‘Choosing to potentially rip me off’: Woman learns the hard way Airbnb is an ‘absolute scam. Then she is taught how to show them no mercy

Airbnb has often been at the center of controversy, and recently, people are just advising each other to go for a hotel instead. A new Airbnb called the service after a dismissive host tried to explain why they shouldn’t expect hot water when booking a property.

An X named Tanya shared a screenshot where an Airbnb host messaged her on the app to inform her that the property she booked doesn’t have hot water in the showers. When Tanya asked if she’d be refunded for the inconvenience if it’s not resolved before she arrives on the property, the host told her no, since their listing on the app doesn’t include hot water as an amenity, and instead offered an apology.

The response made Tanya understandably furious, and she responded by accusing the host of “choosing to potentially rip her off,” arguing that hot water is an assumed amenity, and if the listing has to verbally point out every part of the house for its mandatory existence, then what about the doors and windos\ws?

I don’t think either Tanya or the host expected what would happen next. As the adage goes, the internet did its thing. Immediately, people from all walks of life were advising Tanya on how to handle the situation. Luckily, there are always Airbnb hosts who actually like their guests. One of them advised Tanya to give the property a one-star rating immediately. For the record, he agreed it was a scam and said he would issue a 100% refund if he were in that position.

This is a horrible reply, as somebody in the space managing properties I would 100% issue a full refund if no hot water is available at the property!

It’s crazy how owners would scam like this, if this booking goes thru make sure to mark 1 star and outline how they are not…

— Michael Setuain- Short Term Rental / Airbnb Mgmt (@StayMaven) May 14, 2025

Worse things have definitely happened in an Airbnb. However, it was the host’s faux-professional and “helpful” tone that seemed to get under people’s skin. Someone even combed through California law to send Tanya a clause showing that it’s illegal to rent a property without functional hot showers. Tanya said she sent that back to the host immediately.

If this is in California, this amenity does not need to be listed. it is likely illegal for them to rent it without hot water pic.twitter.com/gHAB9ivjZN

— captive dolt (@stakenut) May 13, 2025

One hilariously tagged Airbnb and asked if doors, locks, and windows should also be listed as amenities, lest someone assume. But Airbnb, of course, did not respond. Honestly, if you don’t even have to disclose that there are strangers on the property, you really can do anything on that wild, wild west app.

I wonder if doors, windows and locks need to be listed as amenities.@Airbnb – care to add your two cents?

— Larry Cook (@stopvaccinating) May 14, 2025

The honest truth is that this isn’t even solely the fault of the host or Airbnb. They’re just unregulated. That’s the quiet part about the gig economy we all have to live with. Companies are no longer responsible for the products and services they facilitate — they’re just middlemen. Governments around the world have bowed to incentives and the “be your own boss” fallacies, but the reality is that none of this benefits the consumer. And it’s certainly not good for the economy.

Good for Tanya for standing up for herself. And it was a great moment for people on X to have her back. Usually, on X, you expect to get outrageous Elon Musk tweets ham-fisted onto your homepage, whether you follow him or not, or the latest tirade from Kanye West. But this one time, X showed us why it still holds a unique place in culture.

Airbnb did eventually respond to Tanya and asked her to DM with more details. As per the people in the thread, she will hopefully get her refund. But it’s high time Airbnb takes an action against such landlords, after all it’s the company’s reputation that’s at stake.