to clean after. Also, the little refrigerator inside the bedroom, is convenient located there for our guest to have refreshments, milk, and fruits. Absolutely no food, we have experienced in the past people bringing cook food and when they leave we ended expending lots of money in exterminators to get rid of bugs and roaches. Not a pleasant experience at all.  Fortunately, New York is a city in which you can find all type of food at a diverse prices. If you walk around my neighborhood you will find tons of different and affordable places to eat out. Also,my house guide offer lots of tips on how to find affordable and good selection of places around  harlem, and Hamilton Highs. I hope this is not an inconvenient to you, since our priority is for our guest to have a great time in the city and to provide them with an impecable clean place, and quality help".  I am very scare of that pot causing a fire, or any wall or furniture damage, or either major damage since they are eating on the bed. My question to you guys is , should I ask them to leave? should I contact Airbnb help desk? they are checking out on Tuesday But I dont feel confortable and safe having them here anymore. Please help me decide! 

[Gerry-And-Rashid0]

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A few thiings first of all: you know that people do not read all of a lengthy description. In addtion, leaving a refridgerator in a bedroom is just an invitation for people to bring in food.

These guests are not breaking your rules maliciously I think - and I have no idea what you mean when you say you don;t feel safe hanving them in your home.

Rather than emailing people it would have been far better when asked about using the kitchen to declinie, and also mention no food in the bedroom, but there are lots of great value places to eat which you can recommend.

Unfortunatly your approach to the issues means it risks becoming a flashpoint and there is a danger of a poor review. Most issues like thiis can be sorted if handled upfront, adult to adult.

Personally, on this occasion I would let it be - as I think half the problem is how you are dealing with their request, plus the in-bedroom facility you provide.

Good luck and I am sure a tweak of your house rules, plus that important face to face chat about food and drink in the house will work wonders going forward with other guests.

[Lina53 · Accepted solution]

@Loyda0  Most people get what you mean in your House Rules.  But the inconsiderate, disrespectful types who want to spend as little as possible always find ways to get around things. 

Do you really think they do not know that its not appropriate to bring a rice cook to use in a bedroom when your listing does not offer a kitchen?  

My suggestion is to make your house rules more clear and to avoid sending lengthy roundabout emails.  

something like ... "Hi ___, I do not feel comfortable with you cooking in the bedroom.  Kitchen use is not a service that my listing provides.  It is not appropriate for you to cook in the bedroom.  This is a shared apartment with a small common space so food smells travel.  You either stop cooking or I will cancel your reservation."

I'd just cancel and use this a learning experience.  

[Lina53]

@Loyda0  Airbnb allows hosts to cancel at any time if they feel uncomfortable with a reservation. If you cancel your calendar will be blocked and you will not be paid for the days the guests do not stay.  This is a small price to pay I think.  

Your rules do not specifically say no cooking in the bedroom but this may fall under common sense.  I've never heard of bringing a rice cooker and cooking in a bedroom just because guests do not have access to the kitchen... they are using the room like a studio apt. Really tacky. 

Call Airbnb.  

[Ange2]

@Loyda0  I would just tell them face to face they cannot cook in their room.  I prefer in person interactions for sorting problems, seems to get more positive results.  I have had a guest or two like that, even though I do allow kitchen usage! They didn't understand english, hence the disconnect.  It is actually fairly commonplace in some areas around the world for guests to do this.  Anyway, I asked them not to cook or store food in their room,  I let them stay, they abided by the rule, no bad feelings, all ended fine.

[Jessica-and-Henry0]

@Loyda0

I think the other hosts made a lot of great suggestions. I would also like to add that it seems your guests are Asian (guessing based on the "rice cooking" part) and if they are not fluent in English, they will definitely NOT read your very long message. You will need to be very direct and use short sentences 🙂 Good luck~! 

[Kati18]

This won't necessarily help you in this situation but maybe in the future.  When I accept a reservation I always add a little note that reiterates some of the more important house rules, one of which is that there is no use of the kitchen.  It brings it to their attention and most people respond that it's not a problem.  I learned the hard way the first time with a younger woman who was a student, she would take food into her room and eat, even after I would hint that she could eat out in the kitchen.  I quickly added to my house rules that there was no eating in the bedroom, aside from the few snacks that I provide.

I'm not sure if you are there when they check in but this is also a good time to remind them.  I always point out that they have access to the breakfast bar and room in the fridge but everything else if off limits.

Some people aren't going to listen and push the limits.  These are the ones that show you things that you may not have thought about right off the bat.  But it's a learning experience.

Hopefully that helps a little bit for future guests.

[Linda476]

Some people just want more than is listed. I've had two people set up coffee makers in their room, one directly on the blond carpet. There is no way around other than to tell them they cannot. They have full kitchen use at my place too. We all need to be honest in our reviews...they have power to hold people accountable if we set that expectation as a community. 

[Olga464]

I charge 50 bucks per each stain. And 1000 for the sofa textile change. I push on guests from the very beginning with the fact that a lot of police is living in the house. And I make guests to sign long paper with all financial penalties. They are affraid to breath inside my apartment and always leave the best reviews. I am still wondering what's the problem to treat guests like gestapo. People love being controlled. It gives them strict limits. I do not know for you, guys, but I described each single step inside my house on a paper in a first column. And near, in a second column infront -  financial penalty for the wrong steps to make. I never even hear my clients anymore. Sitting silent as dead. Moral pressure and money penalties, plus real papers signed upon the arrival are working the best.

[Jennifer3374]

This is gold