I am a homeownerfrom Brisbane, Australia and I have had nothing but a headache, stress and costs from being fooled by HOUST:
As a homeowner, I do not think there will be enough room to list all the reasons I would advise any other homeowner to totally avoid using HOUT.
1. No transparency on the fees they were charging - 20% to them, 15% to Airbnb for using HOUST's platform (35% total, including off of cleaning costs). Plus a charge for their platform of $48/month.
2. Our property was recently decorated and spotless when we left - we had to pay cleaning costs as well before 1st guest checked in. When we returned, 8 weeks later - the place was despicable and had clearly NEVER had a proper clean carried out.
3. HOUST "claim" they MUST USE their cleaners as they have a checklist to follow - one of our keys to our property had been missing after 3 weeks of us leaving, HOUST never even realised!!!!! That is such a security issue for OUR property.
5. On our return home, pointing out the missing key - the much around to try and get HOUST to replace the lock/keys as a key to my property was still out there.
- Called in handyman to replace lock. He couldn't find the right part so HOUST said "Oh well, we will just cut you another key", the same as the one in someone else's possession!!!!!!
4. Due to getting no good reviews on our property - I asked a 3rd party to check it out for me between guests, after the cleaners, only to find RED WINE splashed on my brand new epoxy floor!!!!! Not a word from the cleaners on their either, and of course, the property was far from a standard acceptable for a guest to stay.
- HOUST asked me to get more photos of the wine stains. I was away but had an expoxy specialist take a look, they sent photos, HOUST's only response "will you send us MORE photos"!!! Hmm, why can't YOUR cleaners send the photos??
- A quote was provided but after 15 days, right on Christmas break time, HOUST advise me the quote is not acceptable and must be more detailed. I am then told the due to time delay, the claim could no longer be made!!!!
- Eventually, Airbnb agreed to pay out on a 2nd quote I provided but HOUST cancelled my account with them so Airbnb did not have my account details to pay it out to - it was paid to HOUST instead!!!!
- 3 weeks later, I finally get "some of" the payment, HOUST claiming I owed Airbnb some money due to one guest leaving with my key, delaying the next guest checking in!!!!! Hmm, so why am I PAYING FOR THAT AND NOT THE GUEST THAT TOOK THE KEY????? No response from HOUST on that question!!!!
5. HOUST let my property out to guests with absolutley no reviews, and judging from my neighbour's complaints on the parties and the parking all over the driveway (in a complex), I can understand.
6. No reports were provided from the cleaners on the state of the property after a guest, and photos provided by the cleaners were so small and deceptive, you had no way of judging for yourself.
Oh, I could go on and on for the state of my property on my return - never, never would I leave with a company to Host my property again.
I have since read that Airbnb have kicked off about 100,000 properties from their listing for NOT BEING UP TO STANDARD - yep, after just 8 WEEKS - I can fully understand why. My property was what a lot would consider an "executive styled townhouse" - but after leaving it with HOUST for 8 weeks - it was a dirty, damaged mess!!!!
AVOID HOUST AT ALL COSTS AS AN OWNER - you are better off just locking your home up and leaving it empty.
