Denver Airbnb Townhome Left in Ruins: Highland Property Owner’s Ordeal Highlights Rental Risks

Denver’s Highland Rental: When a Host’s Nightmare Unfolds

In Denver’s Highland neighborhood, short-term rentals are the lifeblood of many property owners. The city’s mix of historic charm and vibrant city living attracts guests from across the country, but not every stay goes smoothly. As Denver heads into the busy summer season of 2025, one host’s experience stands out as a cautionary tale for anyone considering renting their home on Airbnb—or entrusting it to a guest whose intentions aren’t always clear.

A Routine Visit Turns into a Shocking Discovery

For Jerry McIntyre, the manager and owner behind a townhome on North Federal Boulevard, nothing seemed particularly out of place until arriving at his property on August 25, 2022. He and his management team showed up, expecting a straightforward payment discussion with an Airbnb guest. What they found instead was a rental in a state no host ever wants to see.

“There was a significant amount of bodily fluids,” McIntyre recalls, still visibly unsettled by the memory. A specialized cleanup crew had to be brought in after staff were met with blood, urine, and even food waste splattered throughout the unit. Rooms that once felt warm and inviting were in shambles. Carpeting was permanently damaged, sinks were shattered, floors had deep gouges, and broken appliances and wall damage rounded out the devastating scene.

“Surprise and anger,” was how McIntyre described his reaction upon hearing about the incident from Effortless Stay, the professional management company overseeing the property.

Personal Ties Add a Layer of Heartbreak

This particular property carried more than just rental income potential. McIntyre and his wife had lived in the townhouse for years before converting it for short-term rental use. Seeing the destruction added a personal dimension to their loss, turning what should have been a routine property management task into something far more upsetting.

Beyond physical damages, the majority of household items were either ruined or disappeared altogether—leaving only questions in their place about what had really happened inside those walls.

The Search for Accountability

It didn’t take long for suspicion to settle squarely on the guest. The reservation was held by Mikael Hastrup, founder and CEO of PropBidder, a company known for its real estate bidding platform. McIntyre, a lawyer by profession, has since gone to court seeking $36,500 for repairs and $53,466 for missed rental income—serious losses for any property owner in the competitive Denver rental market.

The Guest’s Counter Story

Hastrup, however, offers a completely different version of events. According to him, he wasn’t even in Denver when the damage took place. Instead, he says he had been detained by bounty hunters after missing a court hearing, an incident backed up by California court records showing a warrant issued earlier that year.

Communicating via email, Hastrup insists there’s been a “false narrative” pushed by McIntyre and the management team. He claims ongoing harm to his reputation and accuses the landlord of financial extortion and defamation—bringing the dispute into a swirl of civil claims that extend far beyond standard rental disagreements.

Who Holds the Keys?

McIntyre, for his part, is confident that Hastrup was responsible—and that nobody else could have caused such destruction. “He was the only guest on the reservation and the only one who had access to the property,” McIntyre explained. Records show that Hastrup communicated with property managers earlier during his stay, and there’s no evidence anyone else entered the home.

Hastrup, meanwhile, points to a noise complaint from neighbors as possible evidence that someone else could have accessed the unit after his arrest. When pressed for more details, he was quick to cut off further questions, refusing to name anyone he believes may be responsible.

Legal Battles on Two Fronts

By the fall of 2022, the dispute had shifted from emails to formal legal claims. After his return to Colorado, Hastrup began demanding the retrieval of his belongings left behind at the rental. Instead of cooperation, the two sides grew further apart. McIntyre refused to return the items, still angered by the extensive damage and lack of accountability.

Legal action escalated in October 2024, when Hastrup filed a countersuit not just against McIntyre, but also McIntyre’s wife, the property management firm, and a former executive. Hastrup says valuable items—including computers, clothing, and a cherished string bass—were taken or withheld, and that these belongings totaled more than $20,000.

“Along with financial threats, the bass is also being used to make ongoing extortion threats,” Hastrup claimed, singling out the instrument as holding personal significance—an heirloom from his late father.

If there’s one thing both parties agree on, it’s that this bass, and not any of the other items, has become the primary focus of their standoff. Hastrup expressed that the rest could be kept if the instrument was returned.

The Aftermath for Denver’s Short-Term Rental Owners

This episode isn’t just a clash between two individuals—it’s a reminder for property owners across Denver about what can go wrong in the short-term rental business. Here in Highland and surrounding neighborhoods, more owners are reconsidering furnished units and even the prospect of renting to strangers after years of positive bookings.

The townhome involved in this dispute has since left the Airbnb market altogether. McIntyre and his wife now lease it long-term, stripped of furnishings and hard-won lessons in hand.

Thoughts for Denver Hosts Weighing Risks

Property management is about more than just handling keys and collecting rent. Denver’s short-term rental market moves fast, with high demand and a steady flow of new faces. Incidents like this are rare but have a lasting impact—especially for those who once called the property home.

If you’re considering listing a property in Denver or relying on property managers, it pays to know how cases like these can play out. Local experience, thorough guest screening, and clear agreements are the best protection. But sometimes, even with every safeguard in place, hosts can end up facing challenges they never anticipated.

For hosts and property owners, sharing experiences—good or bad—helps make the community stronger. And as the sun sets over the Highland rooftops, many in Denver are looking at their own rentals just a bit differently.