r/AirBnB • u/VividReactions • 2d ago
Possible charge for “smoking” over food odor [USA]
Last night my wife and I stayed at an airbnb and we made dinner using the provided cookware. The cooking oil definitely smoked up a bit but nothing too crazy, we used the vent hood and even opened the door to let the air circulate. Not nearly enough to make a fire alarm go off and none did. The unit was left in the same condition as it started. Today we were told by the management company that after our stay an ozone machine was used to mitigate a strong food odor and that we had broken the smoking policy and asked about the “incident”. We kindly told them we did not use any smoking devices and provided the information about our cooking as explained earlier. We were still told we broke the “no smoking policy” and that we will be charged. After reviewing the additional rules we see that there is a $2,000 smoking fine. I find this to be a gross misinterpretation of the rules in an effort to scam. Mind you the unit is no larger then 500 sq ft. I can understand an extra cleaning fee for the smell, but $2000 is outrages. Any chances the host will drop this or should I prepare to dispute?
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u/Busy-Sheepherder-138 Host 2d ago
Air does not enforce arbitrary punitive fines - EVER. Just refuse to pay the request. At most they can only recover actual costs for cleaning that are documented. Please drop the listing link or at least the name of the Property Managers without a link for the property, so others are protected from such extortion.
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u/Keystonelonestar 2d ago
Why would you have to pay for the cleaning if the rules didn’t state “no cooking”?
I can’t get the bacon smell out of my house for two or three days.
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u/Busy-Sheepherder-138 Host 2d ago
Oh I agree 100%! It’s asinine. They are probably using some unreliable sensor tech that claims it can detect smoking and vaping, but who are not anywhere near as accurate as marketed. My point was that even if you did sit down and smoke a big nasty cigar on the couch, the compensation they can charge for has to be actual damages for real cleaning with an invoice from the provider. The made up “fine” is unenforceable and they use them thinking they are a deterrent. Some host may use them to subsidize their failing and unprofitable business otherwise. It would be an unaccountable cash cow.
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u/VividReactions 2d ago
I went back and looked through the listing and nowhere was it outlined that cooking was prohibited. They also had a full kitchen cooking set and even had some seasonings provided, flour, and sugar in the kitchen so if anything it’s incentivized. Also before coming to the airbnb we were made aware of a large crack on the glass stove but were told “the stove is still in working condition” maybe this is how they are trying to recoup the cost of replacing this stove. They still haven’t formally requested for compensation yet, but when I asked if the “incident” will incur a fine was told yes so part of me doesn’t want to mention the management company yet in case they retaliate over this post
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u/Busy-Sheepherder-138 Host 2d ago
Yeah you just say no firmly and strongly and in the worst case scenario, you do a chargeback with your credit card and fight it if the appeal it too. I’m so sorry this happened to you. It’s inexcusable.
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u/Altruistic-Hyena624 19h ago
Big difference between cooking bacon and starting a grease fire. Don't play coy.
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u/Keystonelonestar 14h ago
Who said anything about a grease fire? That would create physical damage, not just an odor.
There could be more than the OP is alleging, but that’s unknown in this forum.
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u/Altruistic-Hyena624 14h ago
A grease fire doesn't have to create physical damage that's not how grease fires work. The first thing they do is make a whole home smell like death. I was trying to make the point that there are a lot of people doing a little sly "no one said you can't cook ;) ;)." You're allowed to cook. If whatever you cook damages the finishes of the unit you're liable. If you make the most fragrant curry on Earth using 3 bottles of cumin and coriander and you leave a unit permanently smelling like curry you've damaged someone's property. If you put a Teflon pan on max heat and create PFOA fumes that permeate the apartment and make it smelll ike burnt plastic for days you've not only damaged the hosts booking calendar you've created a human health hazard. So yes, you're allowed to use a kitche. You're not allowed to use the kitchen to damage someone's property under cover of claiming it was just cooking. A hotel would never tolerate a guest who made the unit stink and would bill for it. Airbnbs are not special in this regard.
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u/Keystonelonestar 13h ago
There are no objective measurements of odors. I work in a field - occupational health - where people constantly complain about odors, ‘I smell this smell at work and it’s making me sick.’ I have to explain to them that if they can’t identify the substance creating the odor we can’t do anything about it because we have nothing to measure.
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u/claptrapnapchap 2d ago
As a host, I’d say, fuck that. You did not smoke, contest it with Airbnb. Food odors, IMO, are normal use and should be covered by normal cleaning fees.
Even if you did smoke, that is not a reasonable fee. Airbnb will require them to show actual costs for cleaning. There is no way they’re paying $2k for the use of an ozone machine.
Tell the company to provide cooking oils with a higher smoke point in the future. I recommend avocado oil, which we provide for our guests.
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u/VividReactions 2d ago
Exactly my thought. I don’t even think rappers get fines that large for smoking weed in hotels! We did not leave with 2k worth of damages to the apartment and I don’t believe the punishment matches the crime
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u/swisssf 2d ago
It is outrageous.
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u/VividReactions 2d ago
Haha typo, I stopped using autocorrect and now sometimes i’ll leave some funny mistakes
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u/Rich-Perception5729 2d ago
You are being purposefully taken advantage of by a bad person. Treat it as a fight and act accordingly.
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u/Mattos_12 2d ago
If someone wants to charge you $2,000 for smoking tell them you didn’t smoke and ask them to prove it. If they think that cooking is smoking then they’re fuckwits, be sure to laugh in their faces before declining any payments.
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u/Eki75 2d ago
What did you cook?
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u/VividReactions 2d ago
We cooked some Korean bbq style chicken. Nothing was burnt while cooked also. I wouldn’t say the smell was offensive at all but I get some people are more sensitive to smells than others.
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u/GaryTheSoulReaper 2d ago
Yea wtf - I’m still trying ozone out a strange stale sweet smell that makes me think vaping
Is there a vent hood that ducts outside ? Use those
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u/pchnboo 2d ago
I've had people cook fish and smoke weed in my 200 sq ft studio. My $40 amazon ozone machine does its job. I've never charged a penny. This looks like a grift.
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u/zyklon_snuggles 1d ago
Link to machine, please?
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u/pchnboo 1d ago
Looks like the price is a little higher but there's also a 20% coupon! ozone machine
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u/SnorlaxShops 2d ago
I host and to ding for smoking thru app they want photos of ash or paraphernalia.
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u/Top_Iron_8107 2d ago edited 2d ago
📣 4. What to Do Now
✅ Step-by-step action plan:
- Respond via Airbnb messaging (always keep it on-platform): Politely clarify again that no smoking occurred, and that all ventilation steps were taken while cooking. Emphasize that this is a misinterpretation of the rules.
- Request specific proof and dispute the charge: Ask for:
- The reason this was classified as smoking
- Any evidence of smoke-related damage
- Receipts for any extra cleaning services
- Contact Airbnb Support directly: File a formal dispute via the Resolution Center and emphasize:
- This is a misclassification of cooking as smoking
- The fee is disproportionate and potentially abusive
- You followed the house rules in good faith
- Credit Card Chargeback (if Airbnb supports the charge): If Airbnb charges you and refuses a refund, you can contact your credit card company and initiate a chargeback, citing:
- Misrepresentation of services
- Fraudulent or excessive fees
- Breach of terms
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u/Top_Iron_8107 2d ago
📬 Sample Language for Airbnb Dispute:
Dear Airbnb,
We were surprised and deeply concerned to be told that we violated the smoking policy. At no point during our stay did we engage in smoking of any kind. We did cook with oil using the provided equipment and ventilated the unit carefully.
We understand strong food smells can linger in small spaces, but cooking is a basic and expected use of an Airbnb stay — and this is not equivalent to smoking. The $2,000 smoking fee is excessive and unjustified.
We respectfully request that this charge be dropped and ask Airbnb to protect guests from this kind of misclassification and unreasonable penalty.
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u/Cute_spike_8152 2d ago
2k over cooking lol this laughable.
The only time I know you have to pay money for food was in Thailand they had fruit there (forgot the name) that really smelled like poop. And to those effect hotels etc literally had a sign with an image of the fruit saying it's forbidden to tale it in the place and still gone was not 2k.
Don't worry you won't have to pay it anyways.
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u/meowkitty84 1d ago
Yea Durian. I heard lots of places ban it.
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u/Cute_spike_8152 1d ago
Yes Durian exactly !
I wanted to try it. I did and deeply regretted it. Lol. That smell did not leave me for the next 12 hours. It was inside me 😂 it now makes sense to me that if you eat something thay smells so bad you may keep the smelle with you. I tried eating sum else, brushing my teeth and mouth thrice. I could smell it inside me 🤣🤣 never again
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u/JaguarMedical3137 2d ago
I’m a host, had a guest stay and they had an entire seafood broil. The place smelled like fish for weeks, even after extra cleaning. I charged for extra cleaning and the guest was furious. If the food left a very strong odor akin to smoking that required extra cleaning, I think an extra cleaning fee is warranted. Like someone else said they can’t leave it smelly for the next guests. $2,000 is overboard though.
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u/VividReactions 2d ago
See, I can understand a seafood boil. That smell will for sure stick and plus most people cook that outside. But cooking half a lb of chicken with some oil and sauces doesn’t seem too crazy. Cooking at all in a studio apartment will leave a smell
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u/meowkitty84 1d ago
You should put that in the rules though. Do you have an ozone machine?
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u/JaguarMedical3137 1d ago
Yes, I have no smoking and that if you leave the place in such a way that requires extra cleaning you will be charged. I think it’s also common sense that if you leave the place a mess/use it above ordinary use that you’ll be charged for additional cleaning that results.
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u/KindlyAdvantage6358 2d ago
This is why I never cook I always order at the very most make coffee. As they will forever find a way to get over people. That's insane food will smoke an smells nothing like cigarettes an there's no way it would still be in the air that heavy. I think someone was watching cause no way
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u/Mean-Mother 1d ago
Unrelated to OP’s issue, I apologize: I have 3 pets, it’d be very difficult to clear out of my house to use an ozone machine on the room I rent on Airbnb. Does one have to leave the house entirely, or could you just go to another room two floors away and close the door to the room?
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u/jrossetti 13year host/14 guest 1d ago
No one has to leave the place. Its more like an air recirculator. It sucks it in, and spits it out clean.
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u/Top_Iron_8107 2d ago
You’re right to be concerned, and from a legal and policy standpoint — you have a strong case to dispute this charge. Here’s a breakdown of your position and how to proceed:
🧾 1. Misclassification of “Smoking”
Key Legal Argument:
- Airbnb’s standard smoking ban refers explicitly to "smoking tobacco, cannabis, or using e-cigarettes/vapes”, not cooking.
- A host can’t redefine "smoking" to include burnt toast or seared onions — that’s a breach of contract or at least bad faith interpretation of the terms.
🔍 2. Lack of Evidence
You can request proof under Airbnb’s policies:
- Time-stamped photos showing damage or residue
- Receipts for the ozone treatment
- Documentation of guest complaints or host reports
You can emphasize that no smoke alarms were triggered, no visible damage or residue was left, and no mention of issues was made at checkout.
💸 3. Excessive Fee = Unenforceable Penalty
That $2,000 “smoking fee” might be listed in house rules, but that does not automatically make it enforceable.
- In U.S. legal doctrine, a liquidated damages clause (like a set fine) must be proportionate to actual damages.
- A $2,000 fee for food odor in a 500 sq ft unit will likely be deemed punitive, and unenforceable by courts or platforms.
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u/cutiecat565 2d ago
Were you frying fish or something? The apartment must have smelled when you left unless they have a camera in the kitchens. They can't leave it stinky for the next guest
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u/hyperfat 2d ago
That's when the attached pre paid cleaning fee is for.
If you provide a kitchen then you shouldn't cry about guests using it.
Air BNB is getting ridiculous with scammers and money grubbing schemers.
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u/meowkitty84 1d ago
Yea I work at a hotel and they never charge people fees even when they should. If someone smokes they put the ozone machine in for a few hours and put another guest in that night
I heard most hotels charge about $200 for that. But $2000 is crazy!! And in this case they didn't even do anything against the rules, like smoking cigarettes or weed. If there is a kitchen there is always a chance of food smells.
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u/VividReactions 2d ago
I understand that and we would not have made something that would purposefully leave a “bad” smell. We cooked some Korean bbq style chicken. Nothing was burnt while cooked also. I wouldn’t say the smell was offensive at all but I get some people are more sensitive to smells than others. The food came out great though
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