Party of 100 underage teenagers

[Carrie334]

We were called by our neighbors last night that there was a huge party being held at our house that we had Airbnb’s. We called the police immediately and had a friend go over and shut it down.  There were over a 100 teenagers underage drinking, using drugs and driving.  Our neighbors started a 76 person email chain and are pissed.  We cut our trip short and are on our way home.  I have reported this to Airbnb but have only gotten the generic damage form email.  This is absolutely unacceptable.  I would love advice on how to move forward.  

We are emotionally traumatized, know that we are heading home to a trashed house and a pissed community.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

Best,

Carrie

[Helen3]

I do appreciate how traumatised you are by this situation and that the guests who booked abused your trust. It must feel like a violation of your place. @Carrie334 

I wonder though how it was that this happened without you knowing. Do you not have a way of monitoring who is coming in and out of your place to help protect your neighbours from anti-social behaviour from your guests and for you to protect your place from being used by guests who haven't booked.

I think it is a wise decision for you to get back and do some damage limitation with your neighbours and think about what camera security you can use. Also think about whether there are ways that you can vet guests more carefully to minimise the risk of problem guests such as a low number of local guests booking for one night, when your listing is set up for larger numbers, and set up your listing (say have two or three night rather than one night stays).

Speak to your neighbours about the increased measures you are putting in place to vet guests, have CCTV etc to minimise the risk of problem guests. If you don't have one already get an experienced co-host in place.

[Carrie334]

Thank you!  This is super helpful.

[Rowena29]

@Carrie334 

I'm sorry you have had this awful experience.

@Helen3 has offered lots of sage advice. I see you already have a co host. Did he check these guests in?

Your listing looks lovely and I can see you've worded it to make it attractive to people wanting to get away form it all. Unfortunately this also makes it very attractive to guests you dont' want.

It's easy to be wise in hindsight, but here are quite a few things that make your place very attractive to people who plan to do the wrong thing IMO. 

Specifically these are - self check in, combined with no disclosed security/surveillance  combined with no stipulated security deposit combined with no personalised house rules. 

For guests planning to party - they see your listing, which looks kind of remote from the pics, there's self check in so likely no one  about to monitor them, it's gated so they can get up to mischief in privacy,  the house is spacious so it will hold plenty of partyers,  there are "grounds" to spill out on, there's no surveillance to "prove" there were extra guests and there's no bond if there is damage. And there's no house rules apart from the few generic ticked ones, so they figure you're a bit of a pushover. This is a great place to have a rave!

The bond/security deposit is actually pretty useless, but so far most southern hemisphere guests haven't realised this, so it's quite good bluff value.

I hope I don't sound like I"m criticising, just trying to point out how appealing your place is if I'm planning a really large party.

IN your house rules you may find it helpful to say something like  "The number of guests booked for is the MAXIMUM number of guests allowed. If you booked for 2 guests, only 2 guests may stay. This includes "visitors" This is an INSURANCE REQUIREMENT. Our insurance also requires that you enter the FULL LEGAL names of every guest, including children to the section of your booking "who's coming / invite other guests' section. Violation of this rule will result in immediate cancellation. 

IF I were you I would study the listings of more experienced hosts with large houses ( doesn't have to be in your area) and see how they worded things in their description and their house rules.   If you want to enforce something it's best it's in house rules, but it doesn't hurt if it's also in the description.

I would spend some considerable time on this and then go around to the neighbours, eating humble pie like mad and explain the plethora or strategies you now have in place to ensure this is most unlikely to reoccur

Good luck!

[Carrie334]

Thank you!  I really appreciate all that you wrote.