A family fled a Booking.com rental property in terror after discovering a man concealed behind a thin plasterboard wall. Therese, her partner, and their two children had rented the home for a night following a family birthday celebration.
The property, listed as not owner-occupied, was nearby the event. Upon arrival, Therese met the landlord, who showed her around. She noticed his clothes in the dryer and asked if he would be there that night. He replied, 'Oh no, no, I won't be here.'
Strange Occurrences
Therese found it odd that the children's bedroom was next to a locked room, but initially dismissed her unease. After the family returned from the party, they found the washing machine running and the key still in the lockbox, suggesting the landlord had been there.
Feeling uneasy, Therese asked her partner to check the rooms. He noticed a partition-like wall in the living room—a thin piece of plasterboard with a nail. When he moved it, it came off, revealing darkness. Therese said, 'I hear "hey, hey", so we obviously died. And I went, "Is there somebody behind that wall?" And he went, "Yes."'
Confrontation and Aftermath
The family immediately left. Therese later confronted the landlord, who claimed not to have met her before. When she asked why he didn't tell them he would be there, he responded, 'Well, my Google reviews don't say that.'
Therese described the experience as horrifying, saying, 'The blood drained from my face. The kids were frozen in one spot.' She said it has put her off booking holiday homes, stating, 'I think I'll probably be hotels from here on in.'
Booking.com confirmed an investigation into the incident. A spokesperson said, 'We take safety and security very seriously. As soon as we were made aware of this incident, we launched an investigation into the property, which is ongoing.' The listing has been suspended while the investigation continues.
