Comments on: Airbnb Guests Cause over $10k in Damage, Still Refunded

By: Joy Termorshuizen

Joy Termorshuizen — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 09:28:07 +0000

This is a typical problem with Airbnb bookings in South Africa. The guests will say they are 4 people and when you look again there are 15 people in your house. They trash your house and good luck getting ANY help from Airbnb with dmages claims.

By: Toby

Toby — Fri, 22 Dec 2017 16:18:30 +0000

In reply to Carole. Carole, you sound like a gas-lighting manipulator... to blame this on the host. Wow, you’re pathetic.

By: Virginia Bourget

Virginia Bourget — Tue, 19 Dec 2017 17:40:04 +0000

So sad to hear your story but Airbnb is equally unfair to guests, giving money from our damage deposit to an abusive host. It seems to only matter which of their arbitrary rules they decide to apply.

By: Carole

Carole — Tue, 19 Dec 2017 11:33:52 +0000

These guests certainly took advantage of the fact that you’re a new….. but hey, why DIDN’T you check their ID upon arrival? Accepting a month-long booking for a first tenancy is also a little risky. You should have tested the water first with a couple of short-term lets. Perhaps it was greed that made you accept this booking?

By: Janiece Turnbull

Janiece Turnbull — Tue, 19 Dec 2017 08:38:32 +0000

I know your pain, except in my case the crew of squatters flatly refused to leave and because they’d been there over 30 days, acquired the rights of a tenant. I had to go to court to get them out. So with attorney and court fees, on top of the 15K in damage and list rent for four months, I’m out about 30-35K. AirBnB cut me off, as well. Got the run-around for a while, then nothing. I will gladly take my story to the media. I have pictures and emails and court documents for proof.

By: The Bull

The Bull — Tue, 19 Dec 2017 04:46:46 +0000

Unfortunately, as this was a 3rd Party Booking, you are not ‘protected’ by the Airbnb $1,000,000 Host Guarantee. Not are you ‘covered’ by Airbnb’s Host Insurance. You will have to use your own Home and Contents Insurance Policy.
It appears that you are a USA member of Airbnb. If so, you can not take legal action against Airbnb. As you agreed not to do so when you joined Airbnb. You agreed to submit to binding arbitration. For which you have to pay.

By: Nellie

Nellie — Mon, 18 Dec 2017 21:36:57 +0000

In your situation, I would approach their local media and highlight

1. Airbnb wouldn’t cancel the booking even though you had proof the people staying weren’t those who had booked

2. The thousands and thousands of damages (presume you have photos and video proof).

However confused as to why you didn’t realise when you checked guests in that they weren’t who booked and why your CCTV system didn’t provide you with video evidence that extra guests were staying