I have had the worst experience hosting in my house. The guest’s name is Fernando, staying from January 10th to February 14th, 2017. I’m really upset about his behavior – his irresponsible act of throwing a lot of tissues into my toilet until it was clogged. I spent 350,000 rupees to fix that and I decided to just let it be my burden. Second, he didn’t put any effort into keeping the house clean. Everything was always messed up: all his clothes were scattered around the floor, and his hair after shaving was everywhere on the floor. He left the house in a condition where all my appliances were on, which is very dangerous. Can you imagine if there was any short circuit that could cause a fire? I have always asked for his permission whenever there’s a regular checkup and he said I was snooping on him. It’s normal to have a regular checkup in my own house otherwise he would have broken all my belongings. I do respect him as a guest in my country, but I don’t think he does the same to me. He has known from the beginning that my neighborhoods are predominantly Muslim, and he didn’t seem to respect that.
Last thing, I just can’t tolerate the fact he brought a woman to my house for sex. Though there wasn’t any stated rule that prohibits adultery on my property, it is an obvious covenant for Muslims to never allow adultery in any way. This isn’t a hotel; this is my house and it is strictly prohibited for adultery to happen in my house and around the neighborhood. He should have known this because I told him in the very beginning that the neighborhoods are predominantly Muslim, and he definitely knows that Muslims are prohibited from allowing adultery. However, he just didn’t abide by the covenant. I have always tried to do my best to serve him as my guest: I’ve tried to fix anything he has complained about, I’ve tried to fulfill his requests, and I’ve definitely asked for his permission when my family visits to have a regular checkup of the property. We’ve always emptied his trash and cleaned the house. I apologize for this situation, but bringing a woman in the house is truly crossing the line.
I have a lot of friends from the US and all other parts in the worlds as my business partners, and this is truly the first disappointing experience for me. He is my first and my last guest because I’ve unlisted all my houses on Airbnb. Now he is requesting a refund because security chased that woman out of my house after his stay was almost finished. After all he has done to my house, it’s really challenging my sanity. I’ve tried to call Airbnb in the US, Malaysia and Singapore so many times. I’ve stayed on the phone for ten minutes and there isn’t any answer. It is so frustrating to have never reached Airbnb customer service for resolving such problems.
I really don’t understand why this host complains so much about this guest. Other than the clogged toilet, which could happen to anyone, the other reasons given (his clothes scattered on the floor? really? so what? did the clothes harm the floor somehow?) seem phony to me. As for the second guest, that is a little more tricky and it depends on the host’s policy. But you cannot tell someone not to commit adultery because you don’t approve of it, due to religion or whatever other beliefs you hold. As for the other comments like J Harris’ about not allowing guests to cook meat? Seriously? I know it stinks (I’m vegan), but even I think that banning guests from cooking it is going way too far. If you want someone to live by your specific rules and follow your exact lifestyle, then don’t rent your place out, simple as that. But the issue with such hosts is that they want to make money, but are so stuck in their ways, that they expect guests to live exactly like them. There are many genuine complaints out there about guests that destroyed property, were obnoxious to the neighbors, were loud, threw parties, refused to leave, etc. This particular complaint is a bunch of baloney.
You can be true to the spirit of Airbnb AND your religious beliefs by saying that you only accept a single (i.e. one) guest. Your guest was in the wrong NOT because of having sex with the woman but by bringing an unregistered guest back without your consent. Many hosts stipulate the number of acceptable guests and do not allow extra guests without advanced permission.
You are in a more difficult situation if you allow couples and you state that your room/apartment sleeps two. Even if you accept a couple you cannot know whether they are married or not and you cannot force them to show you their marriage certificate!
And yes, you are offering a “type” of accommodation with Airbnb, but even hotels don’t allow more than the stated number of guests to use the room! You need to make it clear in your listing from the start that only ONE guest will be accepted unless you give specific permission otherwise. It may mean that you get fewer bookings as this is quite a restrictive requirement but it would save you (and indeed your guest!) problems and embarrassment.
Air b&b = hotel which means religious belief is not relevant.
I’m Catholic and there is a Catholic accommodation available at my uni, and they state prior to contract being signed that you cannot sleep in the same room with anyone, even someone from your own sex. Maybe put that down as your policies and make it crystal clear. Most of the people, not only in the west, don’t care about sex out of wedlock. But it’s certain the norm here in the west to witness a one night stand.
A lot of people don’t know that in India, if a unmarried couple try to get a hotel room a lot of them will insist on two separate rooms. With that said and explained I agree with everyone else. Close your doors to renting your space.
I think they have a policy regarding tolerance. Consenting and legal sex between adults is something you cannot control. If you have these views then your better off not being on Airbnb. It would be like a Westerner saying, you cannot wear a head scarf or cover your face in my house.
It is exactly like a hotel. We all have to forget our beliefs either religious or views on gays or racial stuff. That is what airbnb is about, a bit of a united nations with a suitcase that comes to your home.
your religious beliefs = your problem.
NO completely disagree w/most of comments; I feel your pain
***agree with Geradine
No guest you don’t know in your place, 1man booked,.
inconsiderate,dirty..cancelled with cause
prostitute, pick up, Muslim or not; no unregistered guests
religion aside, no overnite unregistered guests.
I would have thrown him out changed locks.
***NO Rhonda & Steve &Alysa&Bob
upset that airbnb didn’t take his side
Hotels/motels would inspect if they thought rules being broken, damage to property
he could be shitting in the bed or burning holes.
my friend suggested it, doing successfully; but before I did wanted to investigate problems
it is not because of yr religion tht his behavior is unacceptable. altho you may feel that.
I don’t care if someone has sex with stranger, same or opposite sex; just no unregistered guests in my home. stay out; do what you want.
Sharing someone’s home is not a hotel.
I am vegetarian/vegan- no smoking (there are no smoking hotel rooms) no cooking meat (probably ok to bring in take out); no illegal drugs; no getting drunk, some beer/wine is OK; no parties, no unregistered guests. don’t like it; go somewhere else
Respect the space;keep it clean, safe.
this is stay in someone’s home, is not a hotel
I would say please adhere to Muslim rules; not Muslims only. & specify
so lose a guest- better no guest then trouble
You are the only comment to make any bloody sense!
This is a HOME, not a hotel plain and simple, that is why airbnb is at odds with hotels, because their hosts do not pay taxes like a hotel. I have found most Americans are very entitled and are not looking for an experience. In NYC a host must be living in the unit if the booking is less than 30 days, so it is a cohabitation situation.
If you are not living in the unit for rent, then all you can really do is state your rules and hope they abide.
Shared space is usually considerably cheaper duh cause you are a guest = respecting expressed rules that were made clear at the time of booking.
Entire flat or house much more expensive = you can make your requests, but it really is asking too much if you think people will adhere to them.
I do not know the laws of India I am going off just being raised a decent person that respects other peoples homes.
Have to agree with Steve on this one. Provided that was your guest does is not against the law, you really have no claim in this case. What you are doing there is enforcing your religious beliefs on someone else who clearly does not share them. Having sex out of wedlock is completely acceptable in the West. If you’d said you’d found them on our sofa, that would not be acceptable, but what he did behind closed doors is fine.
If you accept money and open your doors to guests, you’re basically a hotel. Your religious beliefs now mean nothing.
If you want to honor your religious beliefs then don’t play hotel.