The whole situation felt sketchy from the start, but we stayed anyway. We were in a large apartment complex in a foreign country. We had already paid, and the host swore everything was fine.
Spoiler: it wasn’t.
Two days later, security pulled us into an office. We hadn’t done anything wrong, but the renter had. We were still kicked out because of this Airbnb scam.
Since then, we’ve learned how to spot the warning signs before booking. Here’s what we check now so we never end up getting kicked out of an illegal Airbnb again.
Check if It’s Legal
This is what we hadn’t realized: not every city allows short-term rentals.
In some places, like Florence and Barcelona, Airbnb-style stays are heavily restricted. In places like New York, entire apartments can’t legally be rented out short-term.
We were in Penang, Malaysia where it was a building-by-building policy. And the building we were in banned Airbnbs.
The problem is, Airbnb won’t always tell you this upfront. They leave it up to the host to ensure they are complying with all laws and building regulations.
So you might only find out when security comes knocking. That’s what happened to us.
A quick Google search before booking would have saved us.
Now, we always check the local laws. We make sure that short-term rentals are permitted before making a booking.
Read Reviews Carefully
Reviews tell you way more than just “clean apartment” or “great host.”
We look for clues about the building itself. Did other guests use the pool or the gym? Did they mention chatting with the front desk? If nobody talks about those things, chances are they weren’t allowed.
We’ve even seen reviews that say things like “remember to stay quiet” or “don’t mention Airbnb.”
That’s a flashing red light.
And if guests are being told to hide the fact that they’re there, the host is probably breaking rules. But if they get caught, it’s you who’s left without a place to sleep.
So whenever we have a doubt, we bluntly but politely ask the host if their Airbnb is legal and permitted.
Watch the Host’s Messaging
The way a host communicates tells you a lot.
If their first message is full of instructions like “don’t talk to security” or “say you’re a friend visiting,” that’s all we need to know. We don’t book.
A good host should make you feel welcome.
They should explain check-in clearly, give you helpful local tips, and be upfront about house rules.
What they should not do is coach you on how to sneak past the people who actually live in the building. If we feel like we’re being asked to lie, we back out.
Check the Host’s Activity
We’ve learned to click through the host’s profile every single time.
If they just joined, have no reviews, or only have one or two stays on record, we get cautious. There’s a big difference between someone who has hosted hundreds of travelers with years of positive feedback versus someone who listed a random apartment last week.
Superhosts exist for a reason. They’ve built trust over time. We lean toward them when possible because consistency matters. It doesn’t guarantee a perfect stay, but it lowers the chances of running into shady setups.
Watch for Too-Good-to-Be-True Pricing
If a listing is significantly cheaper than everything else in the same neighborhood, we ask why.
A price drop of $20 or $30 could just be a deal. But hundreds of dollars less? That can mean something’s not right.
Hosts running illegal rentals often price them lower to attract people quickly.
We’ve seen it firsthand. Once we started comparing listings side by side, it became clear which ones were legit and which ones looked suspiciously cheap.
Paying a little more for a legal, safe spot is always worth it.
Airbnb Is Awesome – Just be Careful
Even after our experience, we still love Airbnb. We still use it regularly.
But we’ve gotten smarter about how we book.
By checking legality, digging into reviews, paying attention to how hosts communicate, and watching out for suspicious prices, we’ve avoided repeat disasters.
Airbnb can be great. But only if you know what to look for before you hit “book.”
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