Airbnb removes Virginia family’s listing after neighbor is accused of safety risk

Airbnb has removed a listing for a Virginia short-term rental property after the home was struck by gunfire four times in a span of 10 days.

According to local news outlet WAVY 10, the repeated shootings pointed to serious liability concerns that ultimately led Airbnb to delist the property.

Authorities identified the next-door neighbor, a man in his 70s, as the person responsible for the vandalism.

According to court documents, investigators obtained video footage showing the neighbor firing a gun into Anderson’s house. Court records also state that the man’s family told investigators he has been diagnosed with dementia.

Following the incidents, Airbnb sent a letter to homeowners Maytee Anderson and her husband alerting them that their listing was removed because it “may involve elements that could result in physical harm to a guest,” the outlet reported.

Anderson expressed frustration over the decision but noted that she understands the company’s position.

“I really need to ensure that whether it’s a short-term rental or long-term rental, that anyone who rents from, or anyone who rents the property, is safe,” Anderson said. “I mean, that’s what it comes down to. I can’t in good conscience rent it knowing that I don’t have some assurances that my guests will be safe.”

Airbnb told the Andersons they can appeal the listing’s removal if new information shows the accused neighbor no longer poses a risk to the property.

The host family is losing thousands of dollars and facing significant stress, they said, but remains hopeful about the property’s future.

What repeated shootings mean for STR liability

Related: Airbnb host sued over racial discrimination in Georgia

The decision underscores how quickly a single address can become untouchable on major booking platforms when violence concentrates around it.

For operators and investors, the story is less about one removed listing and more about being aware of the fact that platforms will act unilaterally on safety grounds, and there is no guaranteed appeals process that restores a delisted property on any set timeline.

The intersection of gun violence and STR liability is not hypothetical anymore. Municipalities and platforms are treating repeat-incident properties as active problems, not isolated events.

Owners who rely on a single platform for all their revenue are the most exposed.

Operators using multi-channel property management tools can shift bookings to alternative platforms faster when one channel goes dark, but that only works if the property itself remains leasable.