AirBnB - Buyer Beware !

zeldo

Just thought I'd share a recent experience with AirBnB as a warning.

I booked an apartment in Portugal for next summer. I booked it last August for next summer, and paid the deposit. Then booked flights for family. Today, the host cancelled the reservation and immediately re-listed the property for more then twice what I paid. I've contacted the host, and no response. I contacted AirBnB and they've just advised that the host can do this. I won't be using AirBnB again !

amber2

Can you leave negative feedback for the owner.

Senature

I sympathise OP, I also won't use that platform again, but for a different reason.

Last summer our host declared we had caused €250 damage to furniture (we hadn't). I refused to pay, was put under a fair bit of pressure, but the host was reimbursed by some insurance fund in the end.

The whole thing was extremely stressful, totally destroyed my post holiday feel good vibes, and left me wondering what would happen if tge host decided there was €1-2k damage, you are just meant to pay up?!

They care more about keeping the hosts happy as without them they would have no business.

zeldo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120177942#Comment_120177942

I did ask could I leave a review. Another wonderful Airbnb policy is that you can only leave a review after your stay. So I don't even have that option. It's appalling really. In other news I've been emailing the host. They're a letting agency based in the Algarve. The garbage he's been telling me is unreal. First he claimed the apartment complex is not child friendly as the pool is unsupervised! I've stayed in that block 4 or 5 times, never been an issue before. There's a playground in the development! Then he said the owner is selling the property, so it's not available. Even though it's up on Airbnb available for rent. I pointed this out and he hasn't replied. Maybe he's not telling the owner what he's doing and will pocket the increased rent, or maybe the owner is looking for more rent. Who knows.

StrawbsM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058281555/airbnb-buyer-beware

The host can cancel but they will be fined 10% of the value of your booking. Airbnb could also block off the dates that you had reserved too. Get onto Airbnb again and say that they relisted it immediately at a higher rate.

I’m an Airbnb host and I don’t like how you were treated and it gives the platform (which includes me) a bad name.

zeldo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120178391#Comment_120178391

I think the host is fined if they cancel within 30 days of the booking. I have contacted airbnb in their hopeless chat support feature on their website. I gave them all the details and their advice was that the host is entitled to do this. I'll try them again. Even if they are fined 10% of the value of my booking, they've relisted at about 220% of the price I had agreed. So 10% wouldn't bother them.

amber2

And if Airbnb are unhelpful tell them you are leaving a negative review on trust pilot, although seeing as it’s scoring 1.3 stars out of 5 it may not hold any clout.

Your situation has enlightened me and I won’t be using Airbnb without checking if a host is canceling reservations in the future as I always assumed this was the client canceling their booking never thought it could be a gazumping holiday let type situation. Hope it doesn’t ruin your holiday and you find alternative accommodation, I know you can spend hours trawling the internet finding the right accommodation for everyone.

StrawbsM

The nearer they cancel to your check in date, the higher the penalty. Bad form by Airbnb though and they should, imo, penalise them further by not allowing a booking for those dates.

I hope you find somewhere else OP

zeldo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120178606#Comment_120178606

Airbnb have been very unhelpful with this. Giving stock auto-answers. e.g. "As you may know, Hosts on Airbnb have full freedom on their availability and prices and sometimes they experience unexpected events in their life and may need to cancel a reservation." I reminded them there were no unexpected events, as the apartment was re-listed immediately. I'm left with no confidence in Airbnb and will not use it again. Your booking and deposit count for nothing. As suggested I'll leave a bad review on Trustpilot, and have threatened support with same. It's a good idea to prevent bookings for dates of cancelled reservations, but nothing to stop hosts listing the property on one of the many alternative platforms. BTW - thanks for the kind sentiments. I'm sure we'll find somewhere, but I'll be seriously out of pocket.

Big Daddy Kane

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058281555/airbnb-buyer-beware

Bad form indeed !!

Where did you stay in the end? or did you have to cancel flights too?

I have stayed once with AirBnb, took pics of place, had the owner verify same {along with meter reading} so we cover all bases.

Also, was the host in this case an AirBnb Superhost? or was it their first time posting ad?

Big Daddy Kane

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120178468#Comment_120178468

Just to say, there could be many reasons for a host to cancel, damage to home, illness or something out of the ordinary.. (I agree though that you shouldn't be put out financially) poor from Airbnb, the fact you can't post a negative review is crazy.

You should be allowed to show you actually made a booking (redacting some info of course) so future users can be aware.

zeldo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120178719#Comment_120178719

The booking was for next summer. The listing appears to have disappeared from airbnb - the host is probably spooked with all the emails I'm sending them. Not sure what sort of host they were - but they had many favourable reviews.

zeldo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120178737#Comment_120178737

Absolutely there are many valid reasons for a host to cancel a booking. But cancelling a booking for next July(2023), where the deposit was paid last August(2022), and then immediately re-listing the property at more than twice the rate I paid, is not a valid reason. I think any potential users of airbnb should be aware that a host can do this.

naughtysmurf

The ability of the host to be able to cancel at even short enough notice put me off AirBnB for a good while as I’m a bit anal about my holidays & plan everything to a T, not a go with the flow type but in fairness I’ve had really good experiences with it in Rome (twice), Verona, Prague, I’ve a place in Spain booked for July & maybe the Canaries in October, a mix of dealing direct with owner or a management company, the mrs has booked a number of places with no issues

I personally only consider well reviewed Super Hosts though, I usually send a few messages just to get a bit of a feel about the person I’m dealing with too, I feel your pain OP but you’ve time on your side, could be worse

Why / how are you seriously out of pocket?

zeldo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120180044#Comment_120180044

I got a good deal on the place I originally booked. 2.2k or so. Equivalent properties are now listing at around 5k. There's been an explosion in prices. Cost of living crisis? Probably explains why the host did what they did. They are an airbnb superhost. They've removed the property from airbnb now, I found it on another platform for around 4k - but won't go near it as what's to stop them doing the same thing again.

endofrainbow

If it's part of a complex, try posting a review on Google.

I've used air bnb many times without issue but their fees have increased and not putting it back into CS.

2 negative experiences whereby a place was not properly cleaned on arrival. Took pix told they were too blurry. I threatened a chargeback and they relented. New listing and I won't make that mistake again.

2nd was an agency operating on behalf of a host. During the booking process I was asked to verify my details on a 3rd party site which were requesting $50 deposit. Got onto chat and they actually removed the listing as it contravenes their terms with regard to 3rd parties.

Hope you manage to find something suitable.