The host demands extra payments after I booked!

[Hamed1647]

I have been using AirBnB for about 9 years and this is the first time, I see something like this. 

Right after I booked, and paid, the host messaged me that I should pay about $1300 more in extra fees before check in! None of these fees was disclosed to me before I book. Or during the booking. Also, apparently the reservation is non-refundable so I do not get any refund if I cancel?! 

The host claims to be a lawyer, and plays by the rules! 

Have you seen anything like this before?

[Joan2709]

@Hamed1647 

What did the Host say these fees were for? What was the location of the listing?

Sometimes Hosts are required to manually collect local occupancy taxes that Airbnb does not collect. Hosts must disclose this on the listing.

Non-Refundable Bookings are shown when the guest is on the Booking Confirmation Page so guests can see it is non-refundable before booking. Non-refundable bookings are offered at a discount from the normal rate.

[Hamed1647]

The listing is located in Louisville, Kentucky. 
This is the message that the host sent me right after I paid for the booking: 

Hello, thank you so much for booking my place! Check in time is 4:00pm and the checkout time is 11:00am.

EXTRA GUEST: Any extra guest will be $50 per night, per person. Any visitors staying over an hour will be charged as an extra guest.

No events and party allowed.
No children
No pets
No Smoke ($500 penalty once catched)

I will send you a code for the front door within 24 hours before your check in time. Your unit is in one of the up-down duplex house. Before you enter your code make sure the numbers are illuminated, then type your code follow by the #key.The code normally will be your last 6 digital phone number followed by #. For example if your code is 123456. You need enter 123456#. If you didn't give airbnb your phone number I will give you random code.

PARKING: You can park anywhere on the street on either side. Just don't block any ally ways.

When you leave the house please make sure you turn off the lights and TV at your room. Lock your bedroom door and yard gate. The front door will lock by itself after few seconds. Please make sure you pull or push the door all the way closed to insure that the smart lock works properly.

Please be polite and clean.

Clean your cookers, dirty plates, cups or anything else you use at kitchen after you use. Dirty dishes one plate $20 per charge.

Long term guest Legal ID need provided.Also require to pay$400 cleaning fee and $400 management, 200 for generating the code 200 for back ground check fee per month, per guest ,those payments need to be make before check in and over use utilities (kindly remind don't waste the utilities like turn TV whole night on, wash one piece clothe, or never turn off the water and lights after use. Host have the right to inactive the door codes caused by guest fail to pay utilities or against house rules at anytime.

Guests staying for weekly or longer are welcome to use the washer and dryer as needed when they pay utilities, otherwise, we charge $5 per load. Please do not waste utilities to just wash and dry few pieces of clothes at one load.

Backyard and basement are off limits.

If you need to change your booking, Please inform me 24 hours before so I can unblock my calendar for other potential guests. I won't accept booking changes when you physically check out without notifying me.

Please turn your tv volume down after midnight and turn it off before you sleep to avoid bother other guests at house. TV will power off automatically after a while.

Checkin early and late per hour will be $5 extra charge.Every hour after 11 am will be charged $5 per hour up until 2pm then it is charged as the next day.

Going out of town for a while? We also provide long term parking service for guest who need a place to park their car while they're gone. It is $10 per day (the airport is at least $20 per day).
If I am home I can also provide rides. price varies according to distance.

Tips:
We recommend bringing your own supplies such as toiletries and other needs. We will do our best to supply these necessities but because it's a shared space supplies may be limited.

Bathroom lights are sensored so if they go off just wave your hand and they should come back on.

Wifi user name is: Smore

Wifi password is: Welcome-4218!

If you have any questions feel free to message me.

What's nearby
Churchill Downs
0.3 miles
Kentucky Derby
0.3 miles
Kentucky Derby Museum
0.3 miles
Central Station Shopping Center
0.4 miles
South Central Park
0.5 miles
Parkway Field
0.5 miles
Papa John's Cardinal Stadium
0.6 miles
Tringle Park
0.6 miles
Speed Art Museum
0.7 miles
McDonald's Field
0.8 miles
Restaurants & cafes
Cafe/Bar Starbucks
0.2 miles
Restaurant downtown area
0.3 miles
Top attractions
Historic Old Louisville Visitors Center
1.4 miles
Louisville Zoo
3.2 miles
Louisville Science Center
3.3 miles
Louisville Slugger Museum Factory
3.3 miles
Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts
3.3 miles
KFC Yum! Center
3.3 miles
Muhammad Ali Center
3.4 miles
Louisville Slugger Field
3.4 miles
Louisville Mega Cavern
3.5 miles
Kentucky Center for African American Heritage
11.2 miles
Closest Airports
Louisville Airport
3 miles
(This is an automatically message)

[Hamed1647]

This is the listing:
**

Interestingly, this host (Taylor) has done this to many guests before. And still he continues to operate on AirBnB! 

**[Identifiable listing removed in line with the Community Center Guidelines- Please note that is not allowed to post a listing link unless posted by a listing owner]

[Joan2709]

@Hamed1647 

What did the Host says the fees were for?

BTW...we aren't allowed to disclose specific listing details on the CC unless it is a Host mentioning their own listing:

Community Center Guidelines

https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/Airbnb-updates/Community-Center-Guidelines/m-p/910805

What We Do Not Allow

"...Content that is sufficient to identify a listing’s location or other content that may pose a personal safety risk to an Airbnb community member..."

@Rebecca @Bhumika 

[Hamed1647]

This is part of his message:
Long term guest Legal ID need provided.Also require to pay$400 cleaning fee and $400 management, 200 for generating the code 200 for back ground check fee per month, per guest ,those payments need to be make before check in and over use utilities (kindly remind don't waste the utilities like turn TV whole night on, wash one piece clothe, or never turn off the water and lights after use. Host have the right to inactive the door codes caused by guest fail to pay utilities or against house rules at anytime.

[Joan2709]

@Hamed1647 

So if you are staying long term these fees were disclosed on the listing and would probably apply as long as they are processed through Airbnb's resolution center and not off-platform. It's always a good idea to read through the entire listing and House Rules before booking a stay; especially a non-refundable stay. 

You could contact Airbnb if you wish to see what they suggest (if you want to cancel and receive a refund). They can advise if this Host is in compliance with their policies regarding addl fees mentioned on the listing and if they are in compliance with their new Off Platform Fee Policies. I'm not sure regarding that as it is a new policy:

Airbnb Off Platform Policy - Fees

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/2799

What did the Host say when you objected to the addl fees?

[Hamed1647]

The host refused to give a refund even though I told him right after he said about the extra fees. 
When were the Off Platform Fee Policies announced? 

[Hamed1647]

This is in the AirBnB policies: 

• Failing to include any mandatory fees in the pricing fields provided by Airbnb or otherwise causing the total price at checkout to be inaccurate
  • Mandatory fees are costs that guests must pay given the number of nights booked, guest count, and pet count. Examples of mandatory fees include utility fees, extra guest fees, pet fees, resort fees, management fees, destination fees, homeowners association (HOA) fees, and taxes (see exception below).
  • All mandatory fees must be disclosed in the appropriate fee field or the nightly price if there is no applicable fee field.

[Joan2709]

@Hamed1647 

I would contact Airbnb and ask them for assistance if you want to cancel the stay and receive a refund. As a said, this is a new policy and they will be able to tell you if the listing is in compliance with the policy and if you can get the stay cancelled and receive a full refund. Be sure you advise them the reason you want to cancel (in accordance with new Fees policy). Many Airbnb Customer Support Agents may not even be aware of the new policy. It is also possible the Host was not aware, as it is a new policy. 

I believe the new policy went into effect on May 10, 2025.