How do you handle smoking violation?

[Nanxing0]

It's definitely unpleasant, but I have had a few guests smoked in my listings in the past, with the most recent one being just a week ago. Some smoke cigarette and some use week, which I stated clearly in the house rule that both are prohibited. I have requested payment through Airbnb and its host guarantee program but have seen mixed results. The major issue is that it's not possible to take evidence for odor, unless we order a professional deodorization and get invoice. However in the past we had most of time same day turnovers which makes it almost impossible to schedule for the deodorization before the next guest checks in. I'm wondering how you guys handle it. I understand some hosts are so nice that they try not to make a big deal of it, but I view it on the opposite way. I feel we should give those smoking violators at least something they will remember, not letting them pass freely. Those who smoke in the room definitely did it on purpose and if we give them free pass they will think the no-smoking rule is forgettable and will always ignore it in the future, which is not good to any other host.

Even hotels charge the pre-stored credit card for smoking. I can't believe Airbnb does nothing to it.

[Anonymous]

@Nanxing0  In years past, Airbnb's default response to a claim along these lines was to issue a flat smoke-removal allowance (something like $50).  These days, it's wildly inconsistent. I presume your past payment requests have gone via the Resolutions tool? If this is the case, your results will vary according to how the guest responds. 

The Host Guarantee doesn't explicitly apply to smoking; its coverage is limited to "direct physical loss or physical damage." Unpleasant smells would generally fall outside of that category.

Did you at least mention the smoking violation in your reviews?

[Nanxing0]

@Anonymous I always mention smoking violation in the reviews. I'm going through the regular host guarantee procedure by submitting claim on resolution center and then involve Airbnb. Most of time those guests don't respond to the resolution request, or some just decline it, and then I just involve Airbnb on this. I just can't figure out a normal procedure to deal with it. It's not only "unpleasant" but definitely cause loss sometimes in the form of loss of income. When the next guest checks in without a professional deodorization, some guests will feel unfortable with the smell. And guests booked our listings since they are "no-smoking" listing so the smoking violation is actually causing such breach. 

I just don't understand why Airbnb can't allow us to forfeit the security deposit to cover the smoking violation. I think the setup of the security deposit is definitely for reasons like this but the current setup of Airbnb system is making the security deposit like nothing.

[Anonymous]

@Nanxing0  The Security Deposit is nothing. This is a fundamental thing you have to know as a host: that little feature where you put a number in and it's displayed as a "Security Deposit" is a placebo and nothing more. This amount is never charged to the guest, and it has no bearing on the results of a claim. If you'd like to have the ability to withhold a deposit, you're going to have to list on a platform that actually charges one. 

Also, the Resolutions process and Host Guarantee are two separate things. If a resolution request is decided in your favor, the money is charged to the guest. Payouts under the Host Guarantee come from Airbnb's insurance policy. It's a much more complicated procedure that I hope you'll never have to go through.

[Nanxing0]

@Anonymous I know the security deposit placebo actually, I have seen several hosts talked about this. But I believe Airbnb actually holds that money when guest make reservation just we have almost no way to claim it. I have had several guests ask me such question when they made reservation. I'm wondering if you still set a number in the security deposit or just leave it 0? I feel leaving it 0 will probably attract more guests but also increase the number of bad guests. 

I believe I have gone through the host guarantee thing before, that was when a guest damaged my TV and I went through the process. That is actually much easier to go with since we have such easy way to take picture of the damaged TV though. However I'm still not sure if the money was charged to the guest or Airbnb paid it out of the insurance though. The process are the same and I don't remember they ever told me who actually paid for that, but I got paid for the damaged TV.

[Anonymous]

 But I believe Airbnb actually holds that money when guest make reservation just we have almost no way to claim it. 

Based on what evidence?  Airbnb supports multiple payment methods through which a vendor "hold" is not possible. 

Even though the deposit is fake, most guests are not aware of this, so you might as well put something in that field. 

[Nanxing0]

Some guests told me how much they were charged and it was clear the deposit was added, but I haven't heard about this thing in the past few months though. It was something I heard long time before, maybe in 2018-2019. I guess they might have changed the policy silently. 

Some guests were obviously deterred booking when they saw the charge. When I put $150 security deposit on a listing they are charged ~$300-400 for a one or two-night stay and they explained to me they can't do it although I told them the deposit will be returned afterwards. I guess Airbnb simply ditched it because of this. A lot of guests just don't have that much money to wait for the turnover. 

[Helen3]

I have been hosting for nearly five years and they have never physically taken a deposit in that time for standard hosts. @Nanxing0 

However I believe there are some large scale property developers who they allow to operate differently on the platform including I believe taking a deposit.

[Anonymous]

@Nanxing0    My experience has been the same as @Helen3 's. Also, as a guest, the host's listed deposit has never appeared in my itemized charges.

Several times a year, Airbnb will quietly test a feature in selected markets, without ultimately rolling it out worldwide. Sometimes, this accounts for the significant differences in features that comes up in these discussions. More often, though, when guests claim there's a discrepancy in the pricing, they're either experiencing sticker-shock from AIrbnb's added fees or fishing for a discount.

[Nanxing0]

@Anonymous I see. That makes perfect sense. The deposit thing I heard from guest was specifically during a period of time probably just a few months and then after some time it dissappeared. It might be the test Airbnb carried out but ultimately they decided to ditch it.