Short-Term Rental Dispute Calculator CA

Yes. Hosts are contractually responsible for ensuring their property matches the listing description and is safe and habitable for guests. If a host materially misrepresented the property, failed to provide access, delivered an uninhabitable unit, or wrongfully withheld your damage deposit, you can file a small claims action against the host directly in the province where the rental was located. Airbnb is a US-based platform and is generally not a party you would name — your rental contract is with the host, who is the defendant in a small claims action.

A material misrepresentation is a false statement about a significant feature of the listing — something you clearly relied on when booking at the price you paid. Clear examples include: a listing says 3 bedrooms but one is an unheated storage room; it advertises a private pool that is shared or broken; it claims wheelchair accessibility that does not exist; it shows photos of modern amenities that have since been removed. Minor cosmetic differences between photos and reality are generally not material. The legal test is whether you would have booked at the same price knowing the true condition of the property.

Airbnb's resolution centre is not a court and its decisions are not legally binding. If the platform denied or only partially resolved your claim and you believe you are owed more, you can sue the host in Canadian small claims court. Having gone through the Airbnb resolution process actually helps you in court — it creates a documented paper trail of the dispute. Download and preserve all platform messages, resolution centre correspondence, and any documentation Airbnb reviewed during its decision. Courts are not required to defer to Airbnb's internal determinations.

You need the host's legal name and a service address to file a claim. Check the Airbnb platform for the host's display name and any contact information provided. If you paid by e-transfer or have tax receipts from the stay, these may contain the host's legal name. In some provinces, you can initially name the host as their Airbnb display name while seeking to discover their legal identity through the court process. Contact the small claims court clerk in your province for guidance on naming and serving an individual known primarily by their platform profile name.

Yes. Hosts who suffer property damage beyond normal wear and tear can file a small claims action against the guest in the province where the property is located. Hosts must: take extensive check-in and check-out photos for every booking, report damage to Airbnb's Host Guarantee within the required window, get repair quotes on company letterhead, and document all communications with the guest regarding the damage. In court, the host bears the burden of proving the damage occurred during the guest's specific stay and quantifying the loss with supporting documentation.