Stay extended for cash, host violates privacy

[Miranda247]

Hi, this has to be a first. 

My former partner (Guest) needed to rent a long-term stay unit. His ex-wife (Not Guest) booked his first month with her ABB profile, however, the Host was made well aware of who the actual Guest would be, given Guest contact info, met with Guest, and agreed to go forward if payment was made via ABB platform. First month goes fine, no issues for Guest or Host. 

Guest and Host have face-to-face and text conversation regarding extending stay an additional month, payment would be cash. 

5 days into new month, Host advises Guest that they will have cleaner come next day to clean room. Guest is given no parameters as to what that entails (Is it floors and surfaces? What about dishes? What is Host expectations of Guest?) Guest has been keeping up regularly of floor cleaning and dishes, as well as taking out garbage and keeping room tidy, but not pristine. Guest has been there about 5 weeks at this point. 

Cleaner comes in, does their duties, and reports to host that room was very messy. Host does not contact Guest to discuss or remedy, Host contacts Not Guest (ex-wife) and demands that Not Guest come to unit immediately for f2f meeting. Host provides Not Guest with photos of room and details of Guest habits. Guest is contacted by Not Guest and told to contact Host to resolve. Host advises Guest that the floor was messy and there were dishes in sink. Guest apologizes and Host seems satisfied.

Guest and Host have existing agreement that stay is only 3 more weeks, so no issues raised about terminating early, all parties appear satisfied.

One day later Host and possible service person entered Guest room without advising Guest of this. Service done on TV, but no contact of any sort from Host notifying Guest of need to enter room.

It has been a few days since this took place, and upon reflection, it seems that Host violated Guest privacy by sharing photos and information with Not Guest, as well as ABB policies around extending stays and payment methods. It also sits uneasily with guest that Host entered room without notice or contact.

Guest is at a loss as to what to do, but feels that Host should not have provided the level of info they did to Not Guest, and that entering room without notice is violation of privacy.

If anyone has some thoughts or ideas, these will be shared with Guest.

Thank you

[Lorna170]

@Miranda247   Wow.

1.  Original booking is third party - against AirBnB rules.  Person living there should have created a profile to ensure protection under AirBnB insurance and assurances.  Why book under an ex-partner's profile?

2.  Long term booking extended for cash.  Person living there is no longer a valid AirBnB guest (if they ever were) and neither the Host or the person living there are protected by any AirBnB insurances or assurances.  

3.  Host did violate privacy by providing pictures to "Not Guest".  

4.  Host may have violated privacy by not telling person living there when TV repair would be conducted.

5.  Person living there has no protection by any rental agreement -- if uncomfortable with Host actions which are no longer governed by AirBnB rules, LEAVE.

[Brian2036]

@Miranda247 

It appears to me that “guest” is scrabbling around looking for an excuse to demand a refund.

As soon as Guest went off-platform he forfeited any right to claim a violation of Airbnb’s rules or policies.

If Guest did not execute a signed legal agreement for the extended rental then guest has no rights of any kind and cannot complain about a lack of privacy or anything else.

He is a “guest” in the truest sense of the word and NOT a tenant.

Guest can and should be ordered to leave immediately if he becomes unwelcome for any reason, real or imaginary.

If Guest is now thinking of filing a complaint with Airbnb in hopes of extracting money or damaging the host, he should be aware that he may incur liability for fraud and/or defamation.

[Colleen253]

@Miranda247 Third party bookings are not allowed on Airbnb. Both the host and the person with the profile who booked the stay are on the wrong side of the fence here. The person staying has no standing with Airbnb as a guest. It’s up to the three people involved to work it out between themselves. 

[Sarah977]

@Miranda247  Hosts shouldn't enter the guest's private space without prior notice, except in case of emergency.

But not only should the booker not have booked for a 3rd party, none of this has anything to do with Airbnb, as the original reservation came to an end, and is now a private deal.

And even if it was still an Airbnb booking, the person who books is the one who is legally responsible for the behavior of whoever is staying, even if the booker is part of a group that is staying.

[Helen3]

Why are you posting on an Airbnb forum about a former partner who doesn't have a booking on Airbnb but a private arrangement between the owner and their guest? @Miranda247 

[Linda108]

@Miranda247   Along with @Helen3 , I am also curious as to the purpose of your posting this issue on the Air BNB public forum.  Both the booking guest and actual guest colluded with the host to operate outside the Air BNB terms of agreement.  Perhaps the only Air BNB related action is to report the host profile which could result in the listing being suspended, either temporarily or permanently.