Beware Perth hosts of guest JJ

We had a “guest” in to our Airbnb all verified and reviewed, extended the stay Friday by 3 nights, the co owner drove out to check them out, kept offering to pay direct but we refused. Got here this morning, probably about 5 k? Of damage done, RAC insurance told us to p.... off. Police refuse to attend but took the report. She is Airbnb ing throughout perth.

 

Oh no!

Sorry to hear

 

Ah. The beauty of AirBnB. So many stories like that, I wonder why people would still do it.

 

Thank you for your helpful response!

 

What sort of damage did they do? And why did RAC insurance not cover it - what did they say?

 

Doesn’t Airbnb insure you?

 

I was under the impression Airbnb had insurance against damage that would cover you?
Marg

 

Waiting on Airbnb response. RAC claim policy excludes Airbnb despite my co owner specifically asking, he does not have this recorded unfortunately. They have ripped up the carpet in master bedroom damaging tiles, ripped up the underlay piled it in the bathroom removed a portion of ceiling and cornice. Light fitting hanging in mid air plus wiring. There was a wall of mirrored tiles, they’ve ripped all bar three off, broke the lock to the spa, we do not advertise the spa, and somehow emptied it plus motor still running when I got here. Broke into locked storeroom and got tools for their work!
Chunks of plaster out of walls, carpet taken up in lounge big carpet stain in other lounge, pictures off walls, defunct security sensor on wall destroyed, has all the hallmarks of drug induced psychosis methinks. And they had four kids

 

How did your co-owner ask if Airbnb is covered? If over the phone the call would have been recorded. I'd be taking it further.

I've had my Airbnb property insured with RACQ since I started doing it about 15 months ago and specifically asked them on the phone if I'm covered for short term lets and was assured I was.

But, rang up on Friday last week to update an address and was told I had 1 week to find a new insurer as they no longer cover short term lets....

 

Thank you Kinnon, we will pursue this. He specifically asked when we took out the policy if they covered Airbnb and short term let’s and he was reassured they did. I just couldn’t believe my eyes. Of our top three guests from hell, two of them were local, Perth, families, who appear to be using Airbnb as a lifestyle choice. Probably because they’ve been evicted from anywhere else.
As I said, she was verified, had good reviews and when I asked her why she would want to stay there when she lives locally, she told me they had had a death in the family and the kids needed a break away.
The electrician is booked for Wednesday. I will have him disable the spa, the motor is probably burned out anyway, we never ever advertise it as a part of the property as I am too terrified of an accident. It had a cover, a pool fence and a locked gate.
The Police will only treat it as a damage complaint despite the shed being broken into and items stolen.

 

Unless they put it in their PDS for short term lets , I would generally not believe what they would say over the phone.
Terri Scheer and EBM both do policies specific for short term rentals, and covers usage by the owners.
Most standard policies also have clauses if its unoccupied for a couple of months or more , but thats more relevant in tourist towns where the bulk of the money is made in 3 or 4 months of the year and used sparingly for the remainder of the year.

 

Sorry to hear about so much damage @moridog.
Keep persuing as @Kinnon suggested as it might have been a policy change. Find the PDS that would have been sent when you got the policy and any emails talking about the change of PDS since then to see if there was a policy change that they did or didn't notify you of.

 

That’s great advice Westie, thank you. My co owner is pretty diligent with paperwork! Airbnb are not in a hurry to do anything even though I am fairly confident she has gone to another Airbnb listing.

 

The interesting outcome here will be how the AirBnB coverage works out - hope it works out well but keep us informed!

 

That is very much a worry. Also, thank you for the warning.

 

Thanks Moridog for the warning. Good luck! I hope you are covered.

 

Do sorry to hear that. Hope you get a good outcome.

 

On AirBNB reviews, are you able to post photo's against the persons name that did it? Seems so wrong that they can just go rent another without sufficient feedback from the previous AirBNB hosts if not? Hope you get it sorted, sounds dreadful.

With the Police issue, can you ask for it to be escalated based on the theft of the tools? You'd think it's be an easy enough nab for them, they know who stayed there.

 

This. The police avoid malicious damage reports from Airbnb premises. It's too hard to prove intent (as opposed to laziness/carelessness/poor supervision of kids/different housekeeping standards etc).

But theft - cops should be comfortable with that.

 

Was the storeroom locked with a proper mortise or deadlock type lock or just a padlock?