We recently bought a house that the previous owner is still listing on Airbnb.

[Erin8242]

I'm very concerned people from out of town are going to be showing up to our house expecting to stay there for the weekend when we are living there. We have reached out to airbnb support via chat, email and phone. We have reached out the former owner via airbnb, and the realtor that sold us the house to no avail. I'm concerned our only course of action left is to involve lawyers and the local authorities!? How is airbnb allowed to do this? 

[Shelley159]

Hi @Erin8242 

One additional thing you can try (if you haven't yet done so) - click on the listing and scroll all the way down to "report this listing". I don't have experience in how effective it is, but probably worth a try.

[Erin8242]

Thank you, I tried that first and never got a response. 

[Helen3]

Hi  @Erin8242 

unfortunately Airbnb can't do anything in this situation. It's down to the owner of the listing .

I presume you've checked the calendar on the listing to see if bookings are being accepted ?

did removing the listing form part of the contract for your house purchase?

why has the realtor not been in contact with the original owner rather than you having to contact them via the listing .

if the previous owners calendar is open for the listing I can see why you would be concerned. However I think that's unlikely to be the case as they will incur financial penalty for each booking they don't honour.

airbnb isn't doing anything  . If what you say is correct and the owner is still taking bookings then it's only them  that you could pursue legally or your lawyer too if you  asked for it to be taken down as part of your purchase contract .

[Marie8425]

@Erin8242 

Actually If you now own the home the most you would have to do is not even open the door if a guest shows up say sorry they have to contact the previous owner or Airbnb.  If the Guests don't leave your privare property just call the  police it is just trespassing so they will leave.  You don't have to do anything, you aren't involved.  If Airbnb hears from a guest who has a legal agreement that a host who has a legal agreement is in violation of terns then Airbnb can cancel the listing.

I agree the previous owner is behaving unfairly to the guests but you can't fix someone else's bad behavior.

[Muslim4]

They might have forgotten to unlist it. What did Airbnb support reply to you? Any response from the ex-owner?