6 days ago
I was given a five-star review by an Airbnb host... then came the biggest shock of my life a week later
A nursing student has lashed out at her Airbnb host, claiming she was slugged with a $2,000 bill to replace a damaged reclining sofa she didn't even use.
Sydney nursing student Aleena Tiwari was given a five-star review by the owner of the Airbnb she recently rented for a single night.
Ms Tiwari said in a TikTok she and her friends had a 'great time' during their stay and made sure to clean up before leaving.
One week later, she said the owner accused her of damaging a reclining sofa at the property and demanded she fork out $2,000 for its replacement.
'Literally, we were in shock,' Ms Tiwari said.
'We didn't recline that sofa at all, and we didn't use that at all.'
While Ms Tiwari had the forethought to film a video of the property upon arrival, she regretted not documenting the sofa in more detail.
Unable to prove her claim, she now fears she will be forced to pay the hefty fine.
Social media users were left appalled, with many sharing similar horror stories, including one woman who claimed to have been asked to pay $1,500 to repair the blinds at a property.
'It was a horrible experience,' she said.
'After that, I realised that it's important to take photos of every corner of the house after checking in on Airbnb.'
Another woman said she had begun staying exclusively at hotels after suffering a similar experience with an Airbnb owner.
A third claimed to have stayed at the same Airbnb and being stuck with a damage bill.
'A week after returning, the host claimed $450 for carpet and rug stains we didn't cause,' they wrote.
'I explained this calmly to Airbnb support, but got no positive response. Out of frustration, I sent a strong message after receiving an email saying the amount would be charged to my card.
'Eventually, they cancelled my appeal.'
The nursing student ended the video with a warning to her followers to avoid falling prey to opportunistic hosts.
'Always make sure you always take a before-and-after video of the Airbnb,' Ms Tiwari said.
Ms Tiwari is not the first to accuse an Airbnb host of wrongfully requesting payment for damages.
Last December, a group of six high school graduates fired back at a Gold Coast host who accused them of causing $4,815 worth of damages during Schoolies.
As with Ms Tiwari, the request was all the more surprising given the positive review the girls received after their stay.
They had meticulously documented their stay and were able to refute many aspects of the host's claim, including pre-existing damages.
Airbnb ultimately cancelled the claim after a reporter from A Current Affair reached out to them on behalf of the girls.
According to Airbnb's website, guests have 24 hours to respond to a reimbursement request from a host.
If the guest does not pay the amount in full, the host may involve Airbnb or its insurer for review, and the guest will be given the opportunity to appeal any fines.
'Dealing with damage is never fun, but this process is designed to be as fair as possible,' it said.
