Avoid Airhost. An appalling and deeply unprofessional experience.
We first contacted Airhost in November and explained very clearly that we were temporarily moving back to Brighton to have a baby. We expected to stay for around three months, but told them from the outset that we would probably need the property for longer and specifically asked for first refusal on extending.
There was no suggestion that staying longer would mean a higher rent. We agreed £2,200 per month - a tidy premium.
As expected, we later asked to stay longer. Airhost agreed in writing that we could remain until at least 5 May.
Only AFTER agreeing this did they try to change the deal.
We were told the landlord had realised they could charge considerably more over the bank holiday weekend. Airhost then attempted to increase our rent by £500 per month, which they tried to tell us was a great deal for us(!!).
This was not a fixed tenancy ending followed by a new booking. Airhost's own contract did not contain a fixed end date. It allowed occupation for up to six months, with either side required to give 21 days' notice to end the arrangement.
We had agreed in writing to remain until at least 5 May and no valid 21-day notice had been given. Yet Vas and Rodica repeatedly behaved as though they could simply change the rent after the extension had already been agreed and, when we refused, force us out.
We repeatedly found ourselves having to explain Airhost's own contract back to them.
What made this particularly disgraceful was that Airhost knew exactly why we were in Brighton. They knew before we booked that we were coming back to have a baby.
By the time the dispute reached its worst point, we had a two-week-old baby in the house. Despite this, we were threatened with a team being sent to the property to remove us.
We took this seriously enough to contact Brighton & Hove City Council, the police and obtain legal advice. We also had to make explicitly clear several times in writing that nobody had permission to enter the property, change the locks or interfere with our occupation.
The fact that a disagreement with a supposedly professional accommodation agency reached this point is extraordinary.
Airhost's excuse throughout was essentially that the landlord wanted more money or wanted us out. Rather than explaining to the landlord that an agreement had already been made and could not simply be rewritten because they had realised they might make more money, Airhost appeared far more comfortable putting pressure on us.
That is not competent property management.
Their handling of their own contract was astonishing. Either they did not understand the agreement they had issued, or they expected us simply to accept their interpretation of it.
Fortunately, we read the contract carefully, challenged them and sought advice.
I genuinely wonder how intimidating the same behaviour would be for a tourist, international student, somebody whose English is not their first language, or anyone unfamiliar with UK contractual and tenancy rights. Someone in a more vulnerable position might simply believe an agency telling them they have to pay more or leave.
I would also be extremely cautious about the two-bedroom Montgomery Street property in Hove.
According to Airhost, it was the landlord who was insisting on the higher rent and later insisting that we be removed. If Airhost's account was accurate, prospective guests can draw their own conclusions on whether to stay at this property.
Our experience was simple: we agreed a stay, agreed an extension, and then Airhost tried to charge us substantially more because, according to them, the landlord had realised they could make more money. When we refused, matters escalated to threats about removing us while our newborn baby was in the house.
I would never use Airhost again.
If you do, get absolutely everything in writing, read every clause yourself, and do not assume Airhost will stand behind an agreement once a landlord decides they want different terms.
