I recently had woman rent my ski chalet. The group caused damage. I complained about the damage after the group checked out. At that point, the renter informed me for the first time that she didn't stay in the chalet herself; she booked it for her husband and a group of guys.
Airbnb says I erred in accepting her "third party" reservation and therefore I could not seek damages. Airbnb also deleted the negative review I posted of the guest. Airbnb said the person booking the reservation couldn't be held responsible for the damage because she didn't stay in the chalet.
This is wrong on so many levels I don't know where to begin.
1) It's reasonable for the host to assume that the person booking the reservation will be staying there, unless explicity told otherwise. I shouldn't have to ask each and every guest, " will you be staying in the home, or are you booking on behalf of some one else?" That would set a negative tone immediately.
2) The renter was rewarded for her decepting when Airbnb removed my review of her. It's 100% legitimate for a renter to be held responsible in a review for damage caused by the people she handed my chalet to (without telling me).
3) Even if I do ask guests if they will be staying in my chalet themselves, people can lie, or change their minds without telling me.
If I rent a car from Hertz, and I let a friend drive it without telling Hertz, I'm responsible if my friend crashes the car. That's the way it should work with any rental, including Airbnb.
Airbnb should make its policies clear to renters that third-party bookings are not allowed, and if the renter proceeds regardless, the renter will be held responsible for any damage caused to the property.
Dan Parks