Neighbors making false allegations and complaints

[Sandra411]

Hi all

I'm reaching out in HOPE as I get nowhere with Airbnb customer service or their case managers.

I recently had one of my listings suspended and all I was told when I called to enquire why is that Airbnb had received numerous neighbour complaints and so they suspended the listing for 30 days.

I had a new neighbour move in opposite this property and when I went over to visit with wine and flowers to explain what I do with Airbnb and the property I was rudely told that Airbnb should not be allowed in our area as it is a prestigious suburb and shouldn't be allowed. I tried to reassure these neighbours that in the 4 years I had been running the business I had no complaints from neighbours and that my guests were respectable, usually professional people paying quite abit of money to stay. It is a luxury property.

Within  a week of this meeting I started getting anonymous complaints to my local council and Airbnb making false allegations it was an Airbnb party house. It started with complaints of parties. When that didn't work it was loud music. When that didn't work it escalated to false allegations that I was running a brothel from the house. No police have ever been called, or a police report made for this property in 4 years and even with the false allegations no police reports or visits.

With every false complaint Airbnb notified me of I replied each and every time saying it was a new neighbour who was against me running an Airbnb. I told Airbnb customer service that the council had done an investigation and closed it citing nuisance neighbours. I even went to the police and reported these neighbours for false allegations, harassment and slander but Airbnb still wouldn't respond.

Obviously the neighbour knew that if they complained Airbnb would de list me and after almost weekly false complaints these neighbours have won. My property is delisted.

I have begged and pleaded to a case manager to PICK UP THE PHONE AND TALK TO ME, TO GIVE ME AN EMAIL ADDRESS I CAN SEND PROOF OF THESE FALSE ALLEGATION AND HARRASSMENT AND AS THEIR BUSINESS PARTNER THEY DONT EVEN GIVE ME THE COURTESY OF A PHONE CALL BACK OR INVESTIGATE WHAT IM TELLING THEM.

JUST SUSPEND MY ACCOUNT

THIS UNSTABLE NEIGHBOUR NOW KNOWS ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS MAKE WEEKLY ALLEGATIONS AND COMPLAINTS AND THEY SHUT DOWN MY BUSINESS.

I am seeking legal advice to sue the neighbour for false allegations, defamation, slander, harassment, stalking and now loss of income. If this isn't stressful enough I cannot even get the common courtesy of support or even a call back from Airbnb as their PARTNER.

I AM AT A LOSS WHAT TO DO.

Has anyone else had this occur??

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

My listing is called Hollywood Tree House but you won't  find it in here as it's suspended. Google or look for it on you tube or Facebook.

I always got great reviews and have had wonderful guests but now I am having to defend MYSELF and my GUESTS against such ridiculous slander as brothels and lewd behaviour.

ABSOLUTELY APPALLING AIRBNB

The media have asked for my story....I'm seriously considering telling it which won't look good for Airbnb OR my nuisance neighbour

Sandra

[Lisa723]

@Sandra411 There are many stories in this forum of listings being permanently deactivated with no warning, explanation, or recourse for the host. In your shoes, if I had the option of media attention I would definitely take it. Sorry you are in this situation!

[Sandra411]

Hi Lisa Thanks for your support and input. Sadly I hhave now seen this looking thru the many conversations. Its absolutely ASTOUNDING to me that WE as the business partner are treated like the person in the wrong AND without any communication whilst thses anonymous, faceless, gutless liars are allowed to spread their filthy lies and WIN!! I think you are right...it seems those that yell loudest win so maybe its MY turn to talk and make it with the media since no one at Airbnb has the courtesy to even respond to me!!

[Howard63]

Solution, MOVE. Neighbors from hell will always win in the end because they have sold their souls. I rented a place in the middle of nowhere in a forest specifically for a B&B through Airbnb and found myself not only with a neighbor from hell with 2 howling dogs and a yard and apartment full of trash but also the landlord from hell who pursued me relentlessly after approving of the B&B. Ended up in court locally where I continually spanked him and his attorney winning every legal battle but it is all for nothing as he continues to pursue me after I moved. 9 months of torture for very little income from Airbnb. The battles aren' t worth the trouble. WAIT A SECOND... I JUST LOOKED UP HOLLYWOOD TREE HOUSE AND IT IS STILL LISTED! Maybe the neighbor isn't the problem... did you steal someone else's name or idea?

[Donna316]

@Howard63It shows as if it is listed in the search bar, but when you click on it, it isnt there.  Also it is not listed under @Sandra411 's profile, so def been delisted.

[Sandra411]

Hi Howard

Its definately de listed and its definately the neighbour. The Council and Police are on my side but have said that unfortunately they cant stop them. You would THINK Airbnb would ATLEAST hear my side....seeing I'm theor business PARTNER but they accept false alegations as truth and de list me. I've thought anbout moving BUT it's my home, worth neary 3 million so not so easy to sell and move on??!! But I hear you....these neighbours and their harassent & stalking is making me mentally stressed and at times physically unwell. I'm waiting on legal advice and I guess will go from there. Thankyou for your input and I'm sorry u faced the same. I have the fear they will follow me even if I move....and by your case it seems some people are relentless??!! These ones are proving tp be as UNSTABE??!

[Sarah977]

@Sandra411   It's astounding that they delist you for a neighbor's unverified complaint, yet allow illegal listings to stand, where a homeowner has contacted Airbnb to say their long-term renter is Airbnbing the place without permission and against their express instructions to cease and desist.

[Sandra411]

EXACTLY??!!

This is my aurguement with Airbnb.

I call them DAILY and have asked for an email address s I can send proof of involvement by COuncil and Police against these neighbours....and I'm just IGNORED by Airbnb. Their customer service is APPALLING to say the least!!

[Hannah628]

This is happening to me as well! Same exact situation and Airbnb fully suspended me and won’t even communicate with me. They know the situation with our neighbor is all lies because every investigation finds us not at fault and no parties ever occurred. It’s incredibly unfair that a neighbor can lie and destroy our family owned vacation rental. 

[Ricky-and-Emily0]

This is happening to us!!! We have some HORRIBLE malicious neighbors that have physically damaged our home multiple times. The police have a file on them and have come out multiple times to investigate and make a presence. 

Recently our listing was suspended due to an “event/party”. We have doorbell cameras to prove there was no event or party that Airbnb has no interest is seeing. 

They locked us out of our account, cancelled a reservation at one of our other properties while we were locked out and then suspended one of our other properties. 

We have sent message after message asking for answers as to why they suspended our property, cancelled a guest and locked us out. Every time it’s the same beat around the bush answer. “There was an investigation done about a party/event and we reviewed the information and it was found to be true.” 

There was no party, how do they have information if they don’t even ask us ( the home owners) for proof. They can’t do a review or investigation without all supporting evidence. We don’t know how to fight this. They won’t take our word for it, proof for it, or reply anymore. 

We requested to talk with someone who handles this and were told there are no phone numbers and that the person we were hearing from in the message was the highest level super host support. 

I asked for more information about this so called party and they said due to the privacy policy they can’t give me any information. So literally anyone can contact Airbnb claim there is a party and they will suspend a listing without notice. We told them there was no party and that we have read all standard rules and they still suspended it. 

I can’t believe others are going through this and have gone through this. We are so sorry for you all. 
So so frustrated and stressed.