House trashed, wrecked, destroyed by guest

[#1]

I just had a guest check out and they destroyed my house, causing over $3500 in damages and lost bookings. The list of things wrecked is so extensive, it's not even worth going into exhaustive detail, but here are the highlights (or low points, as the case may be):

Huge party lasting until well after 1am, disturbing neighbors and a general nuisance

Vomit stained sheets left in bag upstairs

Mattress stained, wet after sheets and mattress cover removed (presumably because of the vomit)

Two vintage audiophile stereo systems nonfunctional and broken speaker stand

Everything filthy, floor sticky, dirty dishes in sink

Bathroom vile, vanity shelf ripped from wall

Additionally, I had to decline a $250 booking since the place is not habitable. I can only hope that the host guarantee covers some of the losses. Has anyone had a positive experience with the host guarantee and how long did it take to be compensated?

[Ani61]

The same thing happened to my parents last night!!

My parents had just put our beach house up for rent on airbnb. The first person who booked posed as a "middle aged man" with "2 other guests". My parents get a call and it turns out there were 40 teenages throwing a huge party in our airbnb. There was a lot of damage. My parents live 2.5 hours away and by the time they got their the kids were gone. Cops made no arrests even though children were smoking weed and used a fake id to book the place. We called airbnb and they first said oh we have to call the customers and ask if they want their money back since we "made them leave the house". They TRASHED and DAMAGED the place, we had to kick them out! They called back and said oh since it is a "unique" situation, we won't call the kids but if they call and say they want their money back you have to give it to them. We filed a claim with airbnb and sent pictures of damage, will airbnb compensate? It doesn't feel right to let the kids get away with this. The cops aren't helping us either. The kids called them saying we are "holding their stuff hostage". Fine, we will give back the stuff, but what about minors faking id and smoking weed and damaging our property?

[Christina163]

I would not give them anything back until they PAY in full for damages and the money clears. You didn’t rent to them. They were trespassing.

[Sarah977]

@Ani61  I'm so sorry this happened and I hope you get an approriate resolution from Airbnb.

 But listing an entire house that you live 2.5 hours away from, without having outdoor security cameras that you are monitoring, and not having a co-host nearby who can deal with problematic situations at the time they happen is quite naive and dangerous. Airbnb isn't some easy way to make money, as you have sadly found out. It's actually quite hard work and requires vigilance and proper vetting of guests. Although I understand that the guest totally lied about who he was and his intentions.

Best of luck with this.

[Christina163]

When they lie they should be banned. I have said this before. Airbnb doesn’t listen. Nobody should be on the platform & allowed to lie about their intentions.

[Ani61]

While I do agree with you with what you have said, I think the reason my mom and her bf didn't take as many precautions as they should've was because during our various experiences as airbnb guests, we never met the host nor cohost were greeted with someone, nor were there signs of any security cameras. Not saying I don't agree with you, I told my mom to maybe figure out security and get to know our neighbors and the area before renting it out for safety reasons. Of course, she didn't listen to me, and took her boyfriends advice about putting it on airbnb 2 weeks after buying it and were renting it out behind my back.

[Ani61]

@Sarah977 

[Christina163]

They owe for the entire trip and damages. Airbnb is going to Pay. That is the host guarantee. They are trying to get out of it. They are responsible for collecting the security deposit. I had them ask me for a “stamp” on my contractors receipt & I had the owner and contractor sign the receipt. Send in a copy of the check once it clears from your worker. I have a 2500 deposit in small spaces because that’s how much it costs to bring your place back to normal in Los Angeles. Work is expensive! 

[Ani61]

@Sarah977 @Christina163 Thank you both so much for your feedback! I forwarded all of your comments to my mom and good news- airbnb so far has paid $650 for damages!!

[Christina163]

Good! Be very careful now. No last minute bookings! & ask for a list of the names of everyone that will be staying or even be at the house as a guest.

[Victoria163]

BE WARNED..

We have just had a terrible experience and AirBNB say there is little or nothing they can do about a huge mess left. 

We had booked 13 guests and turned up to find 30 people sleeping on every bit of furniture, etc. They had a huge party, totally trashed the place.... They'd been using a beer bong and there was alcohol spilt all over walls, windows, all over furniture, down and inside all of the kitchen draws and cupboards. We found drugs, used ciringes, burned spoons, a whole trailer load of rubbish, in the house and all around. 

My wife has spent a whole week uploading our claim, on AirBNB website, on the phone with various unhelpful AirBNB clerks.. All a total waste of time.

AirBNB have informed us that the bond can only be accessed for damage and is not suitable for the 17 non-paying guests, nor the amazing mess. 

We to have around 250 photographs of disgusting filth not worth uploading here, but which AirBNB now have and said there is nothing they can do.

Be warned. It is pointless allowing AirBNB to hold your bond, if they cannot release it even though there members can wreck your home.

Disgruntled holst!

[Christina163]

Email the company on the twitter. https://twitter.com/AirbnbHelp

Tell them that all of the photos are going to Daily Mail & you are going to have no choice but to sue everyone
They have to release the deposit to you.

There is a cost of all the hours worked & I had to present a receipt saying that I paid someone to help me clean up after someone had 30 people (booked for 4) and parked a delorean in my LAWN with no rubber buffer on the grass - destroying our sprinklers.  Airbnb tried to say it was normal wear & tear & asked me to upload websites to show comparison of prices of sprinkler systems - I went thru hell getting my money.

[Ross594]

Sue air bnb. I just started a resolution with them , if they do not step up to the plate I will take them to small claims court

[Sara654]

I have been with this company 2 years and so far just some minor issues that I didn’t report. I have been in the rental business for 43 years and I’m Very careful of who I take. Adults must be 25+ and not more than 2-3 nights if no feedback. I try to avoid long stays except traveling nurses. I’m with another BnB and they have some scary sounding people wanting to rent. If I don’t feel comfortable about them, I won’t take them. Also, when they start asking a lot of questions and making some request up front, I won’t take them.

[Try2]

I had a similar situation with Ric Gazarian of GlobalGaz. My home was left in tatters after I was assured it was for one person only. I found that many people were misusing my property over a span of three days. There was drug paraphernalia under the sofa. I nearly needed a hazmat team because of the low quality guests Ric was entertaining. Somehow he painted me as a trouble maker for limiting his guest. My insurance did not cover the damages. I lost future bookings.   

[Kevin1327]

I had a very similar experience. My guest threw a massive, all night "rave." Don't expect ANYTHING but an exasperating, never ending runaround from Airbnb. They will "lose" your documentation and make you resubmit your claim until you give up. Never again