I got kicked off Airbnb on Dec. 22 because a guest who booked with me for a maximum of five people filed a false racism complaint after I asked his group to leave. He showed up with eight carloads of people (at least twenty people and more would have likely come later) and when I went to ask him what he was doing, his videographer told me they were shooting a music video on my property. I said no and made them leave.
I sent videos of all eight vehicles clogging my driveway and some even parked on my lawn. I sent Airbnb videos of the numerous people on my property. I even sent them videos of my interaction with the guest. While I was mad and very stern, nothing I said or did resembled any type of racism.
I started renting a tiny house in my backyard on Airbnb in March 2017. I live here and meet all my guests. In almost five years, I amassed more than 600 five-star reviews, had a 4.99 rating and was a Superhost continuously. I was one month away from getting my “brass key” Superhost award. I had also been offering an “experience” and had 103 five-star reviews on that in about one year’s time. I host every race, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, etc.
Airbnb booted me without even letting me know there was a complaint or anything. Not even a heads up or reason. I found out when an upcoming guest asked me why I cancelled her booking. I told her I did not and then when I checked my calendar I found all my future bookings were cancelled and my Airbnb listing and experience listing were permanently paused.
When I reached out to Airbnb I got the runaround many times and finally a representative said “they had a complaint from my guest who I’d asked to leave and I might have said something that was racist.” That was pretty much it.
I started on fairshake.com and Airbnb ignored Fairshake’s contacts and please for resolution. So I’m now going through arbitration alone and really have no idea how to fight Airbnb’s three lawyers.
I made $61,000 on Airbnb in 2021 (with my 1 STR) with 60% occupancy. I’ve asked for compensation of $161 for each day they’ve banned me and asked to be put back on the platform. It totals about $15,000. Airbnb has started out by asking the arbitrator to dismiss the case and give me nothing due to the terms of service I signed when starting to use Airbnb.
I would love to have some advisors on my side if anyone wanted to help.
I used to host on Airbnb and was also a super host. Airbnb is a business that is free to do business with whomever they please. That being said, the guests usually hold more weight in these interactions until they physically destroy your property and then you go public to a news station to get a resolution.
There are other platforms like booking.com VRBO etc where you can build a business.
You can also start your own website and create your own rules etc which you obviously have the hospitality sense to do so. Sue them but do not go back on their platform otherwise you will certainly be a glutton for their punishment.
Hi.
So sorry to hear. It’s nerve racking.
I had an alleged sex worker booking into one of my Airbnb places. When I liaised with Airbnb to handle the situation I eventually also got booted off the platform. The sex worker also suggested I was racist to her which was utter nonsense. I was also a super host and on the platform for 6 years with 4 different apartments. This happened 1.5 years ago. I was never let onto the platform again. My Airbnb is not in the USA and there is no way I was able to go the legal route with them due to this.
All I can say is there is a life beyond Airbnb. It is tough, but can be done. Don’t despair. Just take it day by day.
Good luck.