Other host using my property pictures

[Andrea8679]

Hi all,

My name is Andrea and I am brand new to hosting but an AirBNB traveler for years. 🙂 I was looking for advice and guidance. As I was posting my listing I saw that there is another host that is using my property images for his listing which is the apartment next to mine. They got these pictures from a real estate listing when we had had the property for sale last year. I have sent the host a message, and I am awaiting their reply. Any other advice? Thanks. Looking forward to making great connections in this community.

[Joelle43]

Oh my goodness @Andrea8679‌😱‌  This is a most serious matter as you have every chance that your own listing will be suspended/deleted because AI will consider your listing as a duplicate! 

There will not doubt be an enquiry if/when you flag this other listing (you can do this when you click on this fraudulent listing under the calendar) during the investigation that Airbnb will do but that also means that your listing has every chance of being suspended during this time.  You can also report this host too.

Have you filed a complaint with the police?  This is theft in anyones book!

I'm flagging other UK hosts who I'm sure will give you some great advice: @Helen3 

@Joan2709

Good luck and keep us posted,

Joëlle

[Helen3]

Have you reported the listing on Airbnb for using false photos ie photos which misrepresent as they are of your property. @Andrea8679 

I don't know how the laws work in your country but in the UK you could take the owner to court for using your images which they aren't allowed to do  as it is your copyright. 

I would send the host a booking inquiry as they need to respond to this . Confirm the photos belong to you are not of his listing and he should remove them immediately. 

[Joelle43 · Accepted solution]

Hello @Helen3 @Andrea8679 

I saw the name Portsmouth (where I went to university!) and thought it was the one in the UK😉  Should have double checked - sorry!  

[Andrea8679]

Thank you so much @Helen3  and @Joelle43 ; I am so worried that my listing will be paused. He did just reply to my message, he has acknowledged they are not his pictures, here’s his reply:

“Hey Andrea, I am having a photoshoot in 2 weeks and I will update the photos. Not sure if this is the case since I didn't created the profile directly, someone helped me. But I am also interested in buying your apartment, please contact me”

I asked him to remove the photos or I will escalate to AirBNB. The property is located in Colombia and I am located in the USA. Great idea to look into local laws. Appreciate everyone’s guidance.

[Helen3]

Tell him he needs to remove the photos that you own today. That  he is deliberately misleading guests by pretending your photos are of his place.  @Andrea8679 

it's irrelevant if someone helped him with the listing he would have known they weren't his photos and that they weren't of his apartment. 

please report his listing now. 

And call Airbnb today highlighting which photos are yours.

[Andrea8679]

Thank you all. I have followed your lead and he has responded since and has removed the photos and updated his listing. That was stressful and disheartening. But I am grateful he was cooperative.

Thanks again to everyone, I hope to be as helpful to someone on here too soon.