Unhinged Airbnb Host Threatens Tenant for Leaving 4/5 Star Rating

Being an Airbnb hater is a big part of who I am and what I do. I distinctly recall being on a family vacation, waiting outside in freezing weather for over an hour for the owner of the apartment to give my family the key. The owner drove a moped and I could tell that he did not feel sorry, not one bit. The best Airbnb experience I had was at a place virtually identical to a hotel, and honestly, that doesn't even count.

Despite my bitterness, Airbnb's used to be novel and fun as a concept for most people. However, the tides have started to turn against the vacation rental service. This is in part due to Airbnb hosts having unreasonable policies for their tenants. However, some hosts take their pettiness way too far and threaten legal action for the most banal transgressions.

Posted by Emmy Ward

When Dr. Alex Moore stayed at an Airbnb in Vancouver, she had a good experience. She even left a positive review, giving the place 4/5 stars. While most Airbnb hosts wouldn't bat an eye at this review, her host Brad was not your average Airbnb host.

Moore got in contact with Airbnb support and the Vancouver police department in an attempt to get the apartment listing taken down.

In the end, the listing was taken down and Brad was banned from hosting on Airbnb due to the companies anti-bullying and harassment policies.

Other Twitter users chimed in, sharing the unsafe experiences they've had while using Airbnb.

Twitter user Vinay Damodaran claimed that Airbnb hosts are punished when their ratings are less than 4.5 stars.

While the Airbnb ratings systems may be warped, there is no excuse for this behavior. Airbnb hosts have been overstepping their boundaries for years, and it's only going to get worse. Maybe it's time for us to pivot back to one of the greatest institutions for temporary stays and clean towels: old reliable Hotels.