A Brisbane-based Airbnb host has had her “greatest fear” come true after guests used her property as a “party house” racking up around $50,000 in damages.
Jenny Rylance told A Current Affair that her guests had trashed every room in her listing as well as stealing TVs, electronics and paintings.
She said windows were broken, timberwork was ripped apart and food, booze and condoms were strewn throughout the house.
The Daily Mail reported a bong was also found, which was made using the hosts garden hose.
Rylance believed she was renting her property out to a musician from Perth who was set to play a few concerts, but the house endured three nights of hardcore partying until neighbours decided to call the police.
When police arrived the house was empty except for three underage girls who claimed they had been invited to a party at the house via Instagram.
“They were all underage, it turns out one is ‘missing’ officially – they took them off in their wagon and of course they are claiming it’s nothing to do with them,” Rylance told A Current Affair.
“You’ve spent so much time painstakingly putting together and decorating and co-ordinating and to have it treated like this… it breaks your heart.
“It’s beyond words – you read about it. It’s your greatest fear as a landlord. You really think it’s not going to happen to you.”
Rylance said she believed the guests were going to work each night from 10 till four so they would barely be in the house.
Airbnb reportedly gave the host $2,000 for damages but said she will have to claim the rest of the $50,000 on insurance.
An Airbnb spokesperson told A Current Affair that “the overwhelming majority of hosts and guests are good neighbours and respectful travellers”.
“There have been more than 750 million guest arrivals at Airbnb listings worldwide and negative incidents are extremely rare,” the spokesperson said.
“Based on 2017 data you could host a new reservation every single day for over 63 years without expecting to file a significant property damage claim under our Host Guarantee.”
Last week a vegan beauty mogul filed a $253,212,65 lawsuit against Airbnb after claiming a guest she hosted tens of thousands of dollars worth of jewellery and trashed her apartment.
The home-sharing giant launched a series of initiatives earlier this year to crack down on “party houses” including encouraging hosts to use noise monitoring technology.
Travel Weekly has contacted Airbnb for comment.
Featured image: A Current Affair
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