We’ve discussed it before in an article about short-term rental insurance; Airbnb hosting is not for the risk averse. Where regular real estate investments require some degree of forethought and caution, those in this business have lots more to worry about. Nightmare experiences prove no shortage of basis for that reasoning. With spooky season upon us, there’s no better time to tell some horror stories from real-life property owners like yourself.
1. The Septic Standoff
Luxury doesn’t always mean good sense. One beachside property host discovered that even high-end guests sometimes forgo common sense for comfort.
“At one of my properties the septic system stopped working sometime during the week. Even though you could apparently smell it everywhere, the guests just went about their vacation and never bothered to contact us to address the issue. There is even a flashing red light and an alarm that goes off to give a warning. But apparently they didn't care. And this was at a very expensive beach property and they were there for 10 days.
Is it possible that some people don't care about the smell of poop?”
Whether it was denial, determination, or sheer obliviousness, this group powered through the smell without complaint — much to the host’s dismay.
2. The Bathroom Full of Spellbooks
Occasionally, a host stumbles upon a scene that raises more questions than concerns.
“We had an Airbnb guest come stay for an extended amount of time. Long story short, one time I was cleaning her bathroom and I opened the bathroom cabinet and the entire thing was literally full of... spellbooks. Like, I knew she was into zodiac signs, but these were actual spellbooks and there were so many of them.
Anyway, I thought it was hilarious. I'm on her good side so nothing to worry about. But I have never seen anything like that. Wonder what sort of stuff was going down.”
A harmless surprise — but one that could make anyone rethink what goes on in their rental when they’re not around.
3. The Accidental Escort
Some hosts find themselves wishing they hadn’t peeked too closely behind closed doors.
“Definitely the prostitute I accidentally hosted this summer. I made the mistake of looking in the bathroom garbage bin.”
Sometimes, what you don’t know really can’t hurt you — and maybe shouldn’t.
4. Pillow Puzzling and Smoke Detectors
Creative concealment can be just as alarming as clear damage.
“Guest checked out, came to clean, found all of the bed pillows in each bedroom’s en suite with pillows stuffed under the bathroom sink vanities, all the smoke detectors had plastic bags on them. They definitely smoked weed in the house but still don’t get the pillows under the sinks? It was early on in hosting, all the red flags were there, hosted anyway.”
The smell was expected. The mystery of the pillows, however, remains unsolved.
5. Naked Party Invitation
For one first-time host, an innocent knock on the door turned into a full-on shocker.
“Very first time hosting. The guest (a pilot) came for a couple nights. In the evening, I noticed he hadn't moved his car across the street to avoid getting a ticket because of street sweeping. I came to the door, knocked, and he opened it. I gave him the message. He answered the door in his underwear and the other man and woman behind were holding their drinks and dancing, butt naked. They asked me if I wanted to come in for a drink and I politely declined.
Went into my house and told my wife, ‘This Airbnb thing is going to be interesting.’”
Early lessons in hospitality: never underestimate how “creative” guests can get.
6. The Demon Dog
Not every pet-friendly policy ends with cute paw prints and wagging tails.
“Once upon a time, I allowed pets in our ski resort STR. Well, this changed after I hosted someone with an Akita, who apparently was left alone for an extended period and had severe separation anxiety. The dog proceeded to DESTROY the sofa. Not just chew it up, but chunks of foam and fabric were missing. Not sure if the dog needed surgery after that. Additionally, the dog chewed most of the balcony wood railing, went through the screen patio door, scratched up most of the baseboards and trim inside. Poop and pee everywhere. All in all close to $8,000 in damages (this was before AirCover). Owners told me the dog was 'well-behaved' and that he might have been possessed by a demon as he had never destroyed anything prior to that.”
There’s not enough pet deposit in the world for that kind of chaos.
7. We Don’t Talk About It
Noise complaints often signal a party — but one host got something far stranger.
“Fight club in backyard. My neighbor said it was boxing to knockouts. Next man up when someone got knocked out. Neighbor said it was entertaining to watch.”
It’s all fun and games until your property becomes a makeshift arena.
8. Diddy Must Be In Town
Some stories defy logic, leaving even experienced hosts speechless.
“Third stay in my brand new cabin. Two-night stay, according to the door lock record, they were coming and going at all hours of the night in the wee hours of the morning. The cleaners arrived two hours past checkout to find them still sleeping. We called several times before one woke up and we got them out of there. When the cleaners finally got into the house, they found several open bottles of baby oil on windowsills in different rooms of the house. All of the chairs from around the dining room table, the extra chairs from the living room, and the barstools were all in the primary bedroom facing the bed. There was baby oil smeared all over the bathroom counters, the kitchen counters, the mantle, the couches, the sheets…
It was so gross and bizarre.”
Some horror stories don’t involve damage or danger — just the kind you can never quite unsee.
These stories serve as a reminder that Airbnb hosting is not for those seeking predictable returns or routine experiences. While the lure of passive income and creative guests brings variety and excitement, it’s wise to expect the unexpected — whether it involves a naked Norwegian at the door, unexplained spellbooks, or a full-scale backyard fight club.
As Halloween approaches and scary tales circulate, remember that a little humor (and good insurance) goes a long way when managing short-term rentals. For every bizarre incident, there’s another host ready to swap ghost stories and laugh about their “haunted house” adventures — once the oil is scrubbed away and the pillows return to their beds.
