You might have heard a lot of funny and shocking narratives about an Airbnb experience from several guests. But even hosts go through their fair share of Airbnb horror stories once in a while.
Sometimes it’s hilarious to look back on, but it could also get risky. As an Airbnb host, it’s best to understand and request Airbnb insurance to prevent these situations from causing too much damage.
Here are a few personal experiences from Airbnb hosts that left them tearing up in laughter or dropping their jaws in surprise:
A Friendly Guest With Not-So Friendly Intentions
This story is unlike typical Airbnb horror stories. Back in 2011, this Airbnb host left for a business trip with the expectation that her apartment was safe in the hands of her tenant.
Her Airbnb guest sent over several texts of gratitude and appreciation, saying she was thankful for the host’s hospitality and her satisfaction with her stay at the Airbnb.
But when the host came back from her trip, she found her Airbnb apartment in a state she wasn’t expecting after a stay from what she thought was a friendly tenant.
Her place was trashed, vandalized, and burglarized with missing cash and heirloom jewelry. Luckily, the Airbnb customer service team assisted her with the issue and supported her recovery emotionally and financially.
She states in her blog post a specific line: that this traveler stole her spirit. The lesson? Even with all the honest guests at Airbnb, it’s always important to look into your soon-to-be tenant’s background before accepting a reservation.
Questionably Smart Locking
In London, an Airbnb host takes in a guest who appears to be a bit short on common sense. Fortunately, the hosts changed their door locks recently. That way, it would be easier for guests to unlock, and it locks automatically once the door closes.
But after checking in, this guest calls in to say she got locked in her room. The Airbnb guest sent a photograph holding her keys and explained that she spent 30 minutes trying to unlock the door.
The host arrives to explain how the lock worked, letting the guest know she had to pull onto the handle after pulling it down. But her guest held onto the handle, waiting for it to open, and the Airbnb host had to spend 30 minutes teaching how the lock worked.
As if it was a jinx, five other guests who booked their Airbnb couldn’t work the door. Talk about contagious!
A Suspicious Paper Bag
Any Airbnb guest would be surprised to find a paper bag tucked under a closet. In this situation, the previous guests contacted the Airbnb host after leaving to say they left a paper bag under the wardrobe but were unwilling to share its contents.
But new Airbnb guests had already checked in, so the host had to wait for them to leave to retrieve the said bag, thinking it might be shameful or suspicious. Surprisingly, the bag had around 15 grand worth of cash bundled up neatly.
However, here is a twist! The new guests had seen the bag already and left a hair on the door before they left. They returned to the hair off the handle, and the bag was gone.
Assuming it was dangerous, they packed up, left, and reported what they saw to the police. It turns out the previous Airbnb guests kept their money in cash since they hated banks! The Airbnb hosts explained to the guests after causing a sudden scare.
House Keys Of The Past
This Airbnb host in Auckland shares a story about a guest who seemed to do things a single way -and it’s about handling keys!
She received a call from her Airbnb guest saying he could not find the keys to the Airbnb. According to him, the box had no keys.
The host asked her neighbor to look into it and let her know the keys were there, so the neighbor handed them to the guest instead.
The Airbnb customer seemed bewildered after receiving the key. Apparently, the guest had never used traditional keys before and only used swipe cards. It was like a sudden blast from the past for the guest.
What Happens When You Forget Towels?
These Airbnb hosts made a minor mistake, which caused a memorable scene for the tenant. There was an Airbnb with a private bathroom adjacent.
While in the kitchen, there were loud banging noises, which the hosts assumed were just the neighbors working around.
It took a while for the hosts to realize the lock to their guest’s bathroom broke, and he forgot to bring towels with him. Without a choice, he escaped through the window and ran past the kitchen window naked while the hosts’ grandchildren had breakfast!
It might have been awkward for the guest, but they found it just as funny and were even comfortable enough to book again a month later.
The moral of the story is? Don’t forget your towels.
More Than Just A New Year Party
Most people rent out an Airbnb apartment or property for parties mainly because they don’t want to be trashing their own. Unfortunately, this Airbnb host experienced having to be one of those targets during a New Year’s celebration.
She didn’t think twice about accepting the reservation. A few hours later, her neighbors called her to inform her of the craziness happening at her London apartment.
The partygoers left behind the Airbnb apartment with a funky smell, torn apart floorboards, and the television pulled off the wall. It amounted to a thousand pounds worth of damage, all caused by a single party!
There Can Only Be One Guest
Every Airbnb host would want to give their guests a satisfactory stay at their property or apartment. But mishaps and overlooking can happen, and when that happens, some people cross the line to find a solution.
An Airbnb host accidentally had his property booked twice. One of the Airbnb guests arrived to find the door locked despite knowing they had a reservation.
Somehow, they decided to break through the window to get in, only to find the other guest enjoying the stay. It damaged both the host and the guest with an unfulfilled reservation.
Maybe Too Much Peanut Butter
After every booking, guests tend to leave something behind at the Airbnb they rent. But usually, it would only be a minor inconvenience to the Airbnb host. Nothing big.
This Airbnb host came across a rather unexpected gift left behind by their guest. According to the host, they came home to a sticky home -because everything was covered in peanut butter.
The host found peanut butter and jelly jars covered in their contents, on several knobs, on bottlenecks and caps, and even all over the floor!
At that point, the host eventually found the situation hilarious rather than frustrating.
Forced Entry: A Saga On Forgiving And Forgetting
Some days, all a guest would want is to check into their Airbnb and finally rest up. For some people, any hindrance can become unbearable.
One rainy day in Washington, an Airbnb guest realized his keys were missing when he arrived at the property. He decided to take matters into his own hands after going back and forth with the Airbnb host.
He decided to bust the back door open by throwing a rock through the glass but later offered to pay for the replacement.
Compared to other Airbnb horror stories, at least this one has a happy ending!
Importance Of Knowing Airbnb Insurance Policies
Airbnb offers insurance policies of its own. However, these won’t always be enough to cover the possible damages a guest could cause to your property.
Usually, Airbnb only covers damages during a guest’s stay and within the property. Anything beyond that would be a problem for the host.
Other than Airbnb, consider getting third-party insurance to cover anything outside the range of Airbnb’s protection.
Here are a couple of reasons short-term rental insurance is essential:
Airbnb Host Protection
Airbnb provides liability insurance coverage up to $1 million against bodily injury, damage to property, and damage to neighboring areas and properties during a stay.
However, the Airbnb host protection will not cover the following if the Airbnb host is responsible for the harm caused.
Host Liability Coverage
Host liability coverage will cover similar situations as Airbnb’s host protection, including instances beyond the booking.
These generally protect the host from cases against them, claiming they caused harm or damage.
Property Damage Coverage
Airbnb doesn’t always cover damages to the property itself. Property damage insurance from third-party companies usually includes additional coverage such as theft, damage to personal belongings, or normal wear and tear.
Final Thoughts
Some Airbnb horror stories may seem absurd, if not unrealistically funny. There’s really no telling when something could go wrong with an Airbnb booking. To protect yourself, always be sure to have insurance ready to shoulder any harm, even if it catches you off guard!
