Weird experience

[Anthea50]

Hello. I had a guest make a booking on Sunday for a Monday check in for 2 nights. Thus was fine but then after I accepted the request they said that they world arrive in an hour. I explained the house was not ready as we had just had other guests leave. I then sorted the house to be ready thinking that they must have accidentally picked the wrong dates. Then my neighbour messaged me to say someone was climbing in the window. I called the guest who said it was his girlfriend who has gone to the cottage early. Then as they had not retrieved the key from the locked box earlier they messaged us at 10:40 pm complaining that they couldn’t open the key box as they were going out. There is nowhere to go in this wee seaside town  at that time of night. Anyway they sorted the key finally. Then at 2:30am this morning they messaged to see if they had to check out on the 16th or 17 th. I said the 16th as that was the second night which they had paid for. My caretaker arrived after checkout time to find bedding all over the living room , clothing wrapped up in a blanket, clothing on the deck, no bags a bit of food in the fridge but no people’s feelings all the lights and the heater on. I have phoned and left messages but no reply.  I am really perplexed as to what is going on. Should my cleaner put all their stuff out side and lock up or just leave it. 

[Colleen253]

@Anthea50 If the stay is over, remove the ability for the guests to access the house (sounds like the windows should be securely locked), have the cleaner pack up the belongings, and clean the house. Message the guest and tell them they will have to make arrangements to pick up their things somewhere else, and to not go back to the house. 

[Sarah977]

@Anthea50  While Colleen is correct as far as a normal booking if the guests haven't checked out in time, this is a bad situation because you allowed them to come a day before their check-in date without amending the reservation to the correct dates.  So officially, as far as Airbnb is concerned, they don't need to leave until tomorrow.  And if it comes down to it, they could lie and say they checked in on the correct date and you won't have a leg to stand on.

I wouldn't trust these people at all- they got their dates wrong, climbed in a window when they weren't even supposed to be there, and phoned you at 2:30 AM, and now went out leaving their stuff strewn all over when they knew they had to be out.

I fear you have some scammers on your hands, and I wouldn't be surprised if drugs are involved.

So unless you have new guests checking in today, I would leave their stuff and make sure they pack up and leave as soon as they show back up.

Never allow guests to check in again on anything but the check-in date they booked. Also keep your communication with guests in the Airbnb messaging. You won't be able to prove anything to Airbnb if you communicate by phone.

And make it clear to guests in the future what times you can be reached. No one should be phoning you at 2AM for anything but an emergency situation.