I had my own home on Airbnb before, but I am a messy person and it was hard to keep the shared kitchen tidy. Instead, I put a fridge, stove, etc., in an upstairs bedroom, and I marketed it as an apartment.
I received an enquiry asking if I would accept a family with young children for a month, and asking me to call a certain phone number. It is obviously against Airbnb’s terms, but I called anyway. I said that I had no issue with children, but I was not equipped, either. It also wasn’t a real apartment; it was the upstairs of my house.
Social Worker: “Look. I’m a social worker trying to sort out emergency accommodation for a single mum with kids aged seven and three and a baby. Let me know if you can get something together and what it costs.”
We came to an agreement, and I spent a day babyproofing the house. My social circle began offering everything for a young, homeless family.
The following day, an Asian woman in Muslim dress arrived with her children. Let’s call her Sarah from, say, Burma. She spoke English. I am a middle-aged white male. I showed her round and let her get settled in.
She knocked on my door the next day.
Me: “Hi, Sarah. How are you? How are your accommodations?”
Sarah: “My kid is reaching for the kettle. I need a solution. Are my kids too loud?”
Me: “Can you show me? Your kids are fine. Children will play and be noisy.”
She demonstrated how the toddler was pulling things off a table. I went to [Furniture Store] and bought some extendable table legs to raise it up. I took them to Sarah.
Sarah: “No, I don’t need them anymore. I moved it. I need a double buggy, though.”
In two days, Sarah had rearranged her whole apartment: beds, fridge, everything. She just closed the door of the makeshift kitchen. I was happy that she had made it her home.
Me: “Maybe I know someone with a double buggy in their attic. I will ask on Facebook.”
I got a refund from [Furniture Store].
Later, I got a message from Sarah on Whatsapp.
Sarah: “Can you get me some bread, milk, and butter when out? I’ll pay you.”
Seriously? I’m not responsible for your shopping.
Me: “Sorry, unavailable today. There is a corner shop at [Location]?”
By this point, she had obtained a double buggy from somewhere. I learned she was an asylum seeker, which I was fine with.
Sarah: “Do you like beef ravioli? The food shelter gave me this, but it isn’t halal.”
Me: “I… Okay, sure.”
I felt a little guilty eating food intended for a hungry person, but I hoped it was a one-off.
I came into the house one day to a heavy smell of dampness upstairs. Sarah had done three washes of clothes and hung them up in her “apartment.” That can cause mould and pests like silverfish.
Me: “Hi, Sarah. You know you can hang stuff outside, or in the kitchen, too? I have the dehumidifier running. The air probably isn’t good for your children.”
Sarah: “Okay.”
She continued to hang things inside. She needed to be comfortable in her own home, so I didn’t press the issue while I thought of alternatives.
Another day:
Sarah: “My fridge doesn’t work. The orange juice is frozen.”
I put a thermometer into the fridge and checked the next day. Sure enough, it was -1C (30.2F).
Me: “My fridge-freezer works. Let’s swap them round.”
I took her fridge-freezer. She was right, so I scrapped it and bought another.
Sarah: “Would you like some more beef ravioli? I have about seventeen tins of food I can’t eat.”
Me: “Where did you get this?”
Sarah: “The food bank left it in a bag outside the house, and then they phoned me. I keep anything that has a halal label or is vegetarian. I can’t eat the rest.”
Me: “I will eat it. What food bank?”
Sarah: “[Charity].”
Me: “Thanks. I will ask them to check that it is halal.”
I contacted the charity and explained that Sarah was Muslim, and when they donated things she couldn’t eat, someone else went hungry. I only provided her with a home; I hadn’t the time to chase them to take it back.
The worst part was trying to get paid on a monthly lease. I did not have a direct contact, but the social worker dealt with me.
Me: “Hi, [Social Worker], can you check with Accounts Payable that they received my invoice?”
Social Worker: “Yes, they received that to be paid via [Emergency Housing Fund].”
A week later…
Me: “Hi. No payment has been received and it is overdue. Please tell them that if it isn’t paid by tomorrow, I make Sarah and her children — seven, three, and one, homeless overnight. Also, I will come to their office and read them the riot act.”
I received payment immediately.
Out of all the businesses I have run, Sarah must be my favourite client. She fled persecution to my country for safety. She feeds and homeschools her children on next to nothing from the government. When she needs something, she asks for it. Or better, she asks for forgiveness instead of permission. I found she has a very strong case for asylum.
