Last summer, Vicky Borman, an Airbnb Superhost, grew suspicious when a woman in her early twenties requested to book her Heritage-listed cottage in St Neots, England. The woman had no reviews, prompting Borman to investigate her social media, where she found an advertisement for a party at the cottage. She declined the booking. Minutes later, another request came from an older woman booking for her son, who Borman discovered through social media was linked to the initial requester. She declined again.
This experience has led Borman to be more selective, often checking potential guests’ social media profiles to prevent problematic stays. A survey by home safety company Minut validated her caution, revealing that 43% of property managers have faced noise complaints, and 25% have called the police due to disturbances.
Sebastien Long, CEO of the short-term rental company Lodgeur, also delves into social media and news searches to prevent fraud and unauthorized parties, revealing such steps have led to about 10 arrests among 9,000 guests over five years.
In contrast, Crystal Shell, another Superhost, strictly accepts guests with five-star reviews to avoid trouble. Her stringent vetting stems from bad experiences with less-rated guests failing to follow check-out procedures, prompting her to establish a company providing detailed property information to renters.
Despite these precautions, Borman recounted her worst guest: a seemingly reputable fellow Airbnb Superhost who left her cottage in disarray, misleading her by stating he was on a dinner date with his wife.
Airbnb claims issues are rare, noting that only 0.03% of global bookings lead to significant damage claims, with support policies to protect hosts. Still, Borman and other hosts like Shell emphasize the importance of thorough vetting to maintain property integrity and guest satisfaction.
Original Story https://www.cnbc.com/2024/07/08/why-did-airbnb-host-reject-me-hosts-are-looking-up-travelers-online.html
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