You have planned a fantastic vacation weekend with your close friends or family. You checked into your Airbnb and loved it; the rooms are well-arranged and exquisite.
There is enough space to house everyone. But you realize something is wrong—your Airbnb has bugs!
Finding bugs in your Airbnb can be a game changer. It can be concerning if you still have days till the end of your stay.
The question now is, what can you do since your Airbnb has bugs? This guide will discuss some options you can consider.
Steps to Take if Your Airbnb Has Bugs
Finding out that your Airbnb has been infested with insects can be frustrating. No one plans an Airbnb reservation with an infestation in mind.
You can consider several options if your Airbnb has bugs, and you are wondering what to do. Every guest’s first instinct is to speak to the Airbnb hosts and discuss a way forward.
Here are a few steps to take if your Airbnb has bugs:
Take Photographs as Evidence
Taking photographs is vital once you see signs of bug infestation in your Airbnb space. If your Airbnb has cockroaches or bedbugs, you must prove it to your host.
The best way to prove this is to show evidence of such infestation.
Take a picture of any roach or bedbug in the Airbnb space. Signs of bedbug infestation also include dark spots in hidden places, like along your bed corners.
Take pictures of those too. Bugs may have bitten you if you have spent a night or two at the Airbnb. You can also take pictures of the red spots and marks on your body as evidence.
Reach Out to Your Airbnb Host
Another step you should take once you find out that your Airbnb has bugs is to contact your Airbnb host. You can contact them via their phone number, email, or the official Airbnb website.
Explain to your host the extent of the infestation, you can show them pictures you have taken.
You can discuss the preceding action with your host and make them aware their Airbnb has bugs. Your discussion with the host can help you decide what steps to take next.
For instance, if your host is apologetic and sympathetic, an insect refund could be the only discussion.
However, if your host is unresponsive, you can consider talking to someone like Airbnb customer service or a lawyer.
Contact Airbnb Customer Service
You can take this step before or after contacting your Airbnb host. When the Airbnb host is unresponsive after you have tried to make contact, you can ask Airbnb to step in.
If you speak to the customer service team, Airbnb can contact your host on your behalf.
Once in contact with an Airbnb customer service team member, you will be required to send photographs. These pictures are used as evidence and help explain the situation.
You can also tell them what you want if you open a case against the host. State your needs—a partial or complete refund or a new booking at another location.
Airbnb will then reach out to your host to help solve the problem. One such solution is to help you find another Airbnb accommodation for the rest of your stay.
Typically, you should not have to pay extra for this.
Before you leave your Airbnb lodging with bugs, check through all your belongings. Doing a full check will ensure that the bugs have not burrowed in the crevices of your boxes or suitcases.
To prevent going home with an infestation, check through every part of your luggage before leaving the room.
Bed bugs can last several weeks without blood, so ensuring they are not returning home with you is better.
Another precaution is placing your luggage in large plastic bags you can seal. Keep them sealed shut till you return home and can do some proper cleaning.
Contact a Lawyer for Your Case
You may realize your Airbnb has bugs due to your host’s negligence, and nothing is being done about your complaint.
Should that happen, you can build a case against your Airbnb host. Airbnb can make rightful claims of not being in charge of accommodation as they are only a link. Hence, they may deny liability.
At this point, you can reach out to a professional lawyer.
When You Need a Lawyer
Aside from neglect, you can sue for damages for other reasons if your Airbnb has bugs. Here are some of these reasons.
The bug infestation has caused you physical harm. Examples are allergic reactions, pains, and bite marks.
Airbnb denied your legitimate refund request.
The bugs have infested your belongings, thus condemning them to permanent damage.
To sue for compensation in terms of medical expenses to treat bug bites.
To sue for financial loss caused by changing location for the rest of your stay.
Remember to record your receipts, requests, documents and evidence if you intend to sue Airbnb or your hosts. You would need all the documents you received, or records exchanged to build a case.
What Can You Do to Prevent Future Occurrences?
If you have lodged in an Airbnb apartment with bugs, your plan would be to avoid falling into that trap again.
You cannot tell Airbnb how to take care of their listings or control what Airbnb hosts do with their apartments.
But you have control over what lodgings you occupy. So, you can ensure that you stay in bug-free spaces to keep yourself and your belongings safe.
Here are some tips to ensure this.
1. Check Reviews
As many peoples say, “reviews don’t lie.” One way to ensure you do not stay in an Airbnb with bugs on your next vacation is to check the reviews.
These reviews are from guests who have stayed in that apartment before you. If a previous guest leaves a review stating that they had seen some bugs in the Airbnb, avoid such a listing.
You can also ask the host if they have taken the time to clean up. Then you can take the listing or look for somewhere else based on the host’s response.
2. Check Out the Rooms Before Offloading
Another great tip is to ensure all the rooms are checked out before you lodge in your Airbnb.
Even if the host assures you that there are no bugs, remember some hosts do not stay in their apartments.
Hence, carefully inspect bed corners, furniture, and dark spaces to ensure no bug infestation before unpacking your luggage.
Extra tip: Avoid putting your clothes in drawers or closets, especially on short vacation stays.
3. Use Sealable Bags
On your next trip, ensure that the bags containing your belongings can be sealed shut.
Sealable bags help to prevent bugs or insects from crawling into your belongings and hiding between your clothes.
You can use a luggage rack to keep your bags and suitcase from carpets and furniture.
Final Thoughts
The issue of bugs in Airbnb lodges is concerning. Not only does bug infestation disrupt your plans, but it also puts a dent in your finances and health.
If your Airbnb has bugs, the best thing to do is discuss them with your host. You should also look forward and plan accommodation for a much safer environment.
