From Airbnb to permanent residence

[Stephen1079]

We have found with our last two attempted bookings from India that upon further investigation their motives have not been forth coming and honest. They are putting forth they need our place for the two week quarantine that is fine.

However; upon further investigation they would be intending to make our place their permanent place in asking questions such as what the monthly rent would be?

Individual was planning to bring his family but we are only set up for 1 individual guest. Another student had no plans for another accommodation after the 14 days with us and was also planning for the monthly rent stay.

i am saying all this because I am thinking Airbnb is the newest way to get into Canada 🇨🇦 for immigrants and they will be asking rent related questions.

[Helen3]

This is nothing new @Stephen1079  I have had people moving to my location for work or study since I started five years ago. Some do ask whether I would consider a long term rental and I just say no.

I don't see these inquiries as being dishonest. They do need to quarantine. There is nothing wrong with them asking whether you also offer long term rentals. Some hosts including myself do.

I really don't understand your point about 'Airbnb being the new way to get into Canada'. Where someone stays has nothing to do with someone getting a visa to study or work in a country.

If guests aren't a good fit for your place just say no. Simple. 

[Stephen1079]

Thank you for the clarification Helen3.

i guess we are new to Airbnb and when we advertise for 1 guest we would think that that would exempt an individual bringing his family members.

During Covid at least here in Canada the government has restricted the landlord from ending someone tenancy even if they choose not to pay. So it is not so easy to say “no” if they have no place to go after quarantine.

All we are asking is if they have a plan after the quarantine just so we are all on the same page.

Thank you
Steve1079

[Helen3]

You are correct if you advertise for one guest then no more are allow to stay or visit the accommodation @Stephen1079 

I was responding to your wider point about guests who move to your area to work/study may sometimes ask if you do long term lets too as some hosts offer this.

Personally I have my listing set up for a maximum three week stay.

[Sarah977]

@Helen3  It's almost impossible to get into Canada right now for anyone who isn't a Canadian citizen or resident- work/study permits are not being issued as far as I'm aware and anyone entering the country is required to quarantine for 2 weeks. Canada is taking COVID quite seriously, and has been almost from the beginning. Which is one of the reasons Canada has only around 9000 COVID deaths to date, with many of those having been from when it tore through nursing homes early on.

[Huma0]

@Helen3 

I totally agree with you and I often host guests who are moving to the UK. It's really hard to find a rental in London from another country. They need to be here to go to viewings etc. and booking an Airbnb is often their best option. It often takes people longer than they would imagine, so asking about the possibility to extend is not unusual.

However, one must be a bit careful in these times, because it's not that easy to get someone out if they don't want to go.

Also, although I host guests for up to months at a time, it's important to be clear about ground rules, that this is a long-term Airbnb, NOT a long-term rental in the normal sense. I've received a lot of recent enquiries from people who don't seem to get that, i.e. they want to do a viewing first, they want to pay off platform, they expect their friends/boyfriends to stay over for free with no warning. I even had one guest who thought her friend could 'move in' and 'split the rent' with her. 

I also don't normally allow guests to receive mail here unless it's really necessary and I don't like the idea of people opening bank accounts and credit cards using my address. One time a guest did this and I let it slide as she was staying for six months and assured me she would change the address as soon as she left, but I continued to get letters from the bank for her for months after.

What was worse was that, without my permission, she allowed her cousin to use my address for her visa application. I protested, but she only told me after the deed was done and said her cousin could not get a visa without an address, so what else could she do? I have absolutely no idea if this cousin, whom I don't know at all, is using my address as her official residence.

[Colleen253]

@Stephen1079  Is there a question in your post, or are you just bringing up something that you want to share?