The Arkansas AG's case against a Hot Springs vacation rental company

What the state alleged

The suit said the company advertised rentals on booking sites including VRBO and Airbnb with amenities the properties did not have, such as hot tubs and lake access.

It also said some guests were encouraged to pay outside the booking sites, which left them without the platforms' payment protections. The AG's office reported eight complaints and sought nearly $19,000 in restitution.

This was a 2019 filing. An earlier version of this page described it as a new case, which was wrong.

What Hot Springs hosts can take from it

• Describe the property exactly as it is. If the hot tub is broken or the lake is a drive away, say so in the listing.
• Keep payments on the platform. Airbnb's terms prohibit hosts from requesting or accepting payment outside Airbnb for a booking made there.
• Show every required fee in the platform's price fields so the guest sees the full cost before booking.
• Keep photos current. Replace shots of furniture, views, or amenities that have changed.
• If you use a management company, ask how it writes listings and handles guest money. Your property's reputation rides on it either way.

Guests who feel misled can file a complaint with the Attorney General's office, which is how this case started.