Host responsibility for damages to guest property

[HomeGrown-HideAways0]

Guidance needed....

We had some guests that were here for 5 nights. On their last night, they asked if they could sleep in and check out after the 11am check-out time. We agreed, but didn't specify an exact time for them to be out (we'll take the blame for that miscommunication). At 10 am, my husband started mowing. According to our cameras, they decided to hike our property around 1130 and didn't end up leaving until around 2pm. In the meantime, they left their tent in our field. My husband tried to find them, but they had already headed up the mountain. He opted to mow around the tent, by the string of their rainfly was hidden in the grass and got chopped up. We agreed to replace the rainfly (no good deed goes unpunished).

They're now telling us that the manufacturer doesn't sell just the rainfly and that we need to buy them a whole new tent. They sent a receipt for $171.70. I found the exact same tent for $118 and told them that we would refund the entire amount their stay ($82) to put towards the new tent purchase of the cheaper tent (70% of the cost). They are insisting that we need to cover the full replacement cost.

What do you all think? Should we be responsible for the full cost of replacement even though we didn't damage their tent at all? Or are we being fair in offering a full refund of their stay to offset the new purchase?

[Helen3]

why did they have a tent put up in your field @HomeGrown-HideAways0 

did they have extra guests staying there???

in your situation I would have said. You agreed they could have a late checkout . You never said they could put a tent up in your field. By putting a tent up in your field they assumed the risk of it being there without your permission, particularly when left in your field post the agreed checkout time . 

it's a shame you offered them anything to be honest . 

you have been exceeding generous in offering to pay for the rain fly when you had no obligation to do so. That is all I would offer.

also leave them an honest review 

[HomeGrown-HideAways0]

They booked a tent site.

[Fred13]

This is the type of experience that is incredibly valuable, that is if you do not forget the lesson in it, which is - always keep risk at a minimum when dealing with guests. In this case, 'after 11am' could mean leaving at 5pm and their 'stuff' will be not only on your way, but also is  now your responsibility. We have made the same mistake, but after once, 'never again'. Once in a while we allow our guests to stay longer, but give them a specific time, just in case they 'do not know better'.

Whether $82 or $118 is insignificant, the lesson if never forgotten however is invaluable. Good luck.

[Mark116]

@HomeGrown-HideAways0   Your husband really should not have been mowing around their tent, but I somehow doubt that not one single rainfly could be found that would work with their existing tent, so it seems exhorbitant to demand an entirely new tent.  

If it was me, I would have researched a rainfly that could go with the tent and reimburse them for that amount,  no free new tent and no free stay.  

[HomeGrown-HideAways0]

@Mark116 - he had already mowed everywhere else on the farm and their tent should not have been left in our field. But yes, we have taken our part of the blame for the incident already and offered above and beyond what the rainfly is worth.

[Kate867]

@HomeGrown-HideAways0   I think you are doing the right thing by offering something.  They were negligent in leaving their ‘pitch’ untidy and not secured properly, and your husband was negligent too as no check out time had been agreed and perhaps he should have kept clear until after their departure.  However, you are not a ‘new for old’ insurance policy either.  Perhaps if you had the model number and name of the manufacturer of the tent you could either make discreet enquires directly to them with regards to a replacement part… or look on eBay and other online sites to see if a second hand tent could be ‘vandalised’ to obtain the relevant bit.  

[Robin4]

@HomeGrown-HideAways0 

I am sorry to have to say this but you are going to have to wear their demands!

Whatever you provide, expect guests to abuse it......they are paying you money so they can enjoy themselves, and when they are on your property it's not about you......it's about them.

You can be too accommodating, you allowed them a late check-out and presumably allowed them to erect their own tent structure which your husband simply tried to mow his way around with devastating results.

I am sorry to have to say this but, you are your own worse enemy here. When guests want to haggle about stay conditions, that is a massive red flag. What they are trying to do is strengthen their ground while weakening yours. Hagglers do not make good guests. You should have stood your ground and said 'property maintenance requires the site to be vacant by 11.00 am'!  Guest really don't care if the grass needed mowing, they just knew you destroyed a part of their tent by mowing before the 11.00 am nominated check-out time. If you had told them that field mowing would be taking place they may well have packed their goods away so there was not the possibility of damage.

What ever their demands are my feeling is you are going to have to comply, but learn from this, realise that you are running a business, and run it on your terms.....not the guests!

Cheers........Rob