My partner and I are living month to month in Airbnb’s during the pandemic while we WFH. After a few weeks in this airbnb, we started see rat droppings. Soon, it became 10 large rat droppings in one morning and we decided it was enough we could not live in this condition. Owner comes, sends a guy to place sticky traps, tells airbnb the situation is handled. We moved out, but still are paying for this place. On top of that, we are paying for another place since we need a new place to live. Airbnb says it’s on the host to refund, who refuses to admit there is an issue. Airbnb customer service refuses to help us get our money back or at this point, help us recoup our losses. We should be getting even more in my opinion. Airbnb is not there to help you. Be warned using Airbnb for long term stays. We had a literal rat infestation and they don’t think that’s a problem and refuse to help even when sending picture evidence. I want to escalate this and don’t know how.
Airbnb tries to help both host and guest come to resolution together but doesn't make a decision for you everytime. Host and guest both always have their side of stories so taking sides of one or another doesn't help gaining trust of either side as someone will feel like airbnb didn't take their side. Similar to you, I have been living in different airbnb long term month to month and travel. I didn't had any major issue so far. Its bad luck for you that it happened to you. If you reach CS after moving out, how would they help you as they wouldn't know if guest is lying or host is lying. In future, it's best to reach out CS, collect evidence and work with CS rather than moving out and then asking for refund. I had a minor issue where host reached out to CS saying I destroyed their wall curtain. What happened was host cat used to come to our apartment to play and we love cat so we let him play. One day he was playing and damaged the curtain as he loves to play with it. So host was asking me to pay for it. Before moving it , I always make a video of state on how i am leaving the apartment. I told CS my side of story and send them photos and videos . CS looked at all evidence and denied host claim to get money from guest as it was host cat who did damage and about which I notified host many times. Think from airbnb perspective. You are asking to believe you and assume that host is lying that he has fixed the issue. Without providing the evidence since you already moved out. And based on this, you want airbnb to stop payment to host and give you money and make host lose money which he might be counting on for his livelihood
Ok but that’s not what happened. We worked with the host first, and then to Airbnb because his offer was not sufficient for what we were losing, and we documented evidence and sent to Airbnb before we left. Even with picture evidence of rat poop, they wouldn’t help our case. The host then became vindictive that we went to Airbnb customer service and cut our refund, making us pay for many nights we are there. Airbnb did nothing with our pictures and claims.
Having a system which punishes the host by reaching out to Airbnb is fucking absurd truly
We can’t diagnose your case on blind but in most cases like this you will get a refund for the nights not spent and still have to pay for the nights spent at the listing.
The owner was upset and only gave us 50% of the nights we didn’t spend and Airbnb said there was nothing they could do
duh. why are you surprised. this is very very well known airbnb behavior
What are Airbnb alternatives? I never want to use them again
vrbo