Airbnb Break-In And Robbery

SomersetLass

Last weekend I booked a flat through Airbnb in Kensington for myself and 3 friends to stay in for 1 night. It was a nice residential street of Victorian terraces and the flat was a basement flat. All was lovely.
We went out for the evening returning at about 10.30 to find that the sash window frame had been forced and the bottom part of the window was hanging open like a cat flap.
On checking around, my 3 friends had all had their luggage stolen (they didn’t bother with mine, as I travel so light I hardly had anything!) We had to phone the Police, plus the Airbnb host, who sent her partner around to secure the window. The Police came around the following morning to do forensics but all they found was a glove Mark and have closed the case!
Obviously this ruined our weekend - my 3 friends totalled up the value of their losses and it came to about £3k, which included luggage, ewellery, clothes, make up, hairdryers, etc. I contacted Airbnb, who are ‘looking into’ what can be done (that was a week ago, still waiting). The Host says her Insurance doesn’t cover this. My friends had travel insurance, but this only covers for stays of 2 nights or more. They don’t want to have to claim off their own home insurance as they have excesses of about £250 each.
Has anyone else had this happen to them? Any advise what to do would be appreciated

photome

IMO it’s an insurance issue, guess it’s up to the travellers to make sure they have the correct insurance in place.

In the absence of travel insurance why wouldn’t they use the home insurance , if they have lost roughly £1000 each and the excess is £250 , it makes sense

DCFC79

I agree, home insurance is way to go.

SomersetLass

One of them has had a burglary at her own home last year, so already has really high premiums because of that. I think they just want to see if there are any other options before doing that

steampowered

I suspect you could only claim against the AirBnB owner if you could prove that they were negligent in some way. It doesn't sound like that is the case for you.

Unfortunately I think your friend's only option is to claim under their travel or home insurance, and eat the excess.

pinkshoes

£3k of stuff for a 1 night stay?????

Definitely up to their own insurance to pay out as I cannot see how the airBnB host was negligent.

Davy_Jones_II

pinkshoes wrote: »

£3k of stuff for a 1 night stay?????

Definitely up to their own insurance to pay out as I cannot see how the airBnB host was negligent.

That’s not that unusual. I’ve a Rimowa suitcase. An iPhone X, an iPad Pro and a nice coat that added together probably get close to that. It doesn’t take much nowadays with a bit of tech and a couple of special occasion bits of clothing.

SomersetLass

This is why they didn’t take mine - it consisted of a £10 backpack from eBay, spare socks, pants, jumper and a nightie!! All I lost was my phone charger and washbag, with an almost empty pot of face cream and ancient toothbrush in it!!

Mr_Singleton

SomersetLass wrote: »

£10 backpack from eBay, spare socks, pants, jumper and a nightie!!

Classy gal! :j

davidmcn

SomersetLass wrote: »

I think they just want to see if there are any other options before doing that

Other than them finding the burglars and hoping they still have their stuff, no.

hollydays

Not sure that it makes a difference, but didn't the sash window have a window,lock on it?