Airbnb Permanently Deactivated or Suspended My Account

VRBO and Airbnb Accounts Are Deactivated For No Reason Every Day. You Have Rights. We Have Answers.

Since its inception, Airbnb has established itself as an online marketplace and hospitality service. Customers can use the platform to find rooms and properties to rent. Airbnb allows people to search for lodging in a specific location, contact the property owner, and book a stay. Airbnb also handles payment between the customer and the owner and provides customer service. Airbnb and VRBO are deleting, deactivating, suspending & removing Hosts from the platforms based on false, contrived, or erroneous claims that the Host breached the Terms of Service. If your Hosting Account has been deleted, deactivated, or suspended without cause, our Airbnb lawyers can help.

Has Your Hosting Account Been Suspended or Removed from Airbnb or VRBO Without Justification?

“Help, Airbnb deactivated my account!” (Airbnb Host)

You can learn more in this article ‘AIRBNB OR VRBO ACCOUNT DEACTIVATION OR TERMINATION:

HOW TO GET YOUR DEACTIVATED AIRBNB OR VRBO ACCOUNT BACK ONLINE AFTER YOU’RE BANNED.’

Why Did I Get Banned and My Account Terminated?

In coordination with the “Trust and Safety” team, Airbnb customer support has been increasingly aggressive about hosting account removals and suspensions. There is often no account review or appeal process. Unfortunately, Airbnb rarely provides any justification for its termination, removal, or suspension decision. In many instances, Airbnb unjustly deactivates the hosting account without any investigation or inquiry. Occasionally, Airbnb or VRBO acknowledge their mistake and allow a host to reinstate their account. But too often, these vacation rental platforms make decisions without telling the host why they are being deactivated, removed, or conducting any investigation. Too often, Airbnb and VRBO get it wrong. In the meantime, these STR platforms cancel all your rental contracts with your guests and leave you without the rental income from canceled bookings. Below is a list of  reasons Airbnb is telling hosts they are being suspended or removed:

• Anonymous complaints by guests, some of which are unjustified or extortion attempts.
• Alleged criminal record of a host or co-host or someone allegedly affiliated with your account.
• Alleged violations of Airbnb’s anti-discrimination policies.
• Association or affiliation with another account that has been banned.
• “Likely to travel with an unwanted Guest” ban.
• Being friends with banned members.
• Alleged violations of Host-Gauaratee/Aircover claims for damages caused by guests.
• Alleged violations of Airbnb’s policies related to undisclosed surveillance cameras or cameras in private home areas.
• Too many host-guarantee claims.
• Multiple hosting or guest accounts on the Airbnb platform.
• Association with listings previously banned or removed (sometimes by prior property owners).
• Association with co-hosts or guests who have prior criminal records or were previously removed from the platform.
• House parties.
• Alleged Violation of VRBO’s or Airbnb’s Terms of Service or Policies.
• Providing false receipts for Host Guarantee claims.
• Generalized and unsubstantiated complaints from Guests.

What about An Appeal of My Suspension, Ban, or Termination?

Even though Airbnb states on its website that you can appeal a deactivation decision, there is no avenue to appeal Airbnb’s decision to deactivate your account permanently.

Terms of Service 13.3: For minor violations or where otherwise appropriate, as Airbnb determines in its sole discretion, you will be given notice of any intended measure by Airbnb and an opportunity to resolve the issue. You may appeal actions taken by us under this Section by contacting customer service. If a Reservation is cancelled under this Section, the amount paid to the Host will be reduced by the amount we refund or otherwise provide to the Guest, and by any other costs we incur as a result of the cancellation.

You can file an arbitration case against Airbnb for wrongly deactivating your account. Our attorneys file arbitration cases against Airbnb and VRBO regularly on deactivation issues. If you have been deactivated, suspended, terminated, or removed from Airbnb or VRBO, our STR lawyers may be able to help. Contact an Airbnb Attorney at Traverse Legal to learn about your options.

Don’t Put All Your STR Eggs in the Airbnb Basket

To protect yourself from the risks of relying solely on Airbnb, it’s wise to consider listing your property on other platforms like VRBO, Booking.com, and even offering direct bookings. This approach not only increases your visibility to a wider audience but also reduces the financial impact of any sudden deactivations or suspensions. Each platform, such as VRBO and Booking.com, operates with its own unique policies and set of users, giving hosts the advantage of being less vulnerable to the whims of a single platform. By spreading your bookings across different services, you can feel more secure knowing that an issue with one account won’t completely stop your income stream.

Direct bookings are another option worth exploring. While you’ll need to handle aspects like guest screening, payments, and insurance yourself, direct bookings help you avoid the fees that come with using third-party platforms. Moreover, they allow you to build direct relationships with guests, which should lead to repeat bookings and repeat guests.  Listings on multiple platforms gives you a backup plan if one platform, such as Airbnb or VRBO, unexpectedly and wrongfully suspends or deactivates your account.