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This certainly is a tricky situation. It’s interesting that Airbnb is putting a focus on longer term stays. Perhaps there needs to be more Information about what happens after 30 days. I was telling my friends - so glad this is an Airbnb guest and not a tenant. Little did I know that this leaves me with little protection. I would have collected a security deposit and run a check as a tenant. Now it’s a grey area. Airbnb has been zero help. It’s frustrating and super confusing.
I appreciate everyone’s thoughts and ideas. Most appreciated.
Yes, I was incorrect to think I had MORE protection using Airbnb.
If they are shifting to longer term stays they need to be more transparent than saying “check local laws”. They have a responsibility to hosts to not expose them to this risk.
All of this is illuminating to me.
It’s so difficult to navigate. I have a person that I believe tried to commit suicide whose listing is over. Her things are there. I never could have imagined this situation.
I appreciate everyone’s help in navigating these choppy waters.
I don’t do it all any more. I managed 700 rental units for 2 years before I bought my house, and rented the upstairs as a 2br apartment for 15 years. I’m done with being a landlord, and with longer term rentals. Guests are like fish, so I only allow 1 week stays (though I’m not open now).
I really like the variety. I have only extended for a second week twice, both for folks who had just moved here and were looking for housing.
Horrible situation - sorry this happened. Similar to others, we never do long-term on Air or any other site.
You may wish to speak to a lawyer in your state that knows your specific laws. Regardless, in your shoes since she has such issues, we would probably take the risk of changing the locks and moving on. She doesn’t seem to be in a position to make this into an eviction case. Hopefully, you took lots of photos, etc.
Best of luck - please keep us informed as to how this works out!
They are leaving us vulnerable. Heaven forbid unscrupulous guests catch on an take advantage of the “tenant” laws. Does anyone know if Airbnb provides some sort of lease or background check?
Besides this experience I have hosted many longer term stays as I live near Brown University and Rhode Island school of design —- semester long. It’s always worked great. Then again I was unaware of the risk. Airbnb should me more mindful of its hosts.
By the way, two days later Airbnb specialist assigned to my case has yet to contact me.
As @georgygirlofairbnb says they are ill prepared. All they are is an ad and payment platform and when it comes to ads for medium term rental there are other, cheaper, older methods. Air should consider much lower fees for long term rentals, maybe just a flat fee (like $50) for bringing you a tenant regardless of length of stay.
If Airbnb is going to promote long term stays, they need to change the rules for those- hosts need full ID of guests, guests need to sign a contract, a real security deposit, plus first and last month’s rent up front.
I would never use Airbnb for a long-term stay as it stands.
Just an aside to long term renters, I no longer do any long term leases. If I have a person who needs to stay more than a few weeks, I do month to month rental agreements. If you do a one year lease, and you need to evict a tenant, they may be able to sue you for the entire year. If you do month to month rental agreements, you are only on the hook for one month.
Thanks for asking. I feel like I’ve lived a month in the week this has happened. So much uncertainty.
I called the social worker on Monday but he was out for the week. His replacement had not yet even met the guest/patient. I reiterated what I told the former social worker that her things would be safe with me and expressed concern for her well-being. I also told them once again that she cannot come back as her stay is over and I have new people coming on August 5th.
The social worker did say that she was not ready to be discharged so I knew I had a week to get the place cleaned up. I asked what would happen when she is discharged and did not get a clear answer. From talking to other people more familiar with inpatient mental health stays they said the social worker would most likely want to place her where she has support. Since the incident happened her it is not likely to be a safe place. At least that is what I am told. They encouraged the guest to contact me directly but she has yet to do that. She has no phone or computer because she left them so I don’t even know how she could. There are so many unknowns.
To date, I have not received that call back from Airbnb. Does anyone know if there is insurance for the blood stained ruined mattress and headboard? Has anyone made a claim?
Yes, there are many unknowns but I think that is really where matters should now rest, and it is time for you to withdraw, and I do speak from many years as a psych in-patient clinical nurse manager in the UK.
Saying to the SW that her things are safe with you, although she can’t return as a guest, leaves your status open to some potential ambiguity on behalf of the staff/hospital. I agree that they will probably want to discharge her to a facility with professional support, but if nothing is available and they need her bed urgently, they could very well discharge her without warning and she ends up on your doorstep. I have know this to happen over here in my later career managing community mental health services for the Local Authority. Believe me, it is not unusual, and they know you are empty until 5th August.
So next steps perhaps. In your shoes, I would call the ward manager or a senior nurse, and the social worker again, to say that you are no able to store her belongings; invent another booking or say your insurance is invalidated as she’s no longer a bona fide guest, if they ask. Emphasise that you feel that she must want her phone and PC, without which we’d all feel lost. If they don’t feel she should have it, they will store it on their premises under lock and key.
You may have to pay the cost of couriering her belongings to the ward. If you are fortunate, the SW will offer to collect them.
Most appreciated Joan especially from someone with so much experience.
I asked the social worker if I could bring her her things. They said 2 suitcases were too much and could not be stored. Maybe I offer to bring her phone and laptop at a minimum?
Don’t ask, tell.
Tell the SW the unit is unihabitable/closed/occupied by someone else (that someone else can be you). Tell the SW “I am bringing her phone and laptop to your office at [time] on [day]. Please provide me the address to drop off/ship her other things.”
If that doesn’t get you anywhere, put the phone and laptop in a bag, mark it with the social worker and patient’s name, and drop it at the hospital reception desk. Say, “I had a call from [SW] and here are [patient’s] electronics.” If reception asks you to wait while they call SW, say, “Sorry, I have an appointment, I have to run.” and leave.
You seem like a very kind person but you can’t take care of everyone. On to the next guest, whom I am sure you will take care of splendidly.
Edit to clean up loose end: Pack up the other items if the SW won’t/can’t tell you where to send them, and store them somewhere. Look up your state law on abandoned property to find out what notice you have to give and how long you should keep it before donating or disposing.
Thanks @dpfromva. This is the exact support that @Courtenay_Clifford really needs. I only know my own country’s service manipulations/manipulators; I have no clue about services in the US, but yes, I would tell them, not ask.
Good advice here - I would just add - video everything as you pack starting with a panaroma of the space alnog with close ups of the items. You don’t want to be accused of stealing or damaging anything. Perhaps also have a witness with you verbally verifying what you are doing.
Given how litigious the US is, then it may an idea to inventory the belongings, and have the list witnessed. Then keep that to yourself, just in case something pops up down the line.
If the witness is someone of standing in the community (priest, lawyer, policeman etc), then that wouldn’t do any harm.
Thank you. The list of inventory would be huge. I will take photos of everything however. She had been here for 2 months.
Mainly I am concerned with her rights as a tenant because under law and as an over 30 day stay, she has them and she is an attorney. There are still many unknowns. She is supposed to be released on Monday. Given that I have not heard from her at all I do not know what to expect. The social worker has encouraged her to call me but she has not.
Despite what is being said here, I am not comfortable with just taking here things (and it’s a carload full) and dropping them off at the hospital. My fear is that will enrage her to exercise those tenant rights that she has. My approach is to be understanding and compassionate while being clear with the social worker that she cannot stay here. I do not know what her mental state is so I am trying to work with the only person that is communicative which is the social worker. I am thinking of moving her things to the garage so she will not have to enter the building.
I’ve never been in this situation before. I’m actually starting to feel very angry for the non-responsiveness as I do not know what to do. I had to pick a course of action which was to pack her things, move them and change the locks. This is a violation of tenant/landlord law but I am in no position to have her back here or care for her. This is an undue burden for me.
I appreciate the support of this forum community. You have given me much good advice and the feeling that I am not alone in this. Thank you.
