Guest was supposed to checkout but hasn't returned key

[Lorenzo41]

Hello,

I hosted someone at my house for a month. She was due to check out on the 7th of August, I arranged a 12pm checkout time (as she requested). I informed her that I was out of the country, but my friend lives in the neighborhood and will meet her to pick up the key. When my friend called her closer to the time, she told him she would need to meet him after 3. Frustrating, but ok. Well, the problem is, we never heard anything from her after 3. Now, it is the morning of the 8th, and she has yet to give an update. I call her and text her, she responds saying that she was too busy unpacking her new place and wasn't in the area. I let her know that my friend would have met her anywhere, she then lets me know that shes at work and he can come there. She then says that she hasn't stayed at the house since the 6th because she's been in her new place. If that was the case, why is it so difficult to get my key back? I have had my friend call her to meet her, but we STILL haven't gotten the key back. At this point, I feel she should have to pay for another night, as it is already approaching 24hrs since she was suppose to check out.

Am i wrong? I'm ready to change my locks and all at this point 

[Roger17]

Hello Lorenzo - that is unfortunate and very inconsiderate on your guest part.  My suggestion would be to call Airbnb and ask for their advice.  You can reach them at the following numbers:  415 800 5959 or toll free 855 424 7262  

Best regards,

Roger

[C-C0]

Don't panic and don't go to the expense of changing locks. Have extra keys on hand. Mine are cheap to make. In my case, I have a lot of turnover at all times, so no one could really come back and do anything bad here without plenty of witnesses. May not be your setup, but still, changing locks is not necessary. The lady is not after you or yours.

[Babs0]

@C-C0, if you look at it from a guest perspective it can be a very different situation.

Our guests are right to expect that only they and we have access, there is no lock on out guestroom door. If a previous guest doesn't return the key, it could get messy if come back and are in the the house unexpected. You can't explain that, will definitely show up in the review of the guests who were supposed to be there and I can understand that @Lorenzo41 doesn't want that to happen.

I would get in tocuh with Airbnb asap and not just let this go unresolved (as in get your keys back from the previous guest)

Happy hosting!

Babs

[C-C0]

@Babs0, the guest wasn't a threat before; won't be a threat later.

Most of my own guests are in the middle of long journeys and the possibility of their return to do harm or not is nil.

Yes, everything should work out perfectly at all times, but this is really nothing.

[Helen3]

Hello Lorenzo

Sorry to hear you guest has been so inconsiderate.

In your position, I would call BnB now and let them know what has happened. I believe they will charge your guest double rate for the time she has stayed in the apartment beyond the time she was due to leave.

You don't know whether she actually stayed in your apartment or not as she didn't give back the keys.

You may need to consider changing the locks (in which case she would need to pay for this too), but hopefully BnB will contact her and encourage her to hand of the keys.

Give them a call now and hopefully they will help.

Good luck

Helen

[City-Limits-Ranch0]

In future

- a remotely operated keyless/keypad entry.  Guest tells you they are out, you change the combination from your phone

or

-your friend has another set of keys, guest locks the door and drops the keys back into the house through the mail slot (install it high on the door so no one can 'fish' the keys back out with a coat hanger.  Guest texts you when they check out, your friend goes over and makes sure they returned the keys.

If the guest was there for a month with the keys in her possession she could have made copies any time.