Something fishy with long term guest inquiries?

[Brittany5]

    Over the past several months, I've received three separate inquiries for long-term stays. They always have similar stories and little to no AirBnB history, and after a few messages they disappear (after I tell them I would have to meet them in person before agreeing to host.) Maybe that's just a coincidence, but it feels kinda scammy? I'm not sure what the benefit would be for them? 

    Anyone else have this experience? 

[Jeet0]

Curious to know how you meet guests in person before confirming the booking without their contact details.

[Clare0]

Hi @Brittany5  I'm a neighbor in Templeton (well, relatively speaking in Airbnb-world!).  Many hosts get these kind of Long Term Stay requests...people looking for furnished places.  You would need to evaluate their reason for the stay, plus reviews, etc.  

Most veteran hosts would advise against long term stays unless the host has prior real estate rental experience.  Airbnb is geared more towards the casual tourist and / or business traveller.  They don't do background checks or credit checks that would be standard operating procedure for stays of 30 days or more.   Also, in California, long term stays could create tenancy rights which could become a problem if for some reason they couldn't pay and you had to evict them.  I limit my nightly stays to 21 to avoid this kind of problem. 

If you haven't already, be sure to read what Airbnb has to say on Long Term Stays and the cancellation policy for same which would override whatever cancellation policy you have set. 

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/805/what-are-some-things-i-should-consider-before-hosting-long-t...

So how's business in AG?  Been pretty dead since December in North County.  Good luck!

[Brittany5]

Hi Clare, 

     Thanks for your response. I was thinking along those same lines re: reasons to not allow long term stays. I actually have been a landlord before, and that makes me even less likely to want to go down that path! AG also limits us to something like 14 days of rental use per month, so it's just not worth getting into. 

   The weird thing is that all these people have the same backstory, and as soon as I ask for a reference or in-person meeting, poof! They disappear. I'm probably reading too much into it, it just gives me a strange vibe. 

      We're pretty casual about our rental, and usually book about one weekend each month. Hope things pick up for you in North County! Enjoy the rain! 

-B 

[Jana27]

I am getting these now, for the past few weeks. The big clue was a couple from Canada (pastor and his wife) that look great on their profile, asking about a place for their daughter. However, I got the SAME reply a few months previously on a craigslist add for a separate room rental. I wonder if an agency or site sends certain links around if they think you will rent long term? I am learning as I go, but I have modified my rental selections on the site because of this. Listen to your gut!