community
cancel
Turn on suggestions
Auto-suggest helps you quickly narrow down your search results by suggesting possible matches as you type.
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
    • English
    • Français
    • Italiano
    • Español
    • Português
    • Deutsch
    • 한국어
    • 日本語
    • Nederlands
  • Sign In
cancel
Turn on suggestions
Auto-suggest helps you quickly narrow down your search results by suggesting possible matches as you type.
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
  • Community Center
  • :
  • All Discussion Rooms
  • :
  • Hosting
  • :
  • Guest brought bed bugs, and now I'm screwed
Reply
Options
  • Mark Topic as New
  • Mark Topic as Read
  • Float this Topic for Current User
  • Subscribe
  • Printer Friendly Page
  • All forum topics
  • Previous Topic
  • Next Topic
  • « Previous
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
  • Next »

Guest brought bed bugs, and now I'm screwed

Kelly28
Kelly28 in
Los Angeles, CA
Level 1
‎25-03-2016 08:54 PM
  • Mark as New
  • Subscribe
  • Mute
  • Permalink
  • Print
  • Email to a Friend
  • Report Inappropriate Content

So a guest brought bed bugs into my home. Airbnb refunded him, and canceled all my pending bookings. Now I have to pay out of pocket $1000 to have an exterminator come (airbnb requires an exterminator to relist), not to mention the booking I lost.

 

Has anyone got any tips or ideas on reducing risk? What cities and parts of the world are known to have serious bedbug problems? I have heard NYC has a serious problem, I am thinking of not accepting any guests from there. Ideas? 

19,772 Views
2
Join the conversation
51 Replies
  • « Previous
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
  • Next »

Re: Guest brought bed bugs, and now I'm screwed

Gerry-And-Rashid0
Gerry-And-Rashid0 in
London, United Kingdom
Level 10
‎26-03-2016 01:08 AM
  • Mark as New
  • Subscribe
  • Mute
  • Permalink
  • Print
  • Email to a Friend
  • Report Inappropriate Content

How do you know the guest brought bedbugs to your appartment?

Bedbugs exist all over the world

You have been unfortunate - it happens occasionally

1
Reply
Loading...

Re: Guest brought bed bugs, and now I'm screwed

Penny156
Penny156 in
New South Wales, Australia
Level 2
‎22-03-2019 02:44 AM
  • Mark as New
  • Subscribe
  • Mute
  • Permalink
  • Print
  • Email to a Friend
  • Report Inappropriate Content

Bed Bugs - If you didnt have bed bug problem before in your home , you know guests brought them in via their luggage, often from other accomodation with bed bugs.

Travelers drag their bags/backpacks all over airports, city streets, railway station platforms and concourses. They are packed into plane cargo holds. left sitting on the ground. Then when they book into a hotel room they throw the bag onto the bed. If there are bugs then they end up on the bed and then the mattress and then transfer onto the next luggage bag etc. Ask guests not to put their luggage onto the beds. Then they won't transfer the bugs into your home and all over the world.

3
Reply
Loading...

Re: Guest brought bed bugs, and now I'm screwed

Francesca60
Francesca60 in
Venice, Italy
Level 1
‎26-03-2016 04:57 AM
  • Mark as New
  • Subscribe
  • Mute
  • Permalink
  • Print
  • Email to a Friend
  • Report Inappropriate Content

Ciao Kelly,
I'm sorry for your bad experience!
I'm from Venice and I never had this problem, but a friend of mine had it and she had to do your same things (exterminator and so on).
Bed bugs feed on human blood, so surely they came on a guest (on him, but also inside his luggages or dresses) who probably didn't know to be a vector.
The suggestion that I can give you is to control the mattresses everytime you clean the bedroom and control the bed linen before wash them. In this way you can see them (have a look on wikipedia to know more about them) and, if you find them, you can cancel the  reservation or, if there is time, call the exterminator before they bite the next guest.

Although I hope that this experience does not happen again, you should call the exterminator if it happens again.

Good luck!!!
Ciao
Francesca

1
Reply
Loading...

Re: Guest brought bed bugs, and now I'm screwed

Vanessa77
Vanessa77 in
Kitchener, Canada
Level 3
‎26-08-2016 03:34 PM
  • Mark as New
  • Subscribe
  • Mute
  • Permalink
  • Print
  • Email to a Friend
  • Report Inappropriate Content

@Kelly28 

You can buy bedbug protectors for your mattresses and be sure to seal up any small cracks or crevices that they could hide in.

2
Reply
Loading...

Re: Guest brought bed bugs, and now I'm screwed

Renee28
Renee28 in
Asheville, NC
Level 2
‎28-08-2016 05:40 AM
  • Mark as New
  • Subscribe
  • Mute
  • Permalink
  • Print
  • Email to a Friend
  • Report Inappropriate Content

The bed bug problem is now everywhere but it isn't being talked about enough. I am thinking of putting some warnings out to people coming to my place. I want them to know if they are staying in motels first they should e putting their luggage in the tub, where they can't pick up bed bugs, and doing some good checking of motels before they inadvertently spread this plague themselves. I think because of the costs involved people would rather not discuss this problem. I have noticed recently when I had to stay at a motel that mattress protectors were being used, a sure sign that there had been previous problems. There has to be more to protecting your space than just using mattress protectors. Bugs can hide in several ways and places. We need to have a comprehensive discussion about this because anyone could get them in their houses or spaces from travelers. Are people putting those cups under the bed posts and do they help? Keeping bed and bedding away from the walls? Using 90% alcohol spray? I would like to hear from the community. If you haven't looked into it, you should. I know what I know because my daughter got an ifestation in NY from the next door people treating their space with heat and the bugs went through the walls. This is a much bigger problem than people so far have been willing to admit. Air bnb should be helping us all be more proactive instead of being punitive if you are unlucky enough to have someone carry them into your listing.

8
Reply
Loading...

Re: Guest brought bed bugs, and now I'm screwed

Katie145
Katie145 in
Ottawa, Canada
Level 1
‎24-04-2017 12:22 PM
  • Mark as New
  • Subscribe
  • Mute
  • Permalink
  • Print
  • Email to a Friend
  • Report Inappropriate Content

Hi, I have the same problem, the inspector found dead bedbug (at least one) in one of their suitcases, which points to them as the source of the problem, and it's written in his report.  But of course the tenants denied all responsibilities.  I paid for the professional extermination but wonder if that could be claimed as part of the damage deposit?  How does one claim damages after they checked out?  photos, 3rd party report? Anyone tried that yet?

Thanks.

0
Reply
Loading...

Re: Guest brought bed bugs, and now I'm screwed

Helen3
Helen3 in
Bristol, United Kingdom
Level 10
‎24-04-2017 01:27 PM
  • Mark as New
  • Subscribe
  • Mute
  • Permalink
  • Print
  • Email to a Friend
  • Report Inappropriate Content

 

Hi @ Katie

 

 

I know some specialist home insurance for short term lets cover loss of earnings. Why not check yours and see if you are covered.

0
Reply
Loading...

Re: Guest brought bed bugs, and now I'm screwed

Anonymous
Not applicable
‎17-05-2017 06:44 AM
  • Mark as New
  • Subscribe
  • Mute
  • Permalink
  • Print
  • Email to a Friend
  • Report Inappropriate Content

We've got the same problem over here! We discoverd bedbugs in the bed, not in the mattress but in the wood. 

On friday the terminator will come to clean the place but the costs are 700 euro!!! 

 

I would like to know if AIRBNB give us an amount for cleaning the place. 

You can't get in contact with them easaly. 

 

I'm thinking about a special request for my future guests to leave the suitcases on the ground, or in a special plastic box or something.

Not on the bed anymore!! 

I'll take out the woodenbed this evening, so the bedbugs will leave, most of them, the terminator will come anyway.

 

Sorry for my bad English,

 

kind regards,

Brenda,

The Hague, Holland.

0
Reply
Loading...

Re: Guest brought bed bugs, and now I'm screwed

Katie145
Katie145 in
Ottawa, Canada
Level 1
‎17-05-2017 09:24 AM
  • Mark as New
  • Subscribe
  • Mute
  • Permalink
  • Print
  • Email to a Friend
  • Report Inappropriate Content

If you can prove that the guests brought the bed bugs, that they were not there before their visit, I wonder if we can claim the damage deposit to cover some of the costs of extermination?  If it's bad, we might have to replace the bed and/or mattresses, and that is another big cost.  We need to protect the mattress with cover, but if they got into the wood in the bed frame, sometimes you have to get rid of the whole bed!

How can we contact Airbnb about this?
Thanks,
Katie
0
Reply
Loading...

Re: Guest brought bed bugs, and now I'm screwed

Karen1745
Karen1745
Level 1
‎15-06-2019 04:53 AM
  • Mark as New
  • Subscribe
  • Mute
  • Permalink
  • Print
  • Email to a Friend
  • Report Inappropriate Content

Or just tent the property it kills everything inside no matter the problem

1
Reply
Loading...

Re: Guest brought bed bugs, and now I'm screwed

Susie5
Susie5 in
Boston, MA
Level 10
‎08-11-2017 11:27 AM
  • Mark as New
  • Subscribe
  • Mute
  • Permalink
  • Print
  • Email to a Friend
  • Report Inappropriate Content

@Renee28, I have mattress protectors on my mattresses as a defensive measure - I haven't had bedbugs but am taking proactive measures. You can't assume that because someone has mattress covers that they already have bedbugs....they're maybe just taking steps to keep from ever getting them!

14
Reply
Loading...

Re: Guest brought bed bugs, and now I'm screwed

Cindy163
Cindy163 in
Novato, CA
Level 2
‎24-05-2017 07:35 AM
  • Mark as New
  • Subscribe
  • Mute
  • Permalink
  • Print
  • Email to a Friend
  • Report Inappropriate Content

I have been renting my Kauai home for 27 years and this is the first time I had bed bugs.  Fortunately, I found them myself before anyone complained.  I went to stay at the house for three weeks to check on everything and do the usual maintenance and cleaning only an owner can do.  After the second night, I noticed bites on myself and thought it was from sand fleas at the beach. After the third night, I had bites from head to toe.  My pest control company confirmed bed bugs.  The best, safest solution was tent fumigation of the house:  $3300.00.  So, that is what I did.  

2
Reply
Loading...

Re: Guest brought bed bugs, and now I'm screwed

Sara455
Sara455 in
Providence, RI
Level 3
‎16-01-2018 02:19 PM
  • Mark as New
  • Subscribe
  • Mute
  • Permalink
  • Print
  • Email to a Friend
  • Report Inappropriate Content

bb

0
Reply
Loading...

Re: Guest brought bed bugs, and now I'm screwed

Catherine232
Catherine232 in
Vancouver, Canada
Level 10
‎30-09-2018 10:30 AM
  • Mark as New
  • Subscribe
  • Mute
  • Permalink
  • Print
  • Email to a Friend
  • Report Inappropriate Content

That's horrendous! So sorry Cindy. One more thing to worry about now >.<

0
Reply
Loading...
  • « Previous
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
  • Next »
Join the conversation
Preview Exit Preview

never-displayed

Hint:
Type @ and the username to notify that person! You can @ more than one username.
You must be signed in to add attachments
 
cancel
Turn on suggestions
Auto-suggest helps you quickly narrow down your search results by suggesting possible matches as you type.
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

About

  • How Airbnb works
  • Newsroom
  • Airbnb Plus
  • Airbnb Luxe
  • HotelTonight
  • Airbnb for Work
  • Olympics
  • Careers

Community

  • Diversity & Belonging
  • Accessibility
  • Airbnb Associates
  • Frontline Stays
  • Invite friends

Host

  • Host your home
  • Host an online experience
  • Message from CEO Brian Chesky
  • Responsible hosting
  • Open Homes
  • Resource Centre
  • Community Centre

Support

  • Updates for COVID-19
  • Help Centre
  • Cancellation options
  • Neighbourhood Support
  • Trust & Safety
© 2021 Airbnb, Inc. All rights reserved·
  • Privacy·
  • Terms·
  • Site Map
  • footer.heading.social.facebook
  • footer.heading.social.twitter
  • footer.heading.social.instagram