Live bugs, dead bugs, cobwebs, dirt, rotting food…I could go on. This rental was clearly not cleaned and made ready for a tenant. I relocated to the bay area for work and had already paid for a full five weeks for what I thought would be a temporary living quarters. I had to purchase cleaning supplies to make the place livable to begin with. I am not a neat freak by any means but I do have basic standards of sanitation. There was old feces on the walk way leading up to the apartment and cobwebs that had to be knocked down before I could make my way up the many stairs. The floors were filthy, there were cobwebs-and not fresh ones-everywhere and live and dead bugs in every space. There was hair in the refrigerator and the bathroom drawers and mold in the shower. The shower attachment didn’t match the holder so it would fall at any moment. There was molding food in the sink as this sink is not actually made to dispose food and has no disposal. The “hosts” live directly above the rental quarters so the idea that they didn’t have time to check the apartment ahead of time is out of the question. The idea that I needed to tell them the state of the place in the first 72 hours is ridiculous. They knew exactly what kind of rental they were providing. Everyday more bugs came and I would have to clean all over again.
After two weeks of nowhere else to go I finally hit the breaking point. I woke up to find two large spiders over my head and bites on my right forearm. I filed a complaint with Airbnb support but only received limited help. The “host” told Airbnb that he would come by and clean and spray for bugs. This was a laughable solution as this should have been done prior to the rent date. I was only able to negotiate two weeks of a refund and half the cleaning deposit. I’m sure the “host” thought he was being generous but I cannot imagine ever having the conscience to take someone’s money for a job that was never done. I was taken advantage of and my money was pocketed unethically. Staying at this rental was one of the worst decisions I have ever made. Airbnb is designed to protect the “host” and not the renter and this particular “host” was well aware of it. Do yourself a favor and stay away.