A tenant in Nacka is evicted from his three-room apartment after illegally renting it out via Airbnb, according to Svea Court of Appeal. The man denies the rental and blames a fake ad created by scammers. The court rejects his explanation based on authentic reviews and other circumstances.
The apartment, a three-room unit in Nacka outside Stockholm, was advertised on Airbnb as a popular spot for short-term rentals. The listing was described as 'cheap' and a 'dream for families with children', with free parking and proximity to beaches, playgrounds, and transport to the city. It received positive reviews and the host was awarded 'superhost' status for high response rates and good guest ratings.
Subletting was not permitted under the lease, however. When the landlord discovered the ad, the tenant was immediately evicted. In the rental tribunal, the man claimed the ad was fake: someone had opened an account in his name, used photos from a home-swapping site, and posted it without his knowledge. He referenced an article in Hem och hyra about scammers bypassing Airbnb's verification process.
The tribunal found his story not entirely implausible and ruled he could stay. Svea Court of Appeal overturned this decision. The court noted that guest reviews appeared authentic and that the man should have noticed if anyone had stayed in the apartment. Moreover, the ad was removed from Airbnb after the eviction notice, which the court described as 'highly incriminating' since a scammer would unlikely know about the eviction.
The man now must vacate the apartment, reports Hem och hyra.