Guests not leaving their room for duration of stay !

[Jane2691]

I have a young guest who arrived last Thursday 16th for 10 days , who had said he was going to University here and starting today Monday 20th , so was not to bothered that he stayed in all weekend, although he had said it is his first time to Europe and loves walking and exploring .... So completely taken back when he left this morning (Monday 20th)  at 10.00 am and back by 11.15 am,  I was actually cleaning his room which was a mess , he had left heater on and all lights , the room was so hot that I think he has kept heating on since his arrival on full blast  since Thursday !.  I asked why he was back so early and he said he did not have to worry about UNI now till Friday or next week, which I am slightly concerned about as he has only booked until check out on Sunday and had already told me that he plans to stay 5 months and would need to hopefully find shared accommodation with other students ... but if he is not leaving the room how on earth will he be doing that .

Over the weekend I could see he had NO food so have been taking few meals in which he very grateful for,  and told him where nearest supermarket is , which you can walk to 15 minutes. The weather by way is lovely this week , ideal for walkers !!  so no excuse that pouring rain !   

I spoke with him and said he should go look round town center either catch bus which is 10 minutes journey or walk 30 minutes  but to no avail .. and once again he has everything on in room .. I always ask guests what their purpose is for visit as this is exactly what I do not want , where they are in 24hrs  - Should I be concerned or am I over reacting this early in the stay. 

[Anonymous]

@Jane2691  I wouldn't regard the guest's choice to stay in his room all day as a problem in and of itself (though you might consider adding guidelines on heating usage in the future).

Is the guest were behaving in disruptive or dangerous ways? Is he violating any of your House Rules? Are unregistered visitors showing up without your permission?  Do you have any reason to believe the room is being damaged by the guest's persistent presence in it?  If the answer to any of these is yes,  you'd have a case and might need to terminate the booking. Otherwise, it sounds like he's either feeling physically unwell or emotionally withdrawn. 

[Jane2691]

Hi Andrew

Many thanks for advise. 

Yes good idea about adding guideline on heating. 

He as you say could be feeling emotionally withdrawn .

I have just asked him if he feels unwell and he said no fine, just tired. 

Once again the room is like a sauna !  

He certainly is very quite . 

I will just have to wait and see what rest of week brings !  

Thanks again 

Jane

[Helen3]

Hello @Jane2691 

Doesn't sound like he is going to university. It would seem strange that a student who started in the autumn doesn't have a place to go back to this term.

Please don't continue to feed him. He is not your responsibility. If he is hungry he will go out and get something. By feeding him he has no reason to get out and about !

You have given him the information he needs. Post Sunday he is not your responsibility.

Do leave an honest review to flag with other hosts.

Do follow up on Airbnb to remind him of house rules you have around keeping the place clean and around using the heater.

Personally I wouldn't go into a guests room during their stay (they have a right to privacy) unless it is part of an agreed weekly clean/linen turnover or in an emergency with their permission.

[Jane2691]

Hi Helen

Many thanks for advise .

I always check the room , as quite often they leave lights and heating on especially the younger ones , I have also had girls leave straighteners on ... and as it is my home I feel have every right to do so , plus I like put hoover round . If you stayed in hotel you would get cleaner in daily. 

Your right about feeding him ... but you end up feeling a little bit sorry for them !!   Thanks again Jane

[Anonymous]

@Jane2691 There have been reports of hosts having their listings suspended because guests complained to Airbnb about hosts entering their private rented space without informing them. There's no policy saying you can't do the checkups, but I suggest that you make it clear on your listing and perhaps post a set time so there aren't any awkward surprises 

[Helen3]

I host in a similar situation to you @Jane2691 but wouldn't go into a guests room apart from during the weekly cleans as it feels like an invasion of privacy

Airbnbs are not hotels.

Hotels include daily cleaning in their rates so guests know when they book that staff will be in their room to clean. If guests don't want this they can opt out.

With Airbnb there is an expectation of privacy, unless a host needs to go into the room because of an emergency or at a pre-agreed time.

If you are going into a guests room daily then I would make sure you put this in your listing and house rules, as most guests would not expect a host to do this

[Mark116]

@Jane2691  You will want to be careful about going into guests rooms unless you are clear in writing that you will enter the room for XX reasons, turn off lights, tidy up every Y days, or you will eventually get someone who will complain and airbnb will not support you.

I generally find guests who stay in the unit all day to be somewhat annoying, and feel as you do, that why did you come here to stay inside the flat all day and night, but that is really not your issue, and I agree w/@Helen3 that he's not your responsibility.  Good luck.

[Eva315]

Im in the same situation with a long term guest.

She wrote she was going to work and follow a ”online formation”. Do anyone knows what that is? Now I understand she is working from home and Im not happy with that because I write the room is for vacation purpose.

She is very young and only goes out for smoking or groceries, rest time in the house.

She never takes out garbage (she eats a lot) or flush the toilet.

I feel she is avoiding me even though Im very nice and respectful.

Because of this I feel negative energy in my house. 

[Jane2691]

Hi 

I do feel for you .

I think you should just possibly be honest with her and explain it is not working for you and agree a leave by date, or ask her to find alternative accommodation and you will work with her on dates, so that she is not without a place .  

[Sarah977]

@Eva315  You can't necessarily expect guests to do things like take out the garbage. When you home-share, you need to give yur guests clear expectations of what their fair share of chores are around the house, especially for a long-term guest. Tell her to take out the garbage every other day, if that's what you want and tell her she needs to flush the toilet. 

That said, if you don't feel comfortable with her in your home, as Jane advised, let her know that someone who never goes out isn't the type of hosting you do, and that she needs to find alternate accomodation.

But I don't understand you saying that you only want to host those who come on vacation- why accept a long-term reservation, then? Obviously someone who makes a long-term reservation isn't just on vacation. I have my maximum booking length at 2 weeks. You might consider doing something similar.