Host refusing to let me stay with paying security deposit in person, won't cancel reservation

[Charlee5]

Hello,

I'm a British student working at an internship in Paris from 1/1/19 to 27/4/19. I booked my Airbnb's back in December, and was expecting to move into the second one on 17/2/19. A couple of days ago the host messaged me saying she would require a copy of my passport and a cheque of 990 Euros for a security deposit upon my arrival. I informed her that this is against Airbnb rules but I would be happy to provide a deposit through the website. She did state in her listing that she expected a security deposit but I assumed this would be through the website, I am fairly new to the site so I didn't realise it hadn't come on the bill until this situation arose. She also neglected to tell me that she would require a cheque deposit before the booking was confirmed, this is the first time it has been mentioned.

Anyway, she is now refusing to let me stay and is telling me to cancel the listing. The problem is, as it is a long term let if I cancelled I would still have to pay the first months rent which is about £1000. I have asked her to cancel as she is the one breaking the rules and it is her that has decided I cannot stay - again, i'm happy to pay a deposit but only through Airbnb. As I assumed she has gone silent and is now ignoring my messages.

Is there any way that this reservation can be cancelled without me having to pay for anything? I don't think its fair for me to be charged for her breaking the rules and i'm now left with three weeks to try and find a new host which is going to cost me even more.

I would be grateful for any help, thank you!

[Gordon0]

Blimey, @Charlee5, I hope this means good news for you. 

[Charlee5]

A further update, and I would sincerely appreciate any help here. @Sandra856@Katie201@Sarah977@Gordon0

I recieved a reply from Airbnb saying they have spoken with the host and it was all a misunderstanding, apparently she did not realise that airbnb had a deposit system and that she has now added it to her listings. As far as they are concerned the issue is solved and I am to stay with her.

I find this extremely upsetting. I have messaged them back to say that I am not happy with this outcome at all, and that its awful that i'm expected to stay with a host that has put me in this situation. I explained that I have no trust in this host and what is to stop her from trying to force me out of money when I arrive. I don't want to stay with this host at all, but I don't have the money to pay the cancellation fee. Is there anything at all that I can do?

[Gordon0]

@Charlee5 I think you need to call Airbnb and put your case forward. I assume you've got the messages on the app, as these will help. If all else fails you're just going to need to suck it up and put a brave face on. 

What's the listing so we can checkout the location/map issue?

[Sarah977]

@Charlee5  The host could certainly be misrepresenting the location of their place, but I've also read posts here where hosts were frustrated because their place wasn't appearing on the map where it should be and they were having an impossible time changing it. In other words, it was an Airbnb map glitch, rather than something the host did on purpose. It happens sometimes.

[Sarah977]

@Charlee5   Well, if it was a simple misunderstanding on her part and she understands now that she has to charge through the website, why do you not want to stay? Has she been rude in messaging? If she has been, or she doesn't repsond to messages from you, then you could call Airbnb to talk about this, and see if you could cancel based on a non-responsive host. But it seems you want to cancel now because the place isn't where you saw it on the map? The address would have been sent to you when you booked- you can't really hold others responsible for the fact that you didn't check it out at the time. Things don't always appear on the map where they should- often it has nothing to do with the host trying to be deceptive- there are posts here all the time from hosts who are frustrated that the location shown on the map isn't correct.

[Helen3]

I wouldn't want to stay with a host that had behaved in that way, particularly for a long term stay.

I completely understand @Charlee5 concerns.

[Charlee5]

I don't believe that it was a simple misunderstanding, I told her several times she was breaking the rules and she insisted every time that I was to pay her outside of the system. I don't feel comfortable staying in that situation, just because she has told airbnb that she misunderstood i'm suppost to believe that everything is now ok? I don't trust her not to try and force that money out of me when I arrive, i'm at the point where if i have to stay, i'm going to have to book a hotel for the same weekend just so i definitely have a place to stay incase she refuses entry without the cheque.

I'm not wanting the booking cancelled because of the location, I was just wondering if that could be classed as extra evidence in this case but with your reply about map glitches maybe it was that. I want the reservation cancelled because this host has not made me feel comfortable or safe about staying with her.