NEW YORK, Aug. 3, 2025 — A London resident who was accused of damaging a New York apartment she rented via Airbnb has been fully reimbursed, almost $6,000.
The landlord had claimed the tenant caused over $16,000 in damages, primarily to a coffee table. However, images presented by the landlord appeared to be manipulated, according to reports. The tenant stated the differences in the photos were “simply not possible” in unedited images of the same object, suggesting it should have been an immediate red flag that destroyed the landlord’s credibility.
The tenant believes the damage photos provided by the landlord were doctored.
After being contacted by a major British newspaper, the rental service initially offered the tenant approximately $680 in credit. When this offer was rejected, a revised offer proposed a refund of one-fifth of the amount paid, totaling about $1,150. Upon the second rejection, the company ultimately refunded the entire rental fee and expressed regret.
The company stated, “We take claims about injuries seriously, and our dedicated team reviews all available evidence to reach proportionate outcomes for all parties. To ensure fairness, decisions can be appealed.”
Airbnb concluded that the landlord’s submitted images were insufficient to warrant compensation.
A Vast Global Operation
In May, the company reported global revenues equivalent to $2.35 billion.
Statistics from the analysis firm Capia revealed a significant surge in Airbnb rentals within Norway over the past three years. In June 2022, there were 58,737 available listings. By June 2025, this number had more than doubled to 122,628 homes.
The total turnover for these Norwegian properties exceeded $400 million in 2025.
