Kelowna couple suing Airbnb over eviction, surveillance

A Kelowna couple is claiming they were evicted from a three-month stay in an Airbnb after they found surreptitious cameras recording them inside. Now they’re suing the short-term rental company.

John David Romanchuk, and his wife Melody, were expecting to stay at a Lower Mission condo until August, but they allege it was re-listed at a higher price after they were evicted and Kelowna had loosened the rules for short-term rentals, according to a notice of claim filed in BC Supreme Court.

According to the Romanchuks, Airbnb “weaponized their corporate infrastructure” to enable their eviction, which didn’t proceed through the province’s Residential Tenancy Branch, despite agreeing to a three-month lease.

They allege the landlord installed multiple recording devices throughout the condo, which the couple moved into with their child on May 24. They found the devices on June 6 and “confronted” the landlord.

According to the lawsuit, the landlord contacted Airbnb “to execute a retaliatory eviction,” and the company cancelled their $11,600 deal due to the landlord’s “discomfort.”

The Romanchuks claim the landlord, who isn’t named in the lawsuit, and Airbnb ignored the province’s rental regulations and on June 9, were assisted by RCMP in having them removed under allegations they were trespassing in the condo.

Immediately after they were evicted, the condo was listed on the short-term rental platform for a cost 38 per cent higher than what the Romanchuks were paying, falling just days after Kelowna’s short-term rental rules were loosened, according to the lawsuit.

They managed to find a new place to live, but they were initially homeless for a brief time, according to the lawsuit.

The couple allege he tried and faced several challenges in getting a refund before turning to the court, claiming one customer service agent with Airbnb had attempted to extort them. According to the notice of claim, he has a recorded phone call of the extortion attempt.

The Romanchuks are seeking damages for negligence and breach of contract, along with restitution for $3,914 in a partial lease fee and a $1,641 cancellation fee they were charged.

Airbnb has not responded in court. None of Romanchuk’s allegations have been proven.