Hosting issue

Tracy210
Level 4
Atlantic Beach, FL

Hosting issue

We have had a long term guest for 60+ days with 30 days remaining. We’ve had numerous conversations with him about cleaning up after himself when using the kitchen—we allow kitchen use. He constantly leaves food on the counters and in the sink.  He doesn’t wash his dishes and he doesn’t put them away.  I gave him a written notice today that if he could not comply with the house rules of cleaning up after himself, we would have to ask him to refrain from using the kitchen. He argued and said the food wasn’t his—my husband and I do not cook nor eat at home, so it’s not really up for debate as to who is leaving the messes.  

This tenant has also told me that he believes he is a guest and should not have to clean up after himself.  He also believes that it is my responsibility to provide laundry soap, dish soap, and various other consumables because it’s a “B and B”

Well today, after he received the written notice and argued with me that he’s not the one leaving messes, he called Airbnb, asking for a refund of 1/2 of the cost of his last months stay.  Customer service called me and said she agreed with me that he is being unreasonable and that he needs to clean up after himself. She said she would deny the request for a refund—and call me back. 8 hours have gone by and no one has called. I’ve called customer service and got no where.  I did just receive a message saying that they would be in contact but nothing else—which has me worried!

The guy doesn’t want to move out—he just wants to stay here for what amounts to $16 a night, and not follow our house rules.  He said that I never specifically told him that he should clean up after himself and then contradicts himself that he messes being left aren't his anyway, so it shouldn’t matter.

 

We are at our wits end with him. Other house rules he has broken—he has taken our dogs out of the kennel and walked them when we weren’t home-at least three times—even though it’s explicitly in our house rules to leave them alone.  He demanded we fix the dryer immediately when it broke because he “is entitled to laundry facilities for free” (it was fixed within 3 days-but he was openly furious and demanding that it be done sooner and he actually used the dryer while broken causing even further damage. ).

we allowed him space in the garage to store his bicycle—as a courtesy.

he overfed the turtles and caused a massive clogging of the turtle tank that resulted in having to replace the filter system and do a major water change after five days. (He fed them an entire container of food in five days).

he insisted on having an antenna put on the television because we don’t have cable—clearly stated in the listing—which resulted in us having to take the tv off the wall and install the antenna and rehang the tv. 

This is just a partial list of what we have done to accommodate him. 

Ive never met such a demanding and unappreciative person in my entire life. I’m a psychologist by trade and my husband is a paramedic. We are by nature, patient and giving. Will Airbnb give him $500 refund and allow him to stay here another month? 

 

 

62 Replies 62
Clara116
Level 10
Pensacola, FL

@Tracy210@Sarah977 Yes, this did sound like the guy is a complete jerk and that HE is allowing you to live sorta in your own home. Deliberately testing and pushing every rule you have made.

And that the drama and demands were too much for you guys so you came on CC to reach out to other hosts. We aren't judging you we just know that some folks you have to get rid of IMMEDIATELY.

 

Get this guy out - ASAP - Sarah is right you sound worried about a bad review - the dude is gonna do that because he is so entitled. Don't tolerate anything you don't love and enjoy in your home. 

Hosting should be a joy and fun and make money - sounds like as soon as you started doing for him he escalated his demands..............that's the part that IS NOT ALLOWED - Demanding stuff - I would put up with that about one second and he's gone. 

 

@Dawn33 And you have a great point - cause in Florida we do have tenants rights after 14 nights - hope he plans to go as Tracy may have to evict him. Fla. is tough and I only rent 13 nights max. I once rented 2 months but it was for a medical person internship and I knew we were good. And we were. 

 

Just know this will end soon and other guests will be great - I'd rethink long term renting. You just never know the person and all their stuff. Happy Hosting, Clara

 

 

@Clara0@Sarah@Jessica&Henry@Kenneth Airbnb attempted to contact him and he told them he was unavailable to speak to them until 2:15 PM (4.5 hours). They were like, oh okay, we'll call you then). Then they notified me that they would try him again later. I'm sure he will blow them off again, and then we'll be back to the "well, it's night time and late, and let me appeal to you as a human being, and allow him to stay the night again". This is unfreaking believable!

@Tracy210  Just say NO! He leaves today period is what you tell them. I would call to remind them to contact him at 2:15 PM. Tell them you will wait on the phone while they do so. 

@Tracy210

I had a really annoying long term guest last year...... kinda like yours, but not THAT bad. Regarding stuff being left out in common areas, we would send a message that we need to use xxxx in the living room/kitchen too, and no one should leave out personal items that make it difficult for others to use the shared spaces so we will put it in a basket and put it in his room.

 

Although it's OUR HOUSE we've shown the same courtesy towards guests in shared spaces and regarding their personal items so we always tell guests we ask for the same consideration, respect and courtesy. We would take pics of the mess, then a pic of the stuff in the basket in the guest room. Any food left on the counter or not sealed properly, we threw out immediately. We always took pics. We did not appologize, we were straightforward and factual. The guest never complained (to our faces) and actually left us a pretty good review. Henry and I were firm+polite+business like about rules. Even though we both don't like to nag, we made sure the guest KNEW it was unacceptable. It was especially frustrating for Henry but the guest was in our home for 4 months with a student visa and a return flight back home, or else we would have probably kicked him out early. 

 

You should have everything in writing - whatever is not clear, it should be agreed on during the stay and confirmed thru the Airbnb messenger for proof. If the guest is unreasonable, it's probably better to cut things short and just lose the money for nights not stayed then put up abuse from a guest in your own home. 

 

If you are interested, please feel free to take a look at my listing and description to get an idea of how different long-term hosting rules should be (compared to short term hosting). 

@Jessica-and-Henry0   Funny how some of these university students are studying all kinds of complex intellectual stuff but seemingly haven't received any education in basic life skills and respect. 

 

I don't think my daughters would have dreamed of leaving a mess in someone else's kitchen (or our own) by the time they were 11 years old. I never minded them having parties at our house when they were teenagers- by the time I got up the next morning, the kitchen was clean, all the pop and beer bottles were in a box on the back porch, the tabletops had been wiped down and the floors swept and mopped.

 

It's not rocket science to teach one's kids to clean up after themselves, I can't understand why it seems so many parents don't bother to teach these manners anymore. My friend's daughter, when she ended up sharing a house with 5 other friends her first year out of high school, which she thought would be so great and so much fun, but found that she was the only one who ever cleaned up anything, said they needed to have a required course in high school called Roommates 101.

Exactly @Sarah977!!

I mean..... to be completely honest do you really need someone to TEACH you that "if you spill a couple drops of pepsi while opening your can, wipe it immediately!!! before it dries up into dark sticky spots on the floor and kitchen counter" - who raises these ogres~~~~~

 

I so agree about the general lack of basic manners and ability to clean up after oneself - nothing new though. I knew plenty of people when I was in uni 20yrs ago who were just as clueless and lived in a dump 🙂 

 

 

 

 

Against my better judgment, I just had a conversation with this guy. He said to me “I’m filing a lawsuit against you and you’ll be hearing from my people”, all while cooking in my kitchen!

I called Airbnb again and they told me they will have out tomorrow with no refund at all. 

I’m not confident in their promises. I’ll keep you all posted 

@Tracy210

Each time you have a conversation, always summarize and reiterate onto the Airbnb messenger to the guest. This is not just to confirm what was verbally discussed but also to keep proof of what went on between guest and host. (Airbnb won't accept txt messages or other IMs)

 

I know it's hard but whether you are talking to Airbnb or guest or anyone else, be straightforward and factual. Don't think about being polite, or saying what you need to say "nicely". Don't talk about what is "fair" or "right/wrong".

 

All that is important is "These are rules and the guest violated/broke the rules. I want this person out of my home NOW!"

 

The other hosts gave you really good advice. Be persistent in contacting Airbnb and getting their support to kick the guest out. Please let us know how things turn out. Good luck~!

My language in reply would have been "get the **bleep** out.  NOW."

Don't negotiate,  don't equivocate,   don't wait for ABB.  Get him out.

Good luck,  indeed.

@Jessica-and-Henry0  I'd bet that back when humans were all living in caves, there were those who kept their hunting clubs and animal hide bedding neatly stowed away, and those who left it strewn around for others to trip over. And disgruntled gruntings around the fire as to which lazy bums haven't been gathering their fair share of wood or berries.

Noel63
Level 10
Coober Pedy, Australia

del

Letti0
Level 10
Atascosa, TX

@Tracy210   I think your problems have just escalted for you. He has mail being delivered to your home which is proof of residency. He's as @Clara116 says now a tenant with all the rights, possibly the reason he was well behaved at first to reach that 14 day stay minimum for the rights. He can tell you no and AirBnB can not make him leave. It's my understanding with the Florida laws in place it will take an eviction to get him out as my guess is he will refuse to leave. He's got it too good there and he's only going to get worse. If you can get him out with AirBnB rehousing him do it ASAP. 

I believe (this is not legal advice) FL is a URLTA state,  30 days.  (Most states are).   Under these conditions,  I'd simply lock him out and risk a lawsuit-- no way I'd put up with the disruption to my life.
Of course,  my current lying guest,  is enough of a disruption today :(.

Airbnb asked me to “be human” and not ask him to leave last night because it was already 9:00 pm.

they assured me they would have him out today.

I have zero faith in their help.

fortinately, my husband is a retired fireman so if/when we have to call police, we’ve got the good ole boy system in place and they will most likely escort him out and tell him to handle it civilly.

@Tracy210

Make sure the first thing you do today is KICK THE GUEST OUT.

Do not wait for Airbnb to help or assist or intervene. They CAN'T - because they cannot force a guest to leave or do to anything. Make sure the booking is cancelled and that it is not a host cancellation. 

It might help to record the process of getting the guest to leave - just in case. Good luck~!