My partner and I recently made a booking for NYE and afterward when we re-read the listing we were concerned by this paragraph. "Airbnb requires us to be discrete. By booking you agree to keep our business private. As far as anyone is concerned you are staying WITH me and I am onsite and present during your stay." We missed this in the original listing and when we re-read it realized it may mean the building might not allow AirBnb. We asked the host about this and we recieved no response. We felt both the directive and lack of explanation or response from the host was sketchy so we cancelled the booking. We did not want to feel uneasy during our stay, have to sneak around or worry about potentially getting kicked out or neighbors finding out.
When we cancelled we were charged $2,500.00 by the host, despite the deceptive listing which apparently is an apartment in a building that does not allow AirBnB...though this is not explicitly stated.
We called AirBnB about the charge and they sided with the host, saying that the issue is between us and the host. They are not holding the host accountable for renting in a building that is not allowing it and NOT stating this in the listing.
Has anyone encountered this and have advice? We cancelled for very good reason and AirBnb won't help us get the $2,500.00 back.
Thank you,
Laryssa