As we age, we often look forward to the tranquillity of a well-deserved holiday, perhaps in a charming rental that promises a touch of magic and nostalgia. Imagine, then, the horror of returning to your beloved holiday home only to find it in ruins, the victim of reckless destruction. This nightmare scenario became a reality for Sadie, a British holiday rental owner whose Harry Potter themed haven was left in shambles by guests who seemed to confuse destructive mischief with the mischievous charm of the fictional world it celebrated.

The damage inflicted upon Sadie's property is not just a tale of broken objects; it's a story of broken trust and a stark reminder of the vulnerability homeowners face in the holiday rental market. The guests, who booked a one-night stay for two adults through Booking.com, left behind a scene of devastation with damages exceeding A$10,000. The aftermath was not just a financial blow but an emotional one, as Sadie and her brother, who co-owns the rental, were left 'traumatised' by the extent of the vandalism.

The movie-themed Airbnb has been thrashed by guests. Image Credit: SWNS

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The vandals spared no corner of the enchanting abode. A mattress stained with cocoa and coffee, a shattered sofa bed, and a destroyed TV were just the beginning. The bedding was drenched, walls, blinds, carpets, and radiators were splattered with orange soft drink, and the Harry Potter-themed mugs and glasses were smashed to pieces on the floor. This wanton destruction forced Sadie to close the rental indefinitely, a decision that no doubt weighs heavily on her heart and her finances.

For many of us over 60, the idea of opening our homes to strangers as a holiday rental can be an appealing way to earn extra income, especially in retirement. However, Sadie's ordeal is a stark reminder of the risks involved. It's essential to consider safeguards such as insurance, security deposits, and thorough vetting of potential guests. Moreover, it's crucial to understand the support systems provided by booking platforms in such distressing situations.

Booking.com, the platform through which the booking was made, has stated that they 'do not tolerate destructive behaviour' and expressed regret over the damage. They urged Sadie to report the misconduct and reach out to their customer services team to initiate a thorough investigation, cooperate with local authorities, and potentially block the responsible customers from their platform.

This incident raises important questions for all of us considering entering the holiday rental market. How can we protect our properties from such devastation? What measures can booking platforms implement to ensure homeowners are not left to shoulder the burden of damages alone? And how can we, as a community, support those who have experienced such violations of their personal and financial sanctuaries?

Key Takeaways

• A holiday home owner in the UK has experienced significant damage to her Harry Potter-themed rental property exceeding $A10,000.
• The property was booked for a one-night stay through Booking.com and was left in a devastated condition by guests.
• The homeowner, Sadie, and her brother are 'traumatised' by the extensive damage which forced them to close down the rental.
• Booking.com has stated they do not tolerate destructive behaviour and encourages the property owner to report the incident so they can investigate and take necessary actions.

Members, we invite you to share your thoughts and experiences. Have you ever faced similar challenges with a holiday rental? What precautions do you take to safeguard your property? Let's discuss the ways we can enjoy the benefits of the holiday rental market while minimising the risks. Your insights could be invaluable to someone considering this path or currently navigating the aftermath of a rental disaster.

 

[Wombat2u2004]

WOW. I hope you got some compensation back from the Agency for not forfilling their contract. That's disgusting.

Booking.com ? Compensation? Pigs will fly first.

 

[Wombat2u2004]

About 8 Chinese uni students rented a beautiful house a couple of doors away from my house. They were there for most of one year. When they left, the owner had to throw out most of the furniture, mattresses, lounge suites etc, because they were left filthy and food stained. The 2 bathrooms had never been cleaned and he had to get professional cleaners in to clean them.
He had the cleaning and repairs done and then sold the home. I'm sure he wasn't interested in rentals any more.
As a builder who used to do a lot of insurance and recification work around Sydney, I have seen many houses destroyed by tenants, including one house that smelled terribly of cat faeces and urine. The gyprock walls had claw marks and gouges from their cat which was locked in a room each day before they went to work. And another house where black oil paint was poured into all bathroom, laundry and kitchen wastes, blocking them completely. Then they threw cooking oil all over the gyprock walls making them almost impossible to repaint.

 

[Anna Bella]

This case emphasises the need for proper insurance on your short term rental as an absolute necessity. Also do not rely on the booking platform to help you, most times they try to push the onus on you and are not much help.

 

[Radiant]

They need naming and shaming and banning from Airb&b. We have just returned from a lovely holiday in a charming apartment and to show our appreciation we made sure everything was left as we found it, including the loaf of bread in the freezer and milk and chocolate. I believe some people don’t know how to appreciate anything. Sad really because they must be quite troubled to behave like reported.

 

[Radiant]

What isn't theirs ,they don't care.

The same with some rentals

 

[Radiant]

What on earth happened to that mattress (one night)?. We don`t have a holiday rental. Surley insurance will cover this damage. My advice is don`t bother with investment in holiday rentals.

This is the problem people who offer good accommodation will not continue because of the chance of getting “guests” like these.

 

[Radiant]

The same with some rentals

 

[Towing]

I know a family that was transferred to a country area with his job, then transferred them back to their original location. They didn't know they were being transferred and had just installed good quality carpet.
When they came back nearly a year later the carpet was completely destroyed. It wasn't even cleanable

 

[Macarj]

We had a unit rental in Wollongong he was African and apparently no one would rent to him we did, he was very good he was a computer analyst after having it for 5 years we decided to sell, the tenant bought it then when we moved to Tasmania when I retired we kept the home we had in NSW a five bedroom 42 square home we knew the girl who we rented to she was a friend of our daughter we let her rent it for $170 a week that was in 2014 and she would organize to rent out the other rooms for $200 a week we sold that home in 2020 and gave her all the rent she paid back because we always had money from the other rooms, she did a very good job

 

[kerrikennel]

Block those responsible from the site???? Fair dinkum, Booking.com, you should be taking these pigs to court and getting them to pay for damages!!!!!