An Airbnb host has detailed the "carnage" she discovered after her home was trashed during a party hosted by a teenager who booked the property. Leanne Duff, from Plymouth, Devon, said she felt "violated" when she returned to find food smeared on the walls, doors removed from their hinges, a smashed television, and her son's belongings destroyed.
Duff, who has been an Airbnb host for seven years with a history of positive reviews, discovered the damage in April. Upon returning to her property, she noticed the window was open and sofa cushions were in the street. Inside, she found "food from my cupboard had been cooked and thrown at and smeared on the walls, the TV was smashed, my clothes were ripped, all the drawers had been opened and my jewellery had been thrown everywhere."
Despite the extensive damage, estimated to be worth £25,000, nothing was stolen. Devon and Cornwall Police stated that while a 17-year-old girl who booked the property was spoken to and given advice, it was impossible to prove who caused the damage among those present. The police filed the matter due to the difficulty in identifying the perpetrators.
Airbnb confirmed that disruptive parties are banned on its platform and that the guest who booked the property had been removed. The company reimbursed Duff for the cost of the damage. A spokesperson for Airbnb stated that "no verification system is foolproof" but that identity checks are in place to build confidence in user authenticity. They also highlighted a 24/7 support line for concerns about listings.
Following the incident, Duff has implemented stricter vetting processes for guests and no longer accepts one-night bookings. She expressed a sentiment of hope that the individuals involved would not repeat such actions, stating, "I want to hate the people who did this but I don't because they're just people making stupid decisions."