Wondering if I’m entitled to a refund for this short term let [Merged]

1122abc

I booked a one month stay on an AirBnB. As I wanted to stay longer, the host (a property management company) asked me to extend my stay off the AirBnB platform and to pay to their bank account. They are a registered company. 

 

I paid the cost for the second month. I did not get an invoice or a contract or anything regarding any cancellation policy. I have asked for this and I am still waiting. 

Since moving in, the bathroom toilet has been leaking and this is not safe for my 70 year old mother who is living there. There is another bathroom up another steep flight of stairs which she is physically struggling to get to. She cannot use the wet bathroom. In addition to this, the same bathroom shower does not work properly (either scalding hot or freezing cold). 

I have raised these issues with the property management company as soon as they were noticed. The actual landlord of the property has refused to use their handyman and is instead sending over people (don’t look like handymen/workmen) to fix the leaking toilet. The people have been once and said they fixed it but they quite obviously didn’t. They didn’t even bother looking at the shower. The landlord is again coming to look at the leak, to confirm it’s leaking, and will then likely send the same men over again.  

I’m finding this scenario quite frustrating. I want to cut short the stay. Do I have any rights here? There is no contract or cancellation policy as there is on AirBnB. 

marcia_

 You can walk away without finishing your booking but there is nothing you can do to get your money back unless the landlord willingly gives it to you.

propertyrental

Don't understand why you would extend your stay in a property with such faults, especially with your mother.

Having said that, you clearly have a contract for the 2nd month.

Which leaves the repairing issues. You need to be escalating this, probably on a daily basis, to both the landlord and manco. Also make sure it's in writing.

The LL can, of course, use whoever he wants for the repairs, provided they actually complete the repairs.

You could put in a written request for compensation (ie a proportion of the rent) for the time when you could not use the bathroom, but whether it would be worth going to court if he LL refuses..... probably not.

1122abc

marcia_ said:

 You can walk away without finishing your booking but there is nothing you can do to get your money back unless the landlord willingly gives it to you.

Okay I understand , thanks. I doubt the property management company would willingly give it back to me  

1122abc

propertyrental said:

Don't understand why you would extend your stay in a property with such faults, especially with your mother.

The issues appeared on day 4 after check in. 

The management company were pushing for me to pay for the next month ASAP or lose any further months completely.

Before booking, I initially asked them about a 4-5 month stay. They said it was okay for me to pay for the next month at the end of the current month. Then they increased the price of the rest of the months by 40%. 

After I mentioned the massive price increase, they then agreed to honour the initial price of the first month for all the 4-5 months but only if I pay for all up front. 

I asked if I could pay monthly and they said no. Then they said I could pay per month but 2 months in advance but I needed to pay the second month ASAP. So I did. 

Having said that, you clearly have a contract for the 2nd month.

Is the contract the bank transfer?

Which leaves the repairing issues. You need to be escalating this, probably on a daily basis, to both the landlord and manco. Also make sure it's in writing.

I am escalating through daily Airbnb chats, emails, WhatsApp messages. 

The landlord keeps wanting to “look” at the problem. 

The management company says the landlord will not use their handyman so it’s out of their hands. 

The LL can, of course, use whoever he wants for the repairs, provided they actually complete the repairs.

No actually repairs have been completed. I have now offered to pay for a handyman out of my own pocket. 

You could put in a written request for compensation (ie a proportion of the rent) for the time when you could not use the bathroom, but whether it would be worth going to court if he LL refuses..... probably not.

I am sure the landlord will refuse. I won’t bother. Just wanted to know if I could do anything to get some money back to book my mum somewhere else to stay. 

Replies in bold 

1122abc

Just bumping as I don’t think I communicated myself clearly. 

If the property management company has not sent me any terms and conditions, then surely there is nothing to state that it is *not* refundable?

Does anyone know the legalities behind this sort of thing?

1122abc

If I make a booking for accommodation but I am not sent any T&Cs, nor am I told that the booking is non-refundable / not able to be cancelled,  can the company legally deny me a refund or cancellation?

propertyrental

1122abc said:

If the property management company has not sent me any terms and conditions, then surely there is nothing to state that it 'IS' refundable?

There's a contract. They agreed to provide the accommodation. You agreed to pay for it.

marcia_

 Already have answers here
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80795651#Comment_80795651

1122abc

marcia_ said:

 Already have answers here
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80795651#Comment_80795651

Respectfully the answers to my question aren’t there. I am wondering if legally, the booking is non refundable. 

1122abc

propertyrental said:

1122abc said:

If the property management company has not sent me any terms and conditions, then surely there is nothing to state that it 'IS' refundable?

There's a contract. They agreed to provide the accommodation. You agreed to pay for it.

English isn’t my first language but thanks for your correction?

If I haven’t been sent any T&C, then how is the booking non refundable?