A holiday rental owner has taken to TikTok to share what can only be described as an unbelievable nightmare.
Sadie, the owner of a “Harry Potter” themed Airbnb in Watford, England, has been left to pick up the broken pieces after a guest caused extensive damage to her rental property, amounting to a staggering £5,000 (R118,000).
Sadie, who designed the enchanting getaway for “Harry Potter” enthusiasts, shared the heart-wrenching video on her popular TikTok page.
Transforming her ordinary home into a wonderland for fans of the wizarding world, Sadie meticulously curated every corner of the property with incredible props, themed decor and immersive experiences that captured the essence of Hogwarts.
The Airbnb quickly gained popularity on social media, showcasing themed crockery, bedding, games and a mini library that encouraged visitors to relive their favourite magical moments.
However, everything changed following a recent guest’s stay.
In the first video, Sadie was met with a scene so shocking it resembled a break-in.
Frozen chips littered the floors, floating lanterns lay shattered, and glass was strewn about. The television had been smashed, and bleach was splattered across its surface.
To add to the chaos, furniture was overturned, while precious memorabilia was found scattered and damaged.
@homelea.stays *ai voice over* The most heartbreaking thing, how someone can be so cruel to do this to a place which was thoughtfully made to make young children smile. I am disappointed @Booking.com did absolutely nothing about this, we have been hosting with them for years! Had this happened on @airbnb I am 100% certain they would have taken full action! #airbnbfinds #placestostay #PlacesToVisit #harrypotterfan #fyp #watford #londontiktok #londonhotspots #londonlife #harrypotter #airbnbexperience #hogwartsairbnb #magicalstay #harrypotterstay #wizardingworld #harrypottertiktok #harrypotteredit #warnerbrosstudioharrypotter #harrypotterairbnb ♬ som original – Shelby Company
What was perhaps the most distressing aspect of the aftermath was the condition of the bed, which Sadie described as a “nightmare” scenario.
The mattress and sheets were stained with an “odd-looking brown liquid”, which she later revealed to be a mix of cocoa butter and coffee.
She also said that a knife was found near the window, alongside evidence of cannabis use.
Despite her efforts to clean the mess herself, Sadie said she had called in professionals to restore the property to a hygienic state.
In the caption, Sadie wrote: “The most heartbreaking thing, how can someone be so cruel to do to a place which was thoughtfully made to make young children smile. I am disappointed @Booking.com did nothing; we have been hosting with them for years.”
In an attempt to seek accountability, Sadie reached out to the guest, only to face refusal in addressing the damages incurred.
While many people have questioned why no deposit was taken at the time of the booking, Sadie clarified, “We don’t charge a deposit”.
With some items deemed irreparable, Sadie has begun the process of replacing them with new ones, trying to salvage the magic that made her Airbnb so unique.
@homelea.stays *ai voice* There was soo much to say but the video was already long. I hope this answers all your questions. Please do not use my video without my consent as that’s another legal action headache I will have to go through. I would like to mention again this was a @Booking.com guest ##airbnbfinds #placestostay #PlacesToVisit #harrypotterfan #fyp #watford #londontiktok #londonhotspots #londonlife #harrypotter #airbnbexperience #hogwartsairbnb #magicalstay #harrypotterstay #wizardingworld #harrypottertiktok #harrypotteredit #warnerbrosstudioharrypotter #harrypotterairbnb ♬ Suspense, horror, piano and music box – takaya
Sadie said that the police had been contacted, as well as the letting company, Booking.com.
As her story gained traction, with more than a million views, one company in England, Vintage Vault, reached out to Sadie to help restore the iconic holiday home.
They wrote: “We have a brand new mattress we can donate to you. May also have other Harry Potter stock.”
Meanwhile, closer to home, a Cape Town Airbnb expert and property coach, Ridhwaan Basa, who rented out a R20 million Airbnb in Camps Bay, also shared a similar experience.
On Instagram, Basa shared the extent of the damage incurred to the luxury home. This included a stove that was destroyed, with the hobs seemingly ripped off and stained furniture.
What took the cake, however, were the pool cues, which appeared to have been chewed.
In the caption, Basa wrote: “How Guests left my Airbnb 🙈😳🫣🙄 This can be one of the most annoying parts of running an Airbnb business 🏡.”
Luckily, Basa had the Airbnb insured and was able to claim for the damages.
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