Airbnb has blocked my listings for no reason!

[Frederique98]

Airbnb has blocked every one of my listings for no reason! Since I'm not getting any help, I have decided to try and shake things up here. i have also posted this message on Airbnb's FaceBook page. I'm a host, a superhost, for 6 years. I have 3 properties on Airbnb and all the other platforms out there (VRBO/Homeaway, Expedia, Craigs list, etc.). One of my neighbors, also a host, I don’t know him or where he lives on my street, complained to Airbnb about a party that took place on the 23rd of May at one of my rentals because cars were blocking his driveway. That booking was not an Airbnb booking but a VRBO booking. This neighbor just guessed it was Airbnb and somehow found me on Airbnb and contacted me via their platform and called them to complain. This has created a gigantic mess since I’m dealing with an incompetent "security specialist", Alex, at Airbnb who does not understand the simple concept of dates and who does not check facts, who does not reply to messages. I have explained many times that the complaint is for a VRBO booking on the 23rd of May, and that our Airbnb guest who booked on the 24th of May was ok, no party and no complaint with him. I am calling Airbnb every day, and nothing gets done. Airbnb has blocked every one of my listings! What is insane is that even IF it had been an Airbnb guest throwing a party in a house, why would the host be punished for it??!! As if hosts wanted their house to be trashed and neighbors complaining! The whole situation makes no sense. I’m going to call again today, to no avail. If anyone has any idea to help me, please let me know.

[Linda108]

@Frederique98   It looks like you have five beautiful listings in Kansas City with many, many positive reviews.  Since I was able to see your listings on your profile I wonder how Air BNB has blocked your listings.  Also, looking at KC short term rental regulations, it appears that you might not be in compliance no matter what platform you are using.  Am I misinformed or does KC limit the number of guests to 8?  I know my city has a similar limit even for properties that can handle more guests.

[Frederique98]

thank you Linda for your message! There is no limit to 8 guests in Kansas City. You can maybe see my properties under my profile, but if you were trying to do a booking in Kansas City and just looking at properties in KC then I don't show up at all. I have tried to "fake book myself" hoping to find my listings by entering dates, number of guests (8) number of bathrooms (2) and beds (3), selecting "superhost" in the filter, etc. and none of my listings show. 

[Linda108]

@Frederique98   The reason I mentioned the limit is it might contribute to the Air BNB block.  Here is what I found online.

In February 2018, the city council voted to implement regulations concerning short-term rentals like Airbnb in Kansas City, Missouri. The ordinance prohibited short-term rentals from being used for receptions, parties, or similar events. It capped the maximum number of guests at eight and the rental period at 30 days.

[Frederique98]

@Linda108 Yes, that would apply to some rentals. Mine are commercially zoned and do not fall into that criteria. Under this zoning, short term rentals is allowed if a non-owner occupied property has been used as a short-term rental prior to the passage date of this ordinance and the owner can provide documentary evidence to the satisfaction of the director of the city planning and development department of such use.

Besides, clearly Airbnb does not regulate what individuals do and if they follow the city laws or the 300+ rentals in Kansas City which you can find on Airbnb and book for one night, would all be shut down. Not to mention that if it was the case, you'd assume that Airbnb would say, "hey you can't rent to more than 8 guests and for less than 30 nights, so please adjust your rental settings accordingly" but would not block the listings with no warning or explanations. Plus before they would block listings for these reasons, if they could, they would first need to know about permits etc. that the owner might have, if the place is a registered Bed and Breakfast with a licenses etc. Airbnb does not have any of this information on anyone by default.

So no, unfortunately the issue is clearly about the incident of cars blocking driveways on the 23rd of May... I did receive a few days ago a message from a case manager at Airbnb and that's what it is all about. 

Thanks for trying to help me and finding possible answers, I truly appreciate it 🙂

[Sarah977]

@Frederique98  Sorry your listings have been blocked- hope you can get it sorted.

Of course no host wants their house trashed or neighbors disturbed, but ultimately it is the host's responsibility to ensure these scenarios don't happen. Use of outdoor cameras to monitor the number of guests entering, apps like Party Squasher, intensive vetting of guests when they book, and a co-host who can deal with these party scenes effectively and promptly, if you are a remote host, are some of the ways to prevent this from happening. 

To me, it doesn't matter through which platform the guest came, the issue is the disruption to the neighborhood if there is no one monitoring what is going on on your property.

[Frederique98]

@Sarah977   Thank you for your message. I have been a host for 6 years (I’m a superhost actually). 4 different properties. Hundreds of bookings, maybe thousands at this point. We never had any issues until that one incident which was that a neighbor complained about driveways being blocked (no damage to the house).  I do a very intensive vetting of my guests, and up until now it all worked out. My immediate neighbor has my phone number (he never called me) and I have a house manager in Kansas City. So a co-host that would be in Kansas City, which is what my house-manager is, who doesn’t live on the same block of the street would not have been more helpful in that situation. We are going to install outdoor cameras and thanks for the Party Squasher tip though in a situation like this one,  since the house can host 12 people, it could be just these 12 guests, blocking neighbors driveways with 12 cars. Party Squasher would not have given me any info even if I had this device in the house.  One can do a lot of things to prevent incidents, we have and it's been working so far for many years, but one can never be sure 100% that the guests are going to be legit good and respectful people. Airbnb should also put something in place for better vetting of the people they allow in the community.

Also, it absolutely does matter which platform a guest rented a house from! We do not live in a totalitarian world where suddenly Airbnb can police what's going on with issues that are not related to them. What if when I am in my house in Kansas City and I have people over for dinner or a birthday celebration and a neighbor decides that it’s a “party” and complains to Airbnb? Does Airbnb bans me from the host community because of what I am doing in my own house?  So yes, it does absolutely matters that Airbnb deals with issues that are Airbnb issues. But my concern beyond all these questions is that none of this can explain the lack of response from Airbnb, the lack of information and certainly not why all of my rentals, miles away from that one house or even in a different state would be blocked/not listed anymore. Anyway, thank you for taking the time to write, I know you’re just a host like me and you’re trying to help and I appreciate it! 😊

[Sarah977]

@Frederique98  The lack of response from Airbnb is something everyone is experiencing now- their customer service dept. is pretty much non-existent. Hosts and guests alike have been left waiting weeks or months for any sort of response. It's outrageous, but just thought you should know it's not something only you are being frustrated and angered by.

[Bruce489]

what have you done, again. We have complied with all your requests and you continue to block or destroy are listings--we have done nothing I said nothing wrong and one of the reservations you currently have for our property is coming today at 10 to look at it before taking the listing . If he does not show up because I can not give him the address --we will lose the 1900 for August through Sept and you will lose the 400+ fee you have charged? I expect a huge  apology-since you keep doing this--you have canceled my camps several time now and offer no help to set up this listing. Or even telling me what I am doing wrong.

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Bruce489 Airbnb may suspect (rightly or wrongly) that you are trying to arrange an off-platform booking. It is not normal to allow guests to view Airbnbs before they book

[Sarah977]

@Bruce489  It seems that you think you are writing to Airbnb CS here. This is just a discussion forum for hosts and guests. People can offer advice, but no one here can actually do anything concerning your account.

[Bruce489]

How do you get in touch with a company representative

[Bruce489]

I can not even answer these questions

[Bruce489]

wrote and answer for both you and it will not print....error code only--I will get to the Airb&b guys yet

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Bruce489 Have you actually tried calling Airbnb?