Posted on 20 Dec 2022
Going away over the school holidays? Know your rights as an Air BnB tenant
By Slater and Gordon
If you’re escaping for the school holidays or and enjoying some time away, you might book an Air BnB to stay in, but not many people know that Air BnB properties for rent must be kept to a certain standard of safety for their tenants.
On your vacation you should sleep soundly with the knowledge that you’re protected if your host doesn’t take reasonable steps to keep you safe.
What could happen?
Air BnB require all hosts to certify their compliance with local laws and regulations.
There are several ways a person could injure themselves whilst staying in an Air BnB listed property, for example:
- Tripping on poorly maintained walkways, loose paving or ill-placed doormats,
- Hazards to children such as unsafe play equipment or a faulty pool gate
- Poor maintenance of the property leading to issues such as mould or bed bugs causing health problems
If you’ve suffered an injury, you should seek medical assistance immediately.
We find that many people aren’t aware of their rights and don’t feel confident to speak up, and that's when things can go wrong.
We encourage guests to ask property owners about their level of insurance and remember to always compare the photographs of the home posted online to what you’re seeing in person.
When you arrive at the property, if something doesn't add up or it doesn't look safe, get back in contact with the host and ask questions like 'How old is this? When did you last have it checked?
Some injuries may be a minor scrape or bruise, but it can also cause more serious injuries such as broken bones, fractures, dislocations, and injuries to your back and neck. Just because something is not a problem now, doesn’t mean it won’t be in the future. Remember, it doesn’t hurt to ask.
It’s time to enjoy your holiday without having to worry whether your accommodation is up to scratch. An Air BnB host must check all aspects of their property.
Remember to stay safe while enjoying you time off!
The contents of this blog post are considered accurate as at the date of publication. However the applicable laws may be subject to change, thereby affecting the accuracy of the article. The information contained in this blog post is of a general nature only and is not specific to anyone’s personal circumstances. Please seek legal advice before acting on any of the information contained in this post.