*Get Ready to Read*
So I stayed in this Airbnb for about 2 1/2 months or so, and here are some things I had gone through and would look out for in the event one is considering this Airbnb.
- Host does not have an issue yelling at guests and/or verbally coming off aggressive to prove a point. During my time there, he had made several ridiculous accusations and statements about me and other guests who had lived there.
- Restricted use of Oven, ice maker in the Freezer, and turned off Central Air in the home. There ARE AC units in the rooms, however, there’s a skylight in the hall area so as you can imagine the rest of the home felt like you were baking in an oven.
- The “bed” shown in the listing is not an actual mattress, rather it’s an AIR mattress. He informed me that he has his reasons why he has that instead of an actual bed, however, for the price presented you would hope for a real bed that would not deflate every other night. After expressing several times that there was an issue with the mattress, the issue was never fixed. They were “looked at” but never fixed. Don’t even think the other room is better, you’ll get a hard futon.
- I was informed upon arrival that he would provide new sheets and blankets every two weeks. He did provide new sheets after FOUR weeks and only after I asked more than once. Then I asked if he could wash my sheets and he wanted to charge me an EXTRA $20 when the local laundromat charges much less.
- False advertisement about the neighbourhood. This neighborhood is not for your average tourist. It’s in a tough neighborhood, and the average Joe may not be able to handle the environment. I’m personally use to the environment based on my background but others be wary. Many New Yorkers I met during my time there referred to it as “Probably the worst neighborhood in New York”. Granted, to each his own, however if several people are saying the same thing about the area I’d be a bit cautious.
- Provides VERY minimal things for guest.
- Has very particular rules for guests THAT WERE NOT INITIALLY OUTLINED IN THE LISTING.
- There are cameras outside the property and inside of the stairwell of the property and he creepily watches the camera minute by minute and knows when we are home. He will take screenshots of you coming in and out in the event he wants to talk about something. Personally, I find that super creepy.
- Comes in home unannounced. Just creeps in on us without knocking. Unfortunately saw one of the other guests in an indecent state due to his inability to respect boundaries. Luckily, I was not that guest.
- Lies when reporting to Airbnb about his guests. If he has an issue with you, he will fabricate things to Airbnb and you will look bad. I personally did not go through that misfortune, however, my roommate did.
- Lied to my roommate saying that I filed a complaint against her when in reality it was HE who had the issue with someone she had over for a few minutes. This of course could have caused tension between roommates and is not something I’d recommend for anyone.
- Used offensive language during conversation with me saying he “Grew up with hood n*ggas” putting me in quite an uncomfortable position. Like, seriously?
- Charging my roommate for a toilet situation for a value of $1,500 when he has no proof that she nor I did anything to his property. Putting me in an uncomfortable position when speaking to him as I am afraid that he will charge me for one false move. My roommate and I lived in fear. Literally.
- Told me that “the blacks in NY have not earned their blackness”. Also saying that black people in New York are not “True Blacks”, AGAIN, putting me in an uncomfortable position
- Having open house events for the apartment and not informing guests every time that they will occur. Even when he did, it would be like maybe the hour before.
- Saying that I did not inform him of a guest I had arriving when in our Airbnb messages it CLEARLY states that I have messaged him about it.
- Then he claims that the guests that my roommate and I would bring over were “random people” compromising our integrity by assuming we are having relations with these guests when they are simply GUESTS (who we have known for years and who we have had confirmation that there would be no issue with from the other roommate).
- Overcharged for the location provided. All New Yorkers I spoke with about the Airbnb, what it looks like, what it offers, where it’s located and what it costs monthly, ALL agreed that it was overpriced and informed me that there are better options for a lower costs or equal cost with less restrictions.