Any one has experience with Guest damage

[Mubashira0]

Hi,

i am looking for some guidance. I have been hosting for 8 months on Airbnb and so far I have 3 instances where the guests have caused damage and declined to pay or do not even bother responding. The last guest, came for 1 night. I allowed him early check in and within minutes of entering the flat he broke the curtain rod. The whole thing fell down. I got it repaired within 2 hours as luckily I had a handyman coming to fix something else in time for the normal check in time when the guest was originally supposed to come. If I hadn’t accommodated him the other job would have been done bfr he came. However, now Putting the whole rod back and hanging the curtain obviously took the handyman time and he billed me for an extra hour. The rod was fixed along with the other item that I had called the handyman for so when the guest came back after normal check in time, it was all set. The cost of the time spent fixing the rod was half the rental the guest was paying for the night. When I submitted the damage claim, he gave a very bad review, declined payment and was very aggressive in his tone. He lied that there were broken fittings. I don’t see any benefit of fighting but I see this as an issue where you do not have protection as a host. I feel involving Airbnb will take a lot of time as you need to speak to ten different ppl every time and they would only favour the guest.  Has anyone had experience? 

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

@Mubashira0 

If some damage is done by guest you have to take a photo, receipts for the repair or the original purchase or for the new item or the link to the webshop where you can buy the replacement.

Then you submit the damage claim within 15 days or before your next guest arrives.

Then your guest has 72 hours to decline or accept to pay. If he denies or ignores you, you can involve Airbnb to mediate.

But, if you don't have any pictures and you don't have a receipt for the repair then I am afraid you don't have a chance.

Yes, of course, we had some damage done by a guest, if it was a minor thing like the vase or a plate, sheet, towel or most recently the kitchen cabinet door knob then we don't charge the guest. But for broken bed, punched door or broken window we do. Some guests paid, some ignored us so we had to involve Airbnb.  Of course, nobody paid for our time, stress and our work.