current guest wants to self quarantine and stay for free

[Sam397]

I have guest who are coming up on the end of a 10 day stay and they just contacted me saying that they want to put themselves in self quarantine because officials are telling people to stay where they are and not travel and put themselves under self quarantine, and since its beyond their control they should be able to stay for free. They feel fine but they dont want to travel back to California.  I told them I didnt know what to say, I told them that I didnt think that officials meant that you couldnt go home when they advised people to quarantine themselves. I truly dont know what to do. I dont know if they are scamming me or if they really do think they that thats what they are supposed to do. And I dont know for sure what the officials meant hen they said to quarantine themselves.I told them I would have to get back with them and they said were going to contact CS and see if this qualified as a extenuating circumstances. What to do, what to do. 

[Ann783]

@Sam397 He would only have to isolate if he tested positive or was within 6ft of a COVID-19 positive person. Length of isolation varies but shouldn’t be more than 14 days- especially if he has no symptoms 

[Mark116]

@Sam397  They want to stay at your place and not pay, they're scamming you.  

[Dawn81]

@Sam397 that is really distressing for you and utterly unfair. Did they drive from California to your place in Nevada? If they're in their own car tell him they need to go back and isolate in their own home. Here in California there's people out at Costco Walmart supermarkets but they're just maintaining social distancing not complete isolation. Try to get them out of your home I think that they have a very bad attitude. Furthermore if they wish to stay in your home they should pay you for it if you agree that they can stay.

[Anonymous]

@Sam397 After the paid booking is complete, an unpaid guest is unlawfully trespassing on your property. But if your guest feels the need to wait several hours on hold for an Airbnb rep to explain that Extenuating Circumstances refers only to cancellations, not free stays, you might as well go ahead and let them. 

You should also express on no uncertain terms that any additional nights must be paid upfront through Airbnb, no "pay you cash later" offers. 

[Suzanne302]

@Sam397  This is an easy one. Simply, "No. Go home."

[Trevor243]

@Sam397  Absolutely, definitely no.

If they tell you they have the fever and cough, say "no problem, so do I, I'll pop in to see you in the morning". That might just scare them off!

[Helen350]

@Sam397 Completely your call whether you let them stay longer or not. But if they do stay, they pay! Same as life before virus! Nothing's changed!

[Laura2592]

@Sam397 before all of this happened, I had a guest who got the flu while visiting. It was a couple and one member (retired, older) got very ill and demanded to extend their stay on those grounds, wanting me to cancel the upcoming check in on their behalf. I couldn't do that and the guest became very insistent that they could not travel. The non-ill guest really wanted to go home and get medical attention for the ill person in their area (they had flu tests done at an urgent care nearby but they both wanted to see their own doctors.) I had to kindly yet firmly tell them they had to leave on time and stick to it. 

Quarantine is a measure taken to isolate a diseased person or animal to halt the spread of illness. There has been no quarantine mandated by our state and if this individual has tested positive for the virus, they would have to have some kind of proof that they need to stay put for 14 days. At any rate, those 14 days would be paid days as Airbnb is not refunding for stays that are being used 🙂

I would tell this guest I have other stays booked if I did. If I did not, I would politely yet firmly say "Yes, there is a lot of fear about this virus. You are welcome to extend your stay at our nightly price of X. Airbnb is offering a refund for stays canceled between March and April 14, so if you have any upcoming travel that gives you concerns, you may want to contact those hosts or Airbnb."

[Helen3]

Of course they are conning you @Sam397 

Just let them know if they want to stay they need to extend their booking through airbnb and pay for it.

If they don't want to do this they need to leave in line with their original booking.

[Sam397]

If anybody's interested, I was finally able to get hold of actual  person at the health department and she  told me that if someones wasn't sick or wasn't showing symptoms that they should drive home, they want people in their homes not in hotels or BnB's..

I dont believe this was a scam though, she seemed relieved when I told her what the health department said. She did try to get hold of CS but couldn't get in touch with them so who knows. Anyway all is good and its no longer an issue, they will be leaving tomorrow as planned. Thank you for all the input everybody.

[Helen3]

Sorry anyone who tells you that they are going to stay in your place and that they have no intention paying you is scamming you @Sam397 

[Amber1]

Dont do it. Get them out..