Carlos Ivazeta says he couldn’t believe his eyes when he walked into his condo, after having rented it out for four days on HomeAway.
“I came into the apartment and the apartment was totally destroyed,” Ivazeta said.
“The apartment was totally vandalized.”
He said he’s rented out his home before, using several different websites.
READ MORE: Doubts raised over Quebec’s legislation regulating Airbnb-type rentals
He’s had minor incidents in the past, but nothing to this extent.
Ivazeta claims several items were stolen, including his TV and almost $3,000 worth of belongings, a sound system and lamps.
He told Global News he contacted HomeAway to inquire about insurance coverage, but was told insurance protects individuals renting the property — not the owner.
“People don’t know that this is not a cover for them, it’s a cover for the guests only,” Ivazeta said.
In addition, his own insurance company told him his coverage does not cover thefts in short-term rental cases.
READ MORE: Enforcing short-term rental bans is time consuming for Alberta resort communities
In a statement, HomeAway told Global News that it “recommends that homeowners carry insurance policies to protect against theft and damages. Should we be asked to assist the authorities in this matter, our customer support team stands ready to do so.”
Ivazeta contacted Montreal police, but didn’t take pictures or contact the individual who rented the condo.
Manuel Couture, spokesperson with the Montreal police, explained officers can track down a perpetrator because users of sites like Airbnb and HomeAway are required to create an account with them.
READ MORE: Quebec, Airbnb reach agreement to collect lodging tax
“It depends on what was stolen. If, for example, the person rented the place with a false ID, we can claim fraud,” he told Global News.
“But, for example, if the person stole something and they left with the object, it’s considered as theft.”
No arrests have been made in Ivazeta’s case.
Comments