First interaction wasn’t the best. I notified the host I was running late due to work commitments, but received a rather blunt and condescending response. He dictated how I should arrive to the flat and the duration, even after I mentioned I was on a bus… in traffic.
We were celebrating a special occasion and planning to go out and visitors stopped by to greet us before setting off together. As soon as I opened the door a booming voice (the host) startled us from the ring camera (that we didn’t know about) informing us that “neighbours are complaining that you or your visitors are being loud”
We found this strange. How would “neighbours” know they were OUR visitors before they even got to the door?
I simply replied: they are not staying long and we’re all leaving together. We left shortly after.
The host accused us of wearing shoes/heels around the flat and kept alluding to charges if there were “damages”. I kept reassuring him that our shoes were kept in the hallway and even sent photographic evidence but he was adamant that we were wearing them around the house. How would he know this?
I queried the camera situation as we were all feeling uncomfortable at this point but he dismissed our concerns and suggested to take up “complaints” with Airbnb.
In summary,
- We paid £284.52 for 2 nights.
- The host requested an additional £210 for visitors (I proposed a settlement and asked to resolve this amicably. He refused).
- The host demanded us to check-out early (due to the visitors situation).
- We settled the visitor fees with Airbnb and closed the matter.
- The host thanked us in a message for keeping the flat clean with NO damages at check-out.
- The following day the host requested a further £495 for alleged damages to a marble table that WE DID NOT DO!
To conclude, you go in thinking it’s going to be a pleasant stay but it ends with additional charges and accusations that come out of the blue.
God knows how many people have been accused of damaging that marble table…
Please take heed and record/take pictures of every. Single. Thing. In that property otherwise you’ll be subject to accusations and even be writing a review similar to mine.
The host expected us to pay a grand total of £989.52 for 2 nights. We might as well have stayed at the Ritz for this amount of money.
Absolutely ridiculous.