PLEASE HELP. Being charged for property damage by awful host.

[Penghua0]

This is the first time posting on here. There are two stories happened for this stay. What happened here, is the most terrible thing that I ever met in the last couple of years.  I booked a apartment on Airbnb for two weeks, from 03/16-03/31, during the stay everything is just ok until the day I checked out. This house has a very aggresive policy, he will charge you a a late check out fee for $68+additional $10 per minute(11:00AM), no up limitation. I will never know it will become the story beginning.

In order to avide this from happening, I got up early on the check out date and packed up my own stuff and cleaned the trash as well. We followed his specially check out instruction and close the door. Ready to check out, before I left, I sent a photo and message to the host  telling him that I am checking out right now. It was 8:30 AM in the morning, hope get a respond from him but it's ok. After that, I moved on my trip and heading out of the town. However, I receive a message from him at 12:30PM, 4 hours after I checked out. He was pretty straight forward to me, asking for a $750 late check out fee. I was shocked and can't even believe this is actually happening. I played straight back to him, telling him that I will not pay for this since I fully followed his instruction, if he really want to force to charge me on that. I will share this story and will rate him low on the review since it's really make me very unhappy. He did not get back to me until couple of minutes later, he apologized for the mess direction of his policy and he got the case completely closed and there is nothing to pay. All he needs is to give him a 5 Star review. I did not respond becuse 1. He is not trying to make trouble, I will just let it go. 2. I might not leave a review, especially not a 5 Star because I don't want to mislead other guests. I thought that's will be it for this case, however, it wasn't. Well, I also ask for the parking permit refund back from him, and he never respond me so I have to call AIRBNB to deal with it after 72 hours to get it back.

Right on the 14th day, he did not receive my 5 star review for sure(I am so happy that I did not give him that), and I receive two things. 1. A review from the host.
It is always an honor to host any house guess, XXX Have trouble comprehending, understanding and following house rules. Will try to threaten you to write bad review just saw you can get they want, which is against the airbnb policy.

Wow, it's such a surprise . As soon as I receive this review, I tell myself not be to a silence guest anymore. I go back and write the whole story on his review, even in this case, I gave him a 3.5 star on average. However, I found my review was removed by Airbnb and I was told that the review has the word "crazy"to describ the host, which is again the rule of airbnb. I realied that they are the game maker, what shall I say then.  I was so mad, but guess what, more surprise coming. 2. I received another email saying that Your host is requesting $278 for damages potentially caused during your stay. Reason: Items were damaged · Items are missing · The listing required an additional, professional cleaning, Date discovered: Tuesday, March 29, 2022.

First of all, date dsicovered during my stay???  He discovered the issues two days before I checked out??  And did not report it until two weeks later ?Wow, that's really impresssive. Super nature power!!

1. Items are missing???  In the statement, no body mention to me what did they miss and what's the value?? 

2. Wall stain and straches? Well, I don't know anyone of you will watch the wall and exam it during the stay as a house inspection. I guess even an expert will not find this out easily. I suggest all of us should do that in the future.

3. Sofa stain,  you know that there is no sofa table and I don't drink beverage except bottle water. So I did not eat or drink anthing while seating on the sofa. Especially, the first thing I enter this place is to get the extra tower to cover the sofa because I know that sofa is alway the dirtiest place. I don't want to directlly sit on it.

As a resut of these, I ask for help from Airbnb and have them to invole in this case. They said they will investgate it and I told them what happened and thought it will end up with fairlly result. 

Today, I got the message. Your host let us know about property damage that occurred while you were staying at their place. We've investigated and it's our understanding that you're responsible for the damage.

Until that, I realized that they are always on the same side. Guests are so lonly and helpless. I started to ask myself, shall I give him a 5 star earlier to avoid this from happening ??? This is totally a set up from the host, guest are so weak in this situation. This place now has a 3.78 star on average.

I don't know what to say in this situation. Feel so lost,  It's really easy to get into a trap like that if the host really want to set you up. I wonder how many of you will do a house inspection right at check in and take photos for potiential accusation like this?  I don't really want to pay for anything that I did not do even though it's less than $300. If host like that made it this time, who will be next victim??? 

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Penghua0 This host does seem slightly strange. I always worry when someone's profile says they are honest. Generally honest people do not need to tell you that they are honest.

In your case it is simply your word against theirs. I don't see how Airbnb can honestly judge between you and the host. If you truly didn't cause the damage then don't pay.

[Penghua0]

You are right, on his statement he descirbed himself like that way: as XXXXXX was established in January of 2020. As real estate investors, we found a need to form and honest, high quality short stay property Management Company to serve. What a funny and shame on him. He's even making up the unexisted damages to ask for money from his customer. Well, I double check his current review. Seems like he does not even deserve 3.67 Star (3 reviews total).

I can't image what kind of host will hold its business as this level.

Lesson learned, you should really read the review and insturction before you book the stay on airbnb.

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Penghua0 indeed you should definitely read the reviews - If they have negative ones you also need to read the reviews left by the host as there are bad guests as well as bad hosts.

[Penghua0]

Actually, this is my third time using Airbnb, never had bad experiences before.Still too naive to believe that as far as I am following the rules, it will be fine until this happened. Never know that the host will be an actor and set you up just for couple of hundred dollars. To be honst, what make me feel more disappointed is that I just realized Airbnb is overprotecting the host.