How does the saying go, “There’s always that one guy…”? Well…. Here’s the ultimate case in point. Meet our neighbor, who is an Airbnb Superhost. For the last two years, against our repeated requests to desist, has fraudulently included pictures of our land, and that of our adjacent neighbors in her listing, describing our lands as a “wildlife preserve” and a “treat for those who love hiking, bird watching and nature in its pure, undisturbed form.”
Needless to say, the fraudulent advertisement of our lands has created an ongoing problem of Airbnb guests trespassing on our property and/or stealing our kayaks, crab pots, fishing gear and boats. At our wit’s end, we finally filed a formal complaint with Airbnb over four weeks ago, but to date, no action has been taken by either Airbnb or the host to remove the pictures, and all of our inquiries on the matter have been stonewalled by Airbnb.
Although we feel badly for the unwitting Airbnb guests, we foresee a lot of ruined vacations on their end, as we intend to press charges for every future incident of trespass and/or theft. Good fences make for good neighbors, but non-Airbnbers make for the best kind of neighbors. Just say no to Airbnb.
Try and wait to see when new guests get there, and immediately go over and let them know that if they go on your property (and show them where it is) that you’ll call the police. Should get the host some bad reviews and something should change (either the listing or less guests).
Buy a herd of hungry pitbulls and send them off to the first Airbnb muppet that meanders onto your property. Film the entire scene and post on social media.
@Scott,
The photos of the views of the land located North of the Airbnb rental are of our and our neighbors’ private sound-side property, but are being described by the Airbnb Host as a wildlife preserve: “This wildlife preserve immediately north of the house is a treat for those who love hiking, bird watching and nature in its pure, undisturbed form.”
So yes, the guests actually do end up believing that they have the right to access ALL of the private lands directly North of the rental, because they are being deliberately mislead by the Airbnb host into believing that the lands North of the rental are a public wildlife sanctuary.
Over the last 2 years, we’ve taken the neighborly approach with the Airbnb Host, giving them the benefit of the doubt, thinking that perhaps they received poor information from a realtor when they bought the rental house, but after showing them the Dare County GIS maps and the Land Tax records, and after many polite neighborly conversations, explaining the trespassing/ theft problems that we had been experiencing with their guests. Our repeated requests to remove the pictures and their misleading descriptions of our land from their listing, have still been ignored.
We are truly at our wits end.
Still in Disbelief on the Beach
@Scott, @David,
We are neither rich, nor depriving anyone of public beach access. Our land is located on the Sound-side, and is directly attached to our home (back yard), and is 100% privately own by us, in accordance State, County, and Federal laws. Although we have a fence in place (with signage), it has done little to deter our neighbor’s Airbnb guests. As a note, all sound-side properties in the villages are privately owned.
Do you have exclusive rights to the beach? If not the issue isn’t with the Airbnb host. It’s with the guests. Assuming they are actually trespassing.
Although illegally depriving the public of beach access is a rich person’s pastime. I am sure you are aware that the beach that is adjacent to your land is open to the public (“All beaches within the town of Avon and the Cape Hatteras National Seashore are free and open to the public, with the exception of seasonal bird or turtle nesting closures.” source: https://www.outerbanks.com/avon.html#beach ) If you are concerned about people using your land, research how to restrict access, if having a fence is permitted or if a fence would impact wildlife.
Clearly, the pictures you posted are illustrating the beach and the oceanfront. Any Airbnb listing includes photos of the view from the AirBnB property, no one would believe that access to all of the land that you can see, is included. Perhaps if you asked nicely, the Airbnb host would include language in their house manual explaining where the public beach ends and asking guests to respect private property,