Guest claims did not understand checkout time and needs to stay overnight on living room futon.

[Jennifer--And-My-Brother0]

Hello.  Not sure what is going on.   Maybe I am being investigated by airbnb or by NYC special enforcement against airbnb.   A guest arrived a couple of days ago and upon arrival told my brother that she needed to spend one more night on the couch - her bedroom will be taken upon timely checkout by another guest. 

She offered to pay in cash - that's what she said on the telephone.   But I can't charge her since we are not prepped for hosting on the couch - so  I said if the roommates upstairs agree including the guest then okay if this is an emergency.  She made it sound like she had a problem booking her flight but now she tells me she is going to work and will be back to pick up her luggage at 4pm - one hour past check in time for the next guest who is also doing a luggage drop off at 8:45 am. 

The issues I have is what is my airbnb protection for her "late checkout" - also I was worried because she is young and attractive and being asleep in a common area - none of the male roommates are barbarians but it seems like I have some kind of responsibility - I'm old enough to be my mother. 

So I traded a free night I offered a summer roommate who wanted to stay past booking for two nights mid September if he agrees to move out on time on August 31st (he has rich family friends and has told me that his parents are well off and wouldn't dream of being houseguests in my apartment so I know he has somewhere to go).   I told her that she was welcome to stay on the couch for free or she could take the vacated room on August 31st as I would make an exception and let her book for one night only - she did not respond even though in her phone call she effusively claimed she was willing to pay.

Frankly, I don't mind if she doesn't take the room because my brother really needs it for a 2am checkin and I am okay losing the money but I wonder if the whole thing was some kind of legal trap about letting someone stay (free) on the couch? 

What is my protection?  If something happens, is she still connected to her original booking and considered an overstayer or does that change once she leaves the booked room for the living room? 

And is my conduct considered risky behavior that will get me banned from airbnb hosting? 

because in NYC, no good deed goes unpunished.  That's the way the city is run.

[Helen3]

To be honest I didn't really understand all of your post.

However, just tell your guest she needs to leave by the agreed check out time. Don't let her walk all over you.  It is her responsibility not yours to find accommodation for her last night. If you don't have space via Airbnb she will need to leave.

There are thousands of hotels, hostels, and BNB in New York.

[Marzena4]

@Jennifer--And-My-Brother0 Or simply offer to extend her stay by airbnb option to change the booking.

[Jennifer--And-My-Brother0]

Do you mean telling her that there is a room free and I can rent it to her?  She didn't respond.  I did tell her that my brother might  wake her up by walking past her around 2am when the other guest arrives.  

I feel like both of these bookings are micro aggressions - one arrives at 2am and booked the previous day but the late check in is not worth the money - 2am is bad for my brother's health.     The other guest who is overstaying had  very heavy luggage that she carried up herself and said she didn't want to move to another booking for just one day because of having to move the heavy suitcases. 

Ultimately, it is better that she has the option to book an extra night and chooses to not take it but my brother has to walk past her which is bad for her. 

But I don't know how airbnb feels about this.   I don't get positive reviews for letting someone stay over for free - this is the second time and in mid September when the roommate who traded his free night for two in the future, it will be my third and hopefully the last time. 

[Steve143]

Hello @Jennifer--And-My-Brother0,

When a guest's checkout time passes you and they are no longer covered by any help, support or insurance from Airbnb.

The stay is over at that time and guests must be out unless some other arrangement is made.

This guest hasn't responded to the offer of booking another room and has made off the record, by phone, offers to pay you, which she can always deny.

Why are you worrying yourself about her and asking other guests to change their arrangements?

It sounds like she has the whole house in a state just because she won't bother to pay the booking rate for one extra night.

She's the one who should be asking nicely and going the extra mile to make sure she books the extra night.

Sounds like she knew you hadn't enough free nights for her in the room when she booked but she decided to just try it anyway.

I'd get her out the moment her original check in time arrives. I've no idea if NYC does any checks on hosts but if they do and she's out then you've no worries.

Steve.