The Ultimate Test of a Host's Sanity!
So, here's what went down: our intrepid host welcomed a guest with a service animal... and ended up hosting a DOG-GONE zoo! 7 dogs. Yes, you read that right.
The host politely asked the guest to pack up their furry friends (and friends!) since it was against house rules, but the guest had a clever comeback: each of the 7 people had a service animal! (Talk about creative problem-solving!)
Now, enter Airbnb, who surprisingly sided with the guest... and told the host they couldn't kick them out! The host was left scratching their head, wondering if they'd just been "paws-ed" by Airbnb's own rules.
Long story short, our hero host is now wondering: what are my options?! Do I:
A) Surrender to the doggy dynasty and hope for a miracle cleanup?
B) Try to reason with Airbnb again (good luck with that)?
C) Consider hosting a support group for fellow hosts who've been "ruffed" by Airbnb's policies?
I'm making light of the situation, but it's really a horrible place to find yourself in, Superhost status or not! It doesn't end there. Airbnb claims that they verify the identity of their users, but did you know that Airbnb can allow unidentified guest to stay at our places? In fact if you look at the Airbnb's policy it even suggest that we as hosts collect ID's of guest who are staying with us! (Read more)
Breaking News: Airbnb's Secret "Business Account" Policy - AKA The Ultimate Host Punching Bag
Did you know that Airbnb has a super secret finely printed policy that lets business travelers book your property without so much as a whisper to you? Yep, it's like they're trying to make hosting look like a fun game of hide-and-seek!
Here's what happens:
- A guest books your place weeks in advance (no worries there).
- The day before check-in, they "forget" to tell you that two other people are coming with a dog (because who needs to mention that?!).
- You're all like, "Uh, nope! Not third-party booking, folks!" But Airbnb's support team is all, "Oh yeah, business accounts can totally do this!"
- Apparently, these "business travelers" don't need ID verification or even direct access to your house rules. Just peachy!
And the cherry on top? You get to enjoy zero visibility into whether a booking is through a business account unless you contact Airbnb Support (because that's always a thrill). And when you do finally find out, you'll be treated to the knowledge that hosts are "covered" under their damage policies - yay, more paperwork!
So, if you're a host, just remember: you're basically Airbnb's human punching bag. But hey, at least your property is... um, being used for business purposes?
This is a wake up call for those hosts out there that think it cannot happen to them because they are brown nosing Airbnb's marketing channel. It can happen to you and it will if you give it enough time.
This is why we have created this platform. A voice for the hosts who see our position within Airbnb system as nothing more than a bad relationship or at best one where you give more than you receive. Hence why direct booking is an answer to at least give you options when we are fed up with Airbnb's terms.