Could this be a scam?

[Hans734]

Hey all,

I'm in desperate need for an apartment for 45 days in Barcelona and found one, which is exactly in the area, I'd like to rent.

However, there  are images of the place, as the host  claims they're renovating it.

 See this link for the place: https://abnb.me/XZe5y3dYHxb 

While this doesn't sound great, I'd also like to believe it's a light, especially since he already got a bunch of reviews from people who hosted him.

Suppose the worst case happens, I pay, arrive and there's no apartment: would airbnb offer me an alternative during my stay (which would be quite long) at or would I need to book sth last minute, that will most likely be super expensive?

Looking forward to hearing your  thoughts!

Best,

Hans

PS: this is the message I had received:

"This is a  newly renovated flat

The furniture is new

If you are interested, I can give you a bigger room instead of this one, as I am still putting the finishing touches to the flat

You will probably be alone during those days, as the other rooms still have some work to be done

The flat is ready to live in, it has everything you need from electrical appliances to bed linen

All exterior with lots of light"

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Hans734 It could be but as long as you book via the proper Airbnb website you should be fine

[Mark116]

@Hans734   Airbnb can help with finding an alternative if the place is a scam or uninhabitable, but they can't guarantee availability or that you will find a place in the same price range. They usually only offer a slight discount coupon of 10-20%....so if it turns out to be a bad situation you could end up having to pay more to stay somewhere else.  

Obv. if the host wants you to pay off platform or talks about you wiring money for any kind of deposit, etc. then it is a scam for certain.

[Bhumika]

Hi @Hans734 ,

Welcome to the Community Center! 

Were you able to decide on this listing and consider continuing with the Host? Or have you found another option that would suit your requirements?

I hope the other members' advice below would have helped you to evaluate your situation and with tips on how to deal with it!

Can’t find what you’re searching for? start a conversation

[Pat271 · Accepted solution]

@Hans734  I would be wary of this, since “bait-and-switch” (substituting one property for another)  is a common scam.

It wouldn’t hurt to do a little more digging, for instance, looking up the owner of the property you are renting and verify it is the person you are chatting with.

Also go through the comments and see if there were previous incidences of guests getting switched around. I would think the answer would be yes if all of the rooms are being renovated.