Tenant Thinks Their Stuff Was Stolen While On Vacation, Learns Their Home Was Airbnb’d By Landlord
You’re likely to meet two types of landlords. Wonderful folks who support you, have healthy boundaries and are interested in keeping you on as a long-term tenant. And then you have the landlords from hell who ignore any and all boundaries and common sense, all for the sake of squeezing out every last drop of potential profit. Guess which one redditor u/rickky1000 had to deal with?
The California-based OP turned to the r/legaladvice online community after a particularly nasty situation with their landlord. As it turns out, while the redditor had been away on holiday, the landlord rented their home out to Airbnb guests, some of whom stole the real tenant’s things. Read on for the full story.
When you’re renting a home, the last thing you expect is for someone else to suddenly start living there
Image credits: Patrick Perkins (not the actual photo)
One person shared how their landlord from hell completely disrespected any and all boundaries
Image credits: Antonio Gabola (not the actual photo)
Image credits: RDNE Stock project (not the actual photo)
Image credits: rickky1000
The landlord opened themselves up to getting sued
It is mind-boggling just how greedy, uncommunicative, and downright rude some landlords can be. Redditor u/rickky1000 pointed out that they’d been paying rent for the two months that they were away on vacation in Vancouver. However, during that time, their landlord used the empty space to host Airbnb guests.
The consequences? Drastic. Stolen items, including the OP’s computer, gun, and console. This is a massively messed up situation. Not only did the landlord break the redditor’s trust, but the OP has lost out financially, had their privacy invaded beyond belief, and now someone has access to their firearm.
And you’d think that the landlord would at least have the decency to apologize. Unfortunately, they stuck their guns and claimed that they were not responsible for anything. Many of the redditors reading the story were completely shocked.
The first steps that someone takes in this disturbing situation are very important. It’s essential that someone in the same situation as the OP should contact the police, immediately seek legal help, and also get in touch with the Airbnb team. There are grounds here to sue the landlord for what they’ve done.
Next, it’s important to get up to speed with one’s rights as a tenant. There are very clear lines that shouldn’t be crossed, and subletting the property without the express permission of the tenant is one of them. A lot will depend on the type of contract you signed when you rented the home, and how everything is phrased.
Image credits: Kindel Media (not the actual photo)
It’s essential to keep a paper or digital trail that can be used as evidence in court
It’s very likely that there won’t be any ridiculous clause about renting out the apartment while the tenant’s away and still paying rent. Especially not without express warning and permission. Just like the landlord can’t turn up to the property without advance warning, they can’t use the place for other purposes while you’re the occupant (even if you’re enjoying summer vacation elsewhere).
As Military.com also points out, if you’re dealing with a difficult landlord, some of your best weapons are being a good tenant. If you always pay your bills on time, act respectfully, communicate clearly, and know your rights in detail, then you’re building trust.
And even if that trust ends up being trampled later on, you’ve still set a strong precedent that you’re the reasonable, logical party in the argument—while your landlord is the one who’s in the wrong. You’re the one who always pays their rent on time (and has the evidence to back it up) and has a good reputation in the local community.
This leads us to the next point: it’s vital that you document everything and anything. That means keeping a copy of the contract you signed, as well as copies of emails, messages, and conversations that you had with your landlord related to the entire drama. All of this is evidence that can be used in court in your favor.
Image credits: Alena Darmel (not the actual photo)
Some cities are actively fighting back against Airbnb rentals
Airbnb rentals are a goldmine. So it’s not surprising that many landlords are pouncing, looking for opportunities to make bank.
The issue is that some of them go against the grain and ignore local laws. Short-term rentals cause a lot of foot traffic and chaos, and also price out the locals from finding stable properties for long-term rent. After all, if everyone’s turned their homes into Airbnbs, where is anyone from in-town actually going to live?
Investopedia notes that some cities like Paris, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Miami, and Santa Monica have been introducing strict policies about who can and can’t rent out Airbnbs.
Meanwhile, cities like Berlin, London, San Francisco, and New York also regulate this, even if the rules are looser.
Image credits: cottonbro studio (not the actual photo)
The internet gave the tenant some practical, good advice
Highly illegal. OP could take the landlord to court and win. I don't even think OP would need to track down whoever rented the place because it's 100% the landlord's fault anyone was there to take anything in the first place, so landlord is on the hook to replace everything that's missing. Then there's the emotional distress OP can sue for. With a good lawyer, OP could end up having enough to buy their own place.
also a safe with a gun inside was stolen, the landlord would be liable for any crimes committed with that gun as being party to its theft. That is federal gun crimes, very very serious.
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Let your insurance know. Believe me, they will light up his life for him. The police as well - he’s accessory to theft of a gun, among other things. I think that’s a felony. Sue him on top of that.
I would sue the absolute c**p out of that guy so that by the time I'm done I own the building. Other than the stolen stuff, who knows what else they could have done to the property? They could have installed cameras to spy on you, they could have made copies of your keys to come back and attack you or rob you, they could have taken notes/photos of personal information to steal your identity, they could have farted in your pillows and touched their b-hole to all your door handles. The possibilities are basically endless. This should be a huge payday with a good lawyer.
Highly illegal. OP could take the landlord to court and win. I don't even think OP would need to track down whoever rented the place because it's 100% the landlord's fault anyone was there to take anything in the first place, so landlord is on the hook to replace everything that's missing. Then there's the emotional distress OP can sue for. With a good lawyer, OP could end up having enough to buy their own place.
also a safe with a gun inside was stolen, the landlord would be liable for any crimes committed with that gun as being party to its theft. That is federal gun crimes, very very serious.
Load More Replies... Let your insurance know. Believe me, they will light up his life for him. The police as well - he’s accessory to theft of a gun, among other things. I think that’s a felony. Sue him on top of that.
I would sue the absolute c**p out of that guy so that by the time I'm done I own the building. Other than the stolen stuff, who knows what else they could have done to the property? They could have installed cameras to spy on you, they could have made copies of your keys to come back and attack you or rob you, they could have taken notes/photos of personal information to steal your identity, they could have farted in your pillows and touched their b-hole to all your door handles. The possibilities are basically endless. This should be a huge payday with a good lawyer.
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