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Florida Homeowner Tosha Nelson Deactivates Rental Listing After Guest Damages and Financial Losses
Tosha Nelson, a homeowner in Largo, Florida, rented out her property on Airbnb for several years but faced increasing costs and damages from guests. She reported grossing $2,200 monthly against $1,100 in mortgage and insurance expenses, plus additional outlays for replacements and amenities. After incidents including property damage and suspicious guest behavior, Nelson deactivated the listing.
Apr 11, 2:22 PM·1m read1 source
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Challenges Over time, the homeowner stated she began losing money due to unreimbursed damages and replacements.
Platforms like Airbnb allow claims for stolen or damaged items within 14 days, but some deadlines were missed, requiring out-of-pocket payments for items such as sheets, home fixtures, shampoos, soaps, and beverages. To maintain high ratings, extra amenities were provided, which added to expenses.
Research indicated the property could generate at least $3,000 monthly, but after accounting for all costs, net income fell short.
Damage Incident One Tuesday evening booking led to significant damage when guests held a party, triggering alarms. Upon arrival, a hole in the drywall, a broken door frame, dangling smoke alarms, and a damaged microwave were found. Guests had also discarded usable washclowns, towels, and blankets.
Airbnb reimbursed some amount, but the total loss exceeded assessment costs.
Guest Behavior The subsequent booking involved guests who arrived and immediately checked the mailbox and attempted to enter the shed.
They then complained about a house issue and requested a full refund. Suspicion arose based on their actions, viewed via the front door camera. This incident prompted a review of finances and deactivation of the Airbnb listing.
The property's history includes nearly 20 years of ownership, with rental operations spanning several years until the deactivation. No further details on next steps for the property were reported.
