I recently experienced a frustrating situation with an Airbnb stay that resulted in a false accusation of smoking, followed by a damage claim of $260 for “smoke odor removal.”
However, I did not smoke in the apartment and neither did anyone who stayed with me. I am a non-smoker, and I recorded a full video of the apartment at checkout showing it was in clean condition with no signs of smoking. The video is timestamped and backed by metadata.
What makes the situation worse is that the host’s co-host messaged me the very next day (May 6)after my checkout with a polite message thanking me for my stay and asking for a review—no mention of any issue. Only 13 days later did they submit a smoking claim, which feels extremely retaliatory. I had declined their false charge before they left a one-word review: “smoking”, which Airbnb later removed for violating the Review Policy.
Additionally, the apartment was part of a subdivided building with multiple studio units, all with separate locks and codes. Other guests were staying in the same complex, so any odor could have easily originated elsewhere.
Despite video evidence, metadata, and the timing of the host’s own messages, Airbnb still sided with the host and requested payment. I’m shocked by the outcome and concerned about how easy it is for hosts to make baseless claims without proof.
I’ve filed an appeal and shared everything with Airbnb support again. This experience has shaken my trust in the platform, and I want other travelers to be aware that you should always document the condition of your rental at checkout—because even if you’re completely innocent, you may still be charged.