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Homeowners warn renters after teens caught on camera partying at their home

ATLANTA — A lot of people rent out their homes on various booking sites to make some cash. It’s easy to do with just the click of a button.

But the problem is, you don’t really know who you are renting to.

Karren Harris has listed his condo in the heart of downtown Atlanta for nearly 3 1/2 years. He said any issues he had with guests were minor, until now.

“It wasn’t nothing as devastating. This time, it seems like they sought to take advantage,” Harris said. “It will be a while before I consider opening my home up again.”

Harris told Channel 2's Lauren Pozen that rented out his condo on Airbnb for Valentine's Day weekend.

After the guests’ stay, Harris said he came home to find someone had rummaged through his clothes and stolen his shoes and suits.

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“It was devastating. Memorabilia, paintings, my kids’ things -- all of the things I tried to put in my place to make someone else comfortable,” Harris said.

Pozen quickly learned Harris isn’t alone. Brady Mills, of Atlanta, said he spoke to renters who threw a raging party at his second home in Nashville. He went through the booking site RedAwning.

“Someone rented under a fake name and used a stolen credit card,” Mills said.

Mills showed Pozen video captured by his outdoor security cameras of the party that went on at his house.

“There’s probably about $10,000 worth of damage to the house,” Mills said.

He told Pozen that just one bad guest can really make you think twice about opening your home up to strangers.

“It is pretty disheartening when you pour your heart and soul into a house and it was a beautiful home,” Mills said.

Pozen spoke with an Airbnb official who said what happened in Harris' downtown condo is rare among the millions of bookings the company deals with daily.

That guest has been banned from the site.

There’s also a $1 million host guarantee and host protection service to cover hosts if something like this happens.

Airbnb also sent Pozen several things you can do to try and minimize things like this from happening to you:

  • Set Clear Expectations: Your listing description should let potential guests know about the unique features and amenities of your home. Even small details like the number of flights of stairs to your front door can help make sure guests enjoy their time with you. As a host, you can also outline specific expectations (like quiet hours) in your house rules.
  • Set Guest Requirements: Every guest is asked to provide their full name, date of birth, photo, phone number, email address, and payment information to Airbnb before booking. Home hosts also have the option to require guests to provide Airbnb with a government ID before booking their listing.
  • Read Profiles & Reviews: If you want to know more about a guest before accepting their reservation request, check out their profile or read reviews from past hosts. Hosts and guests can only review each other after a reservation is complete, so you know the feedback you're reading is based on actual experiences.
  • Get to Know Your Guest in Advance: Our secure messaging tool gives you the chance to get to know guests and answer or ask any questions that come up before or during the trip. Messaging is also a great place to coordinate things like check-in or provide local recommendations.
  • Keep Safety Info & Equipment Handy: It's important to equip your home and your guests with the safety essentials they might need during their trip. This includes things like a working smoke and carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a fully completed online safety card.
  • If Anything Isn't Right, Reach Out: In the rare event that an issue should arise, our team is available 24/7 in 11 languages to support you and your guests—all you have to do is reach out. We offer things like rebooking assistance, refunds, reimbursements, our $1 million Host Guarantee, and Host Protection Insurance program to help make things right.