Renting in NYS July 1-31

[François1216]

Good evening,

i have received 4 différents request form

guest who wanted to rent my place for July 1-31 only... when I ask them questions regarding the rent, rules, reasons of their stay and to add security(phone numbers, selfie, GOVT ID) they don’t answer all questions.  Also if I ask them to reduce to 3 weeks, they ignore me or just say they need one month or more. I’m suspecting a fraud because right now there is a NYS BAN regarding eviction. Have you been ask for this kind of rental ?

also, usually the guest profile have more than 3 reviews ... it looks clean at first sight. 

[Sarah977]

@François1216  Tons of hosts have been reporting both scam and demanding and entitled inquiries and booking requests since COVID close-downs. I guess guests think hosts are desperate for bookings right now and will take anything they can get.

Airbnb CS is difficult to get responses from in the current situation, but if I were you, I'd first decline the request (but if it's an inquiry, as opposed to a request, you don't need to either pre-approve or decline- simply messaging back once to each new inquiry fulfils your obligation), report this user by flagging their account and then try to get in touch with CS to explain what this user is doing (ignoring requests for information, refusing to complete their profile, sending you a barrage of requests), and asking them to block this user from contacting you further

[François1216]

Thanks a lot for your reply. That’s exactly what I do and I just ask questions because it’s always coming in as an Inquiry so I don’t approve neither decline. 

I’m new as a host since few months. How do I report the user after at CS ? 

[Sarah977]

@François1216   I wouldn't bother trying to call CS right now, but you could send them a message on their site. Log in to your hosting account, then click on Help in the top bar, then keep following the prompts and drop-down boxes until you get to a place where you actually get a "Contact Us" box to fill in- it's a tedious process. Or contact them through their Twitter account.

I suspect there is a lot of online communication going on, blogs and such, where prospective guests are exchanging info re it being a great time to get an Airnb real cheap. Hosts are reporting most of these inquiries and requests coming from brand new accounts, with zero reviews and with no or scanty profile info.

[Ann783]

hi @François1216 You may be aware of this but NYC (not sure about the rest of the state) is likely to close or severely limit access to public pools, beaches, etc.  Those who can afford to are looking for long term rentals for the summer. You are correct, in NYS, after 4 weeks of rental, the guests have legal tenancy. There are no evictions until 8/20 and this is likely to be extended. I have closed my rental calendar (I have had 5 friends/relatives die from Covid). I don't want a guest getting sick and deciding to quarantine at my home or refusing to vacate the premises (this is an issue in the Hamptons).