Messy Guest-mid term

[Jennifer3794]

I'm hosting 1 guest for 60 days. I have had to go over this week and last due to a maintenance issue. To say he is a slob is an understatement. There are pots and pans all over, dirty dishes in the family room, even a syrup bottle on my nice new console. I'm pretty certain he has not taken trash out for 5 weeks. The back sliding glass door was left unlocked, and I noticed water bottles scattered around the patio. I've really tried not to think about it. I have not seen any damages per se, would be hard to see with everything in such disarray. I was thinking of scheduling cleaning, even though I had not agreed to pay for this. I thought this MIGHT get him to pick up things, and my cleaners could tell me about any damages. Thoughts?

[Nur785]

@Jennifer3794 

Hi Jennifer, sorry you are going through this. this is a horrific situation. I had a something similar happen this summer here is how I resolved it. 

I had an intern who rented my smallest apartment for 60 days. Before he came, I asked him if he needed midterm cleaning and he refused it.

When I had to go in there for an issue. The important thing I had his permission to enter. Did you have his permission to enter? this is really important. If you do, then you can do what I've done.

I found weeks worth of takeout containers never even moved from the table and dirty drawers in the kitchen. Toilet had not been flushed in days.  It was  a horrific situation. I took photos of food containers with stuff on them and other things. 

I immediately wrote him on Airbnb app and said the toilet situation and leaving takeout containers out in living spaces was a health hazard as I could see bacteria growing on the remnants. He was endangering not only himself but also others in the building as  this would attract pests and rodents. Also, the maintenance could not be performed due to the poor condition of the apartment. 

I also scheduled the cleaning lady and told him, he had no choice, my cleaning person would be coming and he was going to pay whatever they charged me. If he didn't, I was going to file claims with Airbnb and submit the photos. 

I also said if the condition of the apartment prevented the maintenance because the plumber would not go into the bathroom, I would charge him for the damage as well. 

He tried to get out of it, but I eventually got the cleaning money out of him. 

Here is what I've learned from that experience. 

I reduced my long term guest discount and established mandatory midterm cleaning that I pay for. I mention this before they book. They don't have to pay for it, but they will get mandatory cleaning every 2 weeks. 

Also, I have a separate sheet for long term guests that they have to sign saying they will take out the trash etc. 

But I think you should totally send in a cleaner. Good luck! 

n. 

[Helen3]

Personally I always factor in regular cleans into my pricing for longer stay guests @Jennifer3794 

Presuming you had agreed to go over in advance with your guests for maintenance issues I would flag these issues with the guest and remind them about any house rules you have about keeping the listing clean and tidy .  And of safety issues of leaving doors unlocked when they go out. 

[Helen744]

@Jennifer3794 surely to goodness for a sixty day stay you initiated a weekly clean and maintenance,. consider Airbnb to be serviced accommodation. Between weekly linen changes and other cleaning and maintenance make sure all cleaning products are available to the guest. Longer term like this is completely different to one or two days , so talk to the guest and apologise. The cleaning should have been arranged before the stay began through negotiations with the guest.If you expect your home to be at a certain standard then you must keep it like that . This is a problem mainly for those who cannot guarentee the guest respect and privacy ..I would not reccommend taking 60 day stays unless you understand the implications. Its not open market rental , it is Airbnb and certain standards must be maintained for the guest to pay a higher fee..consider if your home is both suitable and you are willing to do the extra work required or stick with the one or two day stays... H