@Robin611
As a host, I'd be more concerned about why a local wants to rent your property??
Unless he has family coming to stay or some other legitimate reason, that would be a big red flag to me.
I dont' know your specific area, but for my listing, the map gives a REASONABLY good indication of where my house is - however without exterior photos, which I deliberately do not include, I don't think even a local could determine which precisely house was mine - unless he asked around the neighbours. Would this be the case with your listing do you think? There are quite a lot of people in my area who I don't know, who are aware that my house is an airbnb house - the message could have been passed along within the neighbourhood?
I think it's extremely unlikley that airbnb are going to change their algorithim for how houses are shown on maps. I
It is of course very much against airbnb policy to try and book off the platform. However as this guy is a local I can kind of see how he thought it might be ok to approach you. It might be inappropriate but doesn't necessarily indicate danger - a bit like asking a tradie for his cash rate is probalby how he sees it.
Interestingly I was reading a travel forum where is was telling guests things to be wary of with airbnb, One of the things they specifically mentioned was airbnb adds an extra 12 - 18% on top of the hosts rate. so hosts are willing to accept a rate less than airbnb charge - that was exactly how it was presented - implying to guests if they just approached the host directly they could get a cheaper rate.
AFter all it's well known that you can usually get a hotel more cheaply if you go straight to the hotel rather than use a hotel booking platform - I can see how a guest might think it's perfectly ok to approach a host.
It's easy enough for you to decline. Explain about the host guarantee, and public liability that the platform offers that won't be available if you go off platform and say it's a security issue.
Hope this helps
Regards
