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?

[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.

[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

[Charly63]

I am still waiting for a pay out, them offered me 50% of the actual replacement cost. My damages estimates are over 75K total. Personal property was up to 27K of just stolen and damged personal property. The rest was all structural damages. The insurance formulas they use are garbage and plan to dig in and for a fight. It took weeks just to get them to email me back, only email, they will not call or do anything over the phone. I wasn't getting a response so I called the media in and did a PR smear and they finally started to listen. I hit the air waves with my story getting national coverage on many local news outlets.

The police gave up because they needed a court order to get the contact info for the guest. Airbnb did not release it and 100% protect the criminal that did this. This is apparently become more common, fake account with "verified ID" make it sound legit and boom throw a giant party and rob you "blind".

Stay strong and don't give up. Re-read the terms and agreements, its not built to protect the host.

https://www.azfamily.com/news/wild-party-causes-major-damage-for-tempe-airbnb-homeowner/article_2b0c...

https://www.insideedition.com/jason-bourne-rents-airbnb-throws-wild-party-home-53355