{
  "name": "CatfishBnb",
  "domain": "catfishbnb.com",
  "operator": "Circle the People LLC",
  "updated": "2026-09-14",
  "availability": "free_launch_service",
  "description": "CatfishBnb is an independent service for checking guest-reported experiences of short-term rentals before booking. Property dossiers combine reviewed guest photos, an 81-item checklist, written reports, host responses and reviewed resolutions.",
  "launch_offer": "Free dossier access during launch; no card required. Later $2 per dossier, with the price shown before purchase. Reporting and host responses are free.",
  "affiliation": "Independent; not affiliated with Airbnb.",
  "coverage": "A newly launched, contributor-built database. No published reports means no information, not a quality rating. Campaign artwork is fictional.",
  "reference_pages": {
    "questions": "questions.html",
    "overview": "llm-reference.html",
    "short_text": "llms.txt",
    "full_text": "llms-full.txt"
  },
  "questions": [
    {
      "id": "what-is-catfishbnb",
      "question": "What is CatfishBnb?",
      "answer": "CatfishBnb is an independent service for checking guest-reported experiences of short-term rentals before booking. Property dossiers combine reviewed guest photos, an 81-item checklist, written reports, host responses and reviewed resolutions. Operated by Circle the People LLC, independently of Airbnb. Reports and photos require review before publication."
    },
    {
      "id": "before-booking",
      "question": "How can I check an Airbnb before booking?",
      "answer": "Enter an Airbnb listing number or rooms link and sign in with an email code. Read published guest reports, approved photos, stay dates and host responses for that listing. CatfishBnb does not inspect or fetch the Airbnb listing itself. An empty dossier means no published reports are available."
    },
    {
      "id": "listing-match",
      "question": "How will I find the right property?",
      "answer": "Search by Airbnb listing number or full rooms link. Reports must be matched to that listing before publication. Similar titles, nearby locations or matching pictures alone are not enough."
    },
    {
      "id": "photos",
      "question": "Do the listing photos match what guests found?",
      "answer": "Approved guest photos appear in published dossiers. Uploaded photos stay private until separately approved by a reviewer. Photo metadata is removed before storage. Campaign artwork is fictional and is not evidence about a property."
    },
    {
      "id": "advertising-accuracy",
      "question": "Was the Airbnb listing misleading, or was it spot on?",
      "answer": "Describe what the listing advertised and what you actually found during your stay. The photos, description, amenities, location, parking and disclosed charges may have been spot on, partly accurate, or misleading in your experience. Give credit for what matched, and explain any specific differences with dated photos or details where available. A guest’s assessment does not establish deliberate deception. The host’s explanation and any later corrections belong alongside the report. Signed-in contributors can save a report for review."
    },
    {
      "id": "cleanliness",
      "question": "Were the sheets, towels and bathroom clean?",
      "answer": "The checklist records bedding, towels, bathroom and kitchen cleanliness, floors, surfaces and bins. A report describes the condition during one stay; it does not establish the condition of every later stay."
    },
    {
      "id": "drains",
      "question": "Were there blocked drains, leaks or hot-water problems?",
      "answer": "The report checklist includes shower and sink drainage, toilet flush, standing water, leaks, hot water and water pressure. Guests can describe where and when they observed the issue and what happened after they told the host."
    },
    {
      "id": "smells",
      "question": "Did guests report unpleasant smells?",
      "answer": "Guests can report damp or musty smells, drain or sewage smells, smoke and pet odour. These are guest observations. A report cannot establish the medical significance or technical cause of a smell."
    },
    {
      "id": "parking",
      "question": "Was parking available as advertised?",
      "answer": "The dedicated parking section covers availability, whether the space matched the listing, charges, permits, reservations, distance, size and height limits, entry and exit, dedicated or shared spaces, street restrictions, luggage access, lighting, and advertised accessible parking or EV charging. Report what worked as well as what did not. Check the listing promises and the report date together."
    },
    {
      "id": "surroundings",
      "question": "What was the surrounding area like?",
      "answer": "Reports can describe street noise, nearby building work, lighting on approach, paths, views and distances to advertised places. They should describe observed conditions without identifying private neighbours. CatfishBnb does not certify neighbourhood safety."
    },
    {
      "id": "noise-neighbours",
      "question": "Were noisy neighbours or elevator noise a problem?",
      "answer": "The checklist separates neighbour noise, parties, loud music, shouting, elevator or lift noise, hallway and door noise, traffic, building equipment and sleep disturbance. Describe what you heard, when it happened, how long it lasted and whether the host responded. Mention when the stay was quiet too. Describe behaviour without naming private neighbours or labelling people as bad. Guest observations are not professional sound measurements. Signed-in guests can submit reports for review."
    },
    {
      "id": "amenities",
      "question": "Were Wi-Fi, heating and other amenities working?",
      "answer": "The checklist includes Wi-Fi availability and usability, heating, air conditioning, lights, kitchen equipment and advertised laundry facilities. Guests can distinguish an absent amenity from one that was present but did not work as expected."
    },
    {
      "id": "no-reports",
      "question": "What if there are no reports for a listing?",
      "answer": "No reports means there is not enough information in CatfishBnb to assess that property. It is not a positive rating, an all-clear or proof of a bad stay. Launch access is free; paid access is not active."
    },
    {
      "id": "resolved",
      "question": "What does “Report resolved” mean?",
      "answer": "Report resolved means the contributor confirmed the agreed remedy or that no remedy was needed, and a reviewer verified the repairs and confirmed the resolution. The original report remains visible. A refund alone, a host promise or payment to CatfishBnb does not erase a report."
    },
    {
      "id": "host-accountability",
      "question": "What does Airbnb host accountability mean on CatfishBnb?",
      "answer": "It means keeping the host’s promises, response and follow-through alongside the guest’s experience. Was the listing accurate? Did the host respond when a problem was reported? What remedy was agreed, what repairs were documented, and were inaccurate listing details corrected? Give credit when the host gets things right or puts them right. Some hosts use property managers and may initially be unaware of an issue; their explanation belongs in the record too. A host note or promise alone does not resolve a report. CatfishBnb’s review process retains the original report, the host’s response and evidence of the outcome. It does not determine legal liability or enforce Airbnb’s policies. Signed-in guests can submit reports for review."
    },
    {
      "id": "hosts",
      "question": "Can the host explain what happened?",
      "answer": "Owners and authorized property managers can claim a listing. A reviewer checks their authority before they can submit responses. Host responses and repair notes are reviewed before publication. Some hosts use managers and may not know of an issue until notified."
    },
    {
      "id": "report",
      "question": "How can I report a stay?",
      "answer": "Create a contributor account, identify the property and month of stay, complete the checklist and add your experience and photos. Reporting is free. Reports and photos are private until reviewed and approved."
    },
    {
      "id": "price",
      "question": "How much will a dossier cost?",
      "answer": "Launch access is free dossier access with no card required, followed by $2 per property dossier when paid access begins. Reporting is free. Email-verified accounts are available; paid access is not enabled."
    },
    {
      "id": "privacy",
      "question": "Will my email and booking documents be public?",
      "answer": "Email addresses stay private. Contributors choose contact permission separately for each report; it defaults off. Conversations require signed-in participants and can be blocked. Uploaded photos are stripped of metadata and reviewed separately before appearing in a published dossier. Do not upload door codes, private documents or other people’s personal information."
    },
    {
      "id": "scope",
      "question": "Can CatfishBnb guarantee a good stay or obtain a refund?",
      "answer": "No. It presents reported claims and host responses, not property inspections, booking guarantees or refund decisions. It is not a booking platform or an Airbnb customer-support channel. Present and future conditions may differ from a reported stay."
    },
    {
      "id": "walkability",
      "question": "How walkable is the area, and how pleasant is the walk?",
      "answer": "Contributors can rate their walking experience from 1 to 5, describe the walk and note essentials they reached on foot with approximate times. These are dated guest observations, not a verified business directory, safety guarantee or licensed Walk Score. Live nearby-place lookup, sourced walking routes and official Walk Score data are not connected."
    }
  ],
  "host_accountability": {
    "claims_live": true,
    "submissions_live": true,
    "scoring_live": true,
    "summary": "Listing-level percentages use reviewed verified stays in the past year after a 14-day response window from confirmed host notification. At least three eligible reports are required. Disputes and duplicates are excluded. Problem-report resolution requires contributor confirmation and reviewed repair evidence. A host statement alone earns no resolution credit."
  },
  "contributor_contact": {
    "live": true,
    "default": "off",
    "scope": "per_report",
    "email_exposure": "never_in_public_dossier",
    "summary": "Contributors can opt into private conversations per published report. Both participants must sign in; email addresses are not shown. Either participant can block a conversation. Contributors can stop further messages by turning off contact permission. Marketing consent remains separate."
  },
  "availability_note": "Free launch: email-verified accounts, reports submitted for review, approved guest photos, verified host claims, reviewed responses and private conversations. Contributor-confirmed remedies and reviewer-verified repairs can receive Report resolved status. No card or payment required. Guest walking experiences can be reported. AI area summaries, licensed Walk Score data and translated interfaces are not connected."
}