I left this listing early due to feeling uncomfortable; the host then harassed me online. In summary: he made an unsubstantiated demand for damages, sent messages containing personal insults, wrote out a very negative review of me on paper accusing me of being unbalanced, and sent me a photograph of it, and finally held several items of mine hostage as he tried to coerce me into returing in person to be reprimanded. Details below.
The room is very nice and in a good location, but I would not recommend anyone who is travelling or living alone to rent here.
Harald made several remarks during the first week that I thought of as generally harmless but made me feel slightly uncomfortable. I also overheard him (there is no sound insulation in the small apartment) lecturing the other guest/temporary host about the guest's future and prospects, during which he mentioned my name and university affiliation. In addition the internet was too poor for zoom meetings so I had to go work in the local cafe every day.
Then I woke up several days in a row with serious insect bites. I thought it might be bed bugs and asked Harald what we should do. He had my entire bed sprayed down with an anti-insect poison. I assumed he knew what he was doing, but when I looked online everything I read stated that such use was dangerous, especially where you sleep. I went to stay with a friend for a few days while it aired out, then when the friend offered to host me until the end of the rental period I accepted.
I came by with my partner to pack up, 12 days before the end of the lease. Harald was just on his way out so I told him that I was moving and asked where to leave the keys. I didn't confront him or ask for a refund or make any complaint - I just wanted to get out of there. He then began to harass me online.
He claimed for damage to two items. One I know for certain I did not damage, for the other I can't honestly state I am 100% sure, but he failed to provide sufficient proof and the preceding false accusation made me hesitant. When asked for more proof and a proper invoice for repair, he started to send messages of personal accusations.
He wrote out, on paper, a very negative review and sent it to me on Whatsapp:
- He accused me of having an 'unbalanced personality'.
- He accused me of going 'from very friendly to explosive'. I was always civil, never responding in kind to his personal attacks.
- I had once described him as 'wonderful' before meeting him (via message when he was being very considerate prior to me moving in), and was now using the word 'uncomfortable' after the events above. He implied that this change indicated I was unstable.
- He accused me of being extremely messy and dirty. I kept the common areas completely immaculate; my private room had a few clothes on the furniture and sometimes a couple of plates and mugs left for no more than a day. I assumed my room was my own. He never mentioned this as a problem during my stay.
He accused me of being 'out of reality' because the bites turned out to be not from bed bugs, but were probably mosquitos or fleas. I only suggested they might be bed bugs, as I did not know. I waited several days to make sure the bites were originating from Harald's apartment, and was almost apologetic when approaching him about it. It was not the bites itself that made me leave in the first instance, but the spraying of the bed.
He seemed particularly angry that I had left without discussing it with him, referring to this as my 'poor communication skills'. I did tell him in person, but he was on his way out and did not ask any questions. I also didn't consider it any inconvenience to him, as I was not requesting a refund.
- He forwarded an all-caps message from his domestic cleaner agreeing with him that my leaving without discussing it was `WRONG'.
- He failed to recognise that the litany of complaints in his review could all have been resolved had he communicated with me.
Finally, he told me I had forgot two coats and a hat that were hanging behind the door. He asked me to come in person so he could 'speak to me about my communication skills improvement'. At this point I was living an hour away without a car, and in addition was very uncomfortable with the idea of meeting him again. It also sounded like he wanted to scold me, which as an adult I considered very inappropriate. I said that was impossible, but that my partner could pick the clothes up for me any time that was convenient. For six days I repeatedly and politely asked him to specify a time and he refused to hand them over unless I came myself. Eventually I had to file a complaint with Airbnb, and they sorted it out.