SERIOUS PRIVACY AND SAFETY CONCERNS. We checked in with no snags and read over this host rules and they were basic rules. Our first day there, we left for a bit to take the kids out, and we received a message from Fred to tell us we had to turn the window ACs off when we left and make sure we don't leave food in the sink. Which we found a bit odd to receive such a specific instruction as if someone was in the unit. But after we were done we took the kids back to the unit to make sure we turned off the ACs only to discover that things seemed strange and all the ACs unit were already shut off.
I messaged the host and after 45 mins he responded that he just "happened" to be in the area and came in and turned everything off. ZERO communication, no warning, and no communication afterwards, not until we noticed. We have nothing to hide, but this is a serious privacy issue. How would he know if some of our party wasn't still inside the unit sleeping or showering alone, including our teenager? We expect privacy, security and safety in our AirBnbs and this was not okay. And his messages specifically told us that he always does this to guests for any reasons he feels, but no where is it written in the rules that the host will enter the unit when we are not there for non-emergency reasons and zero communication. Apparently this host, Fred, feels like its "his unit his rules" and your privacy is not a priority. I have no idea who was in our unit, for how long, or what happened. This is very alarming, very creepy feeling and an invasion of privacy not to mention a safety issue. My kids were scared, and none of us wanted to sleep/stay there anymore. We've stayed at dozens of places over the years and no other host has done this.
We immediately called Airbnb and after they read the messages from Fred to myself, they 100% agreed that this was a serious privacy/safety issue and quickly transferred us within the hour to a completely new location with a new host, and they were very vocal that this was not okay and escalated the situation immediately. They also told us not to have any more contact with Fred, but to tell the host to contact Airbnb and they would investigate and take care of the rest. This host is clearly upset and keeps messaging me that I shouldn't be mad because he can come into the unit unannounced whenever he wants to because its his unit. I would never stay here again and I would never recommend anyone else staying here if you want to have privacy and safety. I have no idea how many other guests he's done this to- who either didn't know he came in multiple times when they were gone or thought they had to accept it. AirBnb does not agree with Fred's protocols and made that very clear to us when they covered the expenses for the new place to get us transferred over. Thankfully we were able to go somewhere safer which helped the whole trip from being ruined.