The Mary Sue
'I don’t know what to do': Woman books New Jersey Airbnb. Then she finds an und…
A New Jersey woman claims her Airbnb host set hidden cameras and limited A/C use, leaving her feeling unsafe.
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Airbnb Horror Story: Guests Flee Rental After Undisclosed Camera and Host Confrontation
A couple traveling across the country has publicly accused an Airbnb host of violating privacy and making false accusations, culminating in a premature departure from their rental unit. Maria, who frequently uses Airbnb, shared her distressing experience online, highlighting several issues with her recent booking.According to Maria, upon checking into a basement unit, she and her husband discovered glass doors with sheer curtains leading to a shared laundry space, directly outside their unit. More concerning was the discovery of an undisclosed camera in this shared area, contradicting the Airbnb listing which explicitly stated "No interior home cameras." Maria noted that the listing was later altered to reflect the presence of the camera after she escalated the issue.The situation reportedly intensified when the host, Nicki, imposed an unlisted rule about the air conditioning, demanding it not be set below 72 degrees. Maria, who suffers from asthma and runs warm, found this challenging, especially in the hot basement unit. On Saturday, August 30th, Nicki texted Maria, requesting the AC be turned off due to the outside temperature. Shortly after, without waiting for Maria's husband to get dressed after a shower, Nicki allegedly knocked repeatedly and entered the unit, claiming an "emergency." She then proceeded to film the apartment, including Maria's shirtless husband, citing "unacceptable" conditions, which Maria described as minor untidiness like folded laundry and unwashed breakfast dishes.Feeling unsafe and harassed, Maria and her husband immediately contacted Airbnb, packed their belongings, and vacated the premises, discarding $150 worth of groceries. They requested Airbnb not to notify the host until they were safely off the property, citing concerns about the host's erratic behavior and the fact that the host disclosed possessing a firearm in the listing.Days later, Nicki sent Maria a payment request for $1,174 for alleged damages to furniture and missing items, including pots, pans, and mixing bowls. Maria vehemently denies these claims, presenting video evidence of the apartment's condition upon their departure, showing no damage and all items present. She has filed a police report and is seeking assistance from Airbnb, expressing fear due to the host knowing her workplace. "I feel like Airbnb isn't taking me seriously," Maria stated, "I don't know what to do."
