Sued By VRBO Guest

[Lauren C.]

Will try to keep this short…

I'm a first time real estate investor and bought my first shore home as a STR last November at the age of 25. This summer has been going well and I'm almost fully booked for the peak season.

I require my guests to bring their own linens. While it’s not stated outright in the description, I don’t have linens checked under amenities and I always message my guests 2 days before check in with a guide that states linens should be brought. This is very standard for the area I’m in. 

I have guests due for check in in 2 days. After sending them my check in message, they called VRBO to complain that I should be offering linens. VRBO called to to ask if I could provide linens, give a small refund, then if i could accept a cancellation. After saying no to all, my guests said that they will be cancelling (non-refundable) and threatened legal action. 

Since my listing shows that I don’t provide linens, I let them cancel. Fourth of July weekend is one of my highest revenue weekends and I didn’t feel I was in the wrong to take any financial hit.

Any advice on next steps to protect myself from a legal perspective or how these situations should be handled going forward?

[Jay Hinrichs]

threat of lawsuit is something I personally would not even remotely worry about.. folks like to bluster all the time but RARELY will they sue once they see how much it cost to do it etc etc.

Just put it behind you..

PS I would personally never rent something I had to bring my own linens to.. what market is this that that is common .. And I guess if everyone else does it its SOP.. But personally never heard of it.. But I dont really rent STR unless its a last resort IE i cant find a good hotel close to where i am going.