Yikes.
Last night Channel 4 showed a new documentary, Airbnb: Dream or Nightmare, which showed the dark side of the popular house sharing business. They spoke with guests and hosts who revealed their horror stories about the process.
It’s a community-based website/app which sees people renting out their rooms or houses to complete strangers, similarly to the way a hotel or hostel works. You can vet people according to their personal ratings from prior visits but you can also get some first-time users with no past information.
Most hosts have a lot of praise for Airbnb as it provides an extra income for them, but some others shared pretty horrendous stories with the Channel 4 documentary which would put off anyone from signing up to share their house.
One family returned to find their house had been trashed after their guest had thrown a huge party.
After watching the show there was a mixed reaction on Twitter with some people defending the company and others agreeing that it has flaws.
#dreamornightmare I’m am #Airbnb host. It’s been a dream, never any issues. But then, I’m always there.
— American Soul (@JakeStelmach) September 21, 2016
So basically you didn’t read the T&C’s, went for a quick buck and didn’t vet guests… but it’s not your fault? *sigh* #dreamornightmare
— Gemma Sands (@littlepieces) September 21, 2016
If you rent your swanky pad to a 22yr old with no reviews, only to have it trashed, who’s really to blame here?! #dreamornightmare
— Barbara Neeson (@BelfastBabs) September 21, 2016
Lol oh yeah let’s leave a Banksy print and then rent out the room via @Airbnb then it gets stolen.. #commonsense #dreamornightmare
— Ian Maullin (@ianmaullin) September 21, 2016
Funny seeing the bad experiences of #Airbnb We used them in Edinburgh and nothing but good things to say about our host #dreamornightmare
— Simon Daley (@SimonDaley) September 21, 2016
Have used @Airbnb 7 times, never had issues. Up to you to do your research hosting or using #dreamornightmare
— kathy (@skybluebint) September 21, 2016
About as balanced as a one-legged drunk riding a unicycle down a slide, in the rain. #dreamornightmare
— Steve Kinsey (@YorkshireDublin) September 21, 2016
I genuinely wanted to watch something that would provide a relevant insight into #Airbnb, a 50:50 perspective.
Not this #dreamornightmare— Ronke Lawal (@ronkelawal) September 21, 2016
I’ve been an @Airbnb_uk host & stayed in over 15 @Airbnb properties around the world. Always been a great experience. #dreamornightmare
— Binda Bhudia-Patel (@BindaBhudia) September 21, 2016
Once again @Channel4 love making programs finding negative exceptions to something that’s generally good #dreamornightmare #Airbnb #channel4
— Tom Rogers (@rogerst77) September 21, 2016
#dreamornightmare being conned for over 1k.Left property upon arrival(false listing),went to hotel,accused of staying at the @Airbnb. 1 of 2
— Angus (@McAlan32) September 21, 2016
@Airbnb messing up the housing system = Killing local communities & their safety. Messing with people’s live. #dreamornightmare
— ☀♣♫Selina 2.0♥♕ (@SelinaGiGi) September 21, 2016
#dreamornightmare this happened to us in Leeds and @Airbnb we’re useless and disgraceful!
— Sophie-Louise (@Sophielouise944) September 21, 2016
Watching #DreamOrNightmare on channel 4. I always thought airbnb was a bad idea the moment I heard about it ?
— Adam Goldfine (@adamg411) September 21, 2016
