this was the single worst air bnb experience my girlfriend and I have ever been on. before confirming the owner mentioned we’d need to share our ID numbers for the body corp to approve our stay, i expressed concern about this but after their insistence we figured its fine. if they just the numbers how bad could it be.
once we confirmed though the owner spent the entire day harassing my partner and i to send pictures of our drivers licenses, our passports and visa’s (peculiar since we’re South African). she got my private number and spent the day calling me for it back to back despite my saying i’d be in town working all day. i explained that i was uncomfortable with this and that considering POPI no private company can insist to receive these and she said we wouldn’t be let in.
i asked if she would simply cancel our booking so we could go elsewhere and she refused.
the whole thing felt condescending, i felt the owner was incredibly entitled, security was bullish and combative and that the apartment it self wasn’t worth the hassle even if it was that affordable. i also reeeaaallly have to wonder if this is the kind of service a white airbnb tenant would have been afforded — anyway, glad to be on our way.