A Toronto property owner who went public with his short-term rental horror story this week isn't getting the sympathy he expected for his plight from his fellow residents.
An 11-year-old Airbnb host who goes by simply “Daniel” is now at loggerheads with the vacation rental giant over tens of thousands in lost income that he says the platform should be responsible for.
As he told the CBC on Monday, Daniel's Forest Hill home was the site of a police investigation after his most recent guest was arrested on drug charges during their stay and her belongings – including her vehicle – were left behind.
As a result, the multi-story house, which apparently costs a whopping $12,000 per month, was no longer rentable. This led to the cancellation of the following booking, which would have netted $28,000, as Daniel waited for further guidance from Airbnb before taking action.
Although the presenter sees this as a “little man vs. big company” issue, few people online seem to have that much pity for him – quite the opposite.
comment
byu/Surax out of discussion
inontario
“Imagine running a business and then complaining that a customer couldn't pay you because the police arrested him,” one person wrote in a Reddit conversation about the case.
“Yes, I am absolutely sure that it is his actual house that he is renting out and not an investment property. Hey damn,” another added.
Still others complained about how the proliferation of Airbnbs in the city had affected the housing market. Many feel that so many short-term rentals are driving up rental prices and even influencing condo construction in the city based on what is most Airbnb-friendly for investors.
comment
byu/Surax out of discussion
inontario
Still others speculated that the unit in question does not appear to be Daniel's primary residence — a city requirement for short-term rentals that he can evade by renting it for more than 28 consecutive days at a time — and so it happens, as with any investment with an inherent risk that is not the fault of others. The fact that the investment is so lucrative in this case doesn't help him either.
“You mean an investment involves risk? “Perhaps he should have rented the house out legally and not tried to dodge the system,” one person commented, while others claimed long arrears and other issues at the Landlord Tenant Board (LTB) had affected the tenancy greater risk than it should be.
In addition to the lost rental income, Daniel is claiming $11,000 in additional damages, including “overage fees,” which he says Airbnb should, again, pay under its own policies.