ST. ELMO, Tenn. — Nestled along 47th and St. Elmo Avenue in Chattanooga, you’ll find quaint, historic homes.
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A home once set to be destroyed along this stretch is now a hot spot for travelers.
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“I’ve probably had 3,000 to 4,000 guests,” said homeowner Robert Gustafson.
He bought the historic home in 2011 after a fire ripped through it. He renovated it, floor to roof.
“This was breathing life back into something scheduled for demolition,” said Gustafson.
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But what greeted this host after an Airbnb guest stayed in May is far from charming.
“It was a potpourri of harsh chemicals and marijuana,” said Gustafson.
Gustafson says he was hit with that unusual smell when the guest left. He says stains were painted on the handmade counter tops.
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He found several printers in his recycling bin along with a toothbrush with ink. Then the heat burning near the oven hit him.
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“I thought they were trying to burn the house down,” said Gustafson. “Why else would you have a towel inside the oven turned on to 500 degrees?”
Gustafson is thankful he checked the home minutes after the guest left.
Fast forward a few days, Secret Service arrives, according to agent Doug Dell.
Agents tell NewsChannel 9 they went through the house to look for signs of counterfeit money making.
They didn’t find any fake bills. They are closing the investigation.
Gustafson contacted Airbnb assuming their host guaranty policy would cover the damages. He was disappointed to learn their policy didn’t cover all of the damages, based on their procedure.
He also says the company deducted his $250 profit from this particular visit.
“It was such an insult with how the people disrespected my house but then I felt like with Airbnb, they were twisting the knife in my back the way they were handling it,” said Gustafson.
We reached out to Airbnb to learn if the guest who rented this property during the damages is still able to rent. We also asked why Gustafson was deducted his profit. We also asked the rental company about any claims of counterfeiting in Airbnb rentals. The company has not answered our questions.
