Who empties the kitchen garbage if the host lives there too?

[Barry197]

I'm a guest in an AirBnB in Toronto with a shared kitchen. The host's mother lives there too and so does a second guest. We all use the kitchen, and the garbage is overflowing. I already emptied it once. I always clean up after myself and leave the kitchen tidy but I don't feel it's my responsibility to empty the garbage every time, especially since the host's mother uses the garbage too. Unfortunately communication with her is impossible since we don't speak the same language. I want to message the host about it but I thought I'd get some outside opinions first.

Who should empty the garbage? I feel like it's the hosts' mother's responsibility, at least some of the time.

Thanks,

Barry

[Emiel1]

@Barry197 

IMO the host should take care of it.

[Barry197]

Thanks Emiel.

[Kenneth12]

What do the House Rules say?

In the absence of House Rules which clarify the responsibility,   I generally consider it the host's responsibility to deal with trash,  but do not assume so.    In the circumstances you mention,  unless I'm really time pressed,  I'd just take out the garbage and then (given another guest who seems not to be taking out the trash) message the host.   I would never assume a host's mother has any responsibilities;  quite the opposite.

I understand some men have a problem with all the above,  of course :).   

[Barry197]

House rules are unclear and I have no problem emptying the trash even though I'm a man! 🙂

Also IMO his mother should at least have the same responsibilities as another guest since she uses the garbage too.

Thanks for your reply!

[Sarah977]

@Barry197  Basically I feel it's the host's responsibility. I only host one guest at a time and they share my kitchen with me, but I have certainly never expected the guest to empty the garbage- it's my kitchen and I'd have to do it whether I had a guest or not. As the host doesn't live there, and there is another guest, as well as the mother, it seems like a task that should be shared equally. (Of course if the mother is old and frail, she may not be capable of that).

I would message the host to explain that just because you seem to have a lower tolerance for an overflowing garbage can than his other guest and his mom, that you feel you are doing more than you signed up for when you booked, and ask if he could either let the other guest know he has to take turns with that, in a timely fashion, or come over once a day (or however long it takes to build up to full) to attend to it himself.

[Barry197]

Thanks, Sarah!