Suspect my airbnb used for prostitution - what to do?

[womensvoicesmatter]

I'm posting this for a friend not on Mumsnet, she asked me to ask you all for advice. She says:

"I suspect that my airbnb has been used for prostitution. I have now discovered that secondary school teachers in this area have been told that there is a specific problem with airbnb, prostitution and underage girls in this area. I am wondering if we can ask for a meeting with the police to find out what steps are being taken to address the issue. For example have they spoken to the children or their parents? I think this needs urgent attention."

What should she do?

Has anyone else who uses airbnb or rents a property had any experience of similar?

I'd certainly ask for a meeting with police if it is a known issue.

But as a personal measure I would look to make my property unattractive to this. Up my rates as a disincentive; look at more stringent rules & regs in general; have a longer minimum stay and cleaning charge etc.

Thanks NoSquirrels, those are good tips.

Is she letting her flat to underage girls?

She can ask for a meeting with the police but at the moment she has some gossip, and the details of ongoing investigations may be kept private.

In the meantime it would be making the property unattractive to that type of behaviour. Not accepting day lets, raising prices, etc.

No, the bookings aren't made by people who are obviously underage girls (as far as I know).

If they were, that'd be an easy way to stop it happening in her place!

Keep a tighter rein on the property. It is illegal to let a property for immoral earnings
and your friend could be open for prosecution. Also take a credit card for any expenses this is also a guarantee of identity.

Surely my friend couldn't be open for prosecution if she goes to the police as soon as she has suspicions?

Oh she could.

Landlords are ultimately responsible for what happens in their property for quite a few illegal activities that they have no dealings with: brothels and overcrowding via subletting are just 2 of them!

Sorry! Pressed post too soon.

She could, but if she is open and acts quickly the police won't charge her. They'll prefer to stop the illegal activity first.

I asked her how she knows.

She says she's suspicious because of strange behaviour. A guy booked for 2 people, 6 stayed.

She rang airbnb. They confirmed that he lives in the same town and often books different properties using different payment methods. Uses prepaid card. No sign of so-called girlfriend. All a bit weird.

The guy wasn't happy that my friend lives in adjacent property. Told her he was viewing properties which obviously wasn't true, as he already lives here.

She's thinking of contacting other local airbnb owners. And she wonders if there should be something in the local paper, and messages sent out to parents.

Oh she could.

But if they prosecute responsible owners trying to stop this, that's bonkers, surely?

Also take a credit card for any expenses this is also a guarantee of identity

Airbnb take the payments, I'm, not sure if you can specify type of card?

Is an AirB'n'B "host" a landlord ? That'll be a court case to watch for ... (maybe one for legal).

Interesting question DGRossetti!

I suspect a lot of AirB'n'Bers - and AirBnB themselves would be very very very keen not to be landlords. Imagine, all of a sudden being subject to housing law ?

Incidentally, if the property owner has any liability, I suspect AirBnB might too. I wonder what local papers would think ?

Its common to not let airb and b to people with residential addresses in same town. Often its for parties with a higher risk of being trashed, but it could work for prostitution too.

She won't be prosecuted for anything, but yes, should raise her concerns with police and other local short-term letters. Local paper I'm not so sure, would she want her property "advertised" as a brothel? Might put off future customers.

This is the type of activity that police and social work want people to flag up as it may point to Child Sexual Exploitation. I know when i worked in child protection we did a lot of training and they spoke of people in the community such as taxi drivers, chip shop/takeaway owners, landlords etc keeping an eye open for anything dodgy or unusual happening. Could this be a concern here? If it is it would be worth speaking to the police about it.

Funny all the problems these "new" platforms have raised ... Uber drivers not being vetted, AirBnBs rather pedestrian attitude to microletting ...

I've never used airBnb but can't the owners say no to certain renters? Don't they have a banned customer list? Just the fact that he booked for 2 people and 6 stayed should be enough for her to be able to refuse future booking surely? Then it's someone else's problem. Not a solution to the issue as a whole but a solution for your friend anyway.

Then it's someone else's problem. Not a solution to the issue as a whole but a solution for your friend anyway.

The problem is bigger than one individual. And even if it was just one individual, if he's using pre-pay cards to book, he could just set up again under another profile I assume.

But also, my friend's concern is not only her profit/liability!

I have no doubt she's concerned about the underage girls caught up in this and doing the right thing with regards to them.

That's difficult then. You would think Airbnb would have something in place to stop people using fake accounts and pre-paid credit cards

There is no harm in speaking to the police though. They might be able to offer advice.

You would think Airbnb would have something in place to stop people using fake accounts and pre-paid credit cards

as long as it doesn't interfere with da profitz ... (see also: Uber ...)

Airbnb told her that this guest booked multiple properties in the area and pays via pre paid card? Really? That sounds extremely unlikely.

It's really not hard to protect your property as an Airbnb host. Only let to families and guests with several positive reviews. Make sure you or a trusted other checks the guests in and out. This is a weird thread, and something isn't quite adding up.

NotANotMan I've been on MN for over a decade and I trust my friend totally.

Are you troll hunting? Please report me to Mumsnet if you want to, they'll confirm I'm a long term poster.

But as a personal measure I would look to make my property unattractive to this. Up my rates as a disincentive; look at more stringent rules & regs in general; have a longer minimum stay and cleaning charge etc.

None of these things are likely to make your friend's property less attractive to either consensual sex workers or the pimps who I assume book accommodation for trafficked and coerced workers.

What will work is making it clear in the ad that the owner lives next door, and is available at a moment's notice, and if you can somehow imply that the entrance to the property is overlooked even better.

Your friend would only be prosecuted if she was knowingly letting the property for the purposes of prostitution so that shouldn't be a worry.

Ideally though she should be speaking to the police to make sure she has accurate information on how to spot and report child sexual exploitation.