AirB&E.

This service is so sketchy. You knew stuff like this was going to happen.

Of course this happened. It'll happen again and I won't be shocked then either.

I love the idea of using Air B&B. I'm just glad people are nuts enough to rent their houses out to perfect strangers and assume all these risks so I can save a few bucks.
Cheap stay for me, all the risk is on them. Go for it people.

My wife and I have used AirBnB in numerous places all over the world. It's become our first stop when looking on the internet for a place to stay while away from home. Sometimes the owners are there, sometimes not. We have never had a bad experience. In fact most of the people we stayed with treated us like old friends, filling us with all sorts of local knowledge that only a local could give. It's not perfect and there are always going to be some bad experiences because that's what people like Mr LeFevre live for, but just be careful and practice common sense and you should have a good experience.

For the homeowner it can end up even worse when the Airbnb renter does show up as contracted. Early this year there was that Oakland couple who returned to find their house hosting a wild party with scores of teenagers, when they'd supposedly rented it to responsible adults. Then, despite the extremity of the case, "it took nearly 14 hours to receive a phone call from Airbnb about the situation." Inexcusable. Nor was that case unique -- news reports describe several other party trashings by Airbnb renters around North America.

We have rented out our place to many different people and never had a problem. This article reminds us that we should all take sensible precautions, like read the reviews of potential guests/landlords and not leave valuables around. The vast majority of AirBnB guests and landlord are responsible, friendly people.

One should bear in mind that it's only news when the unexpected happens.

I stepped away from listing my place on Airbnb after two issues, one regarding damage and another regarding a threat to my personal safety.
Both renters had very acceptable histories.
I might use them in the future to rent a place, but it would have to be the entire house.