I was charged for air by Airbnb host who locked away AC unit

A TikToker has claimed they were charged for air when they rented out a home by an Airbnb host.

The social media user @papiwhiterice posted a brief clip on the site just three days ago and it has already picked up more than 174,000 views and hundreds of comments.

The TikTok footage showed an air conditioner thermostat locked behind what appears to be a coin-operated lockbox.

The person who posted the clip added the text “When our Airbnb host charges you for air.”

Although the location of the property is not mentioned, the brand of the lockbox is said to be produced by a company in Madrid, Spain, according to the Daily Dot.

The lockbox is described on the brand’s website as consumption limiter “for saving and controlling the cost of electricity in hotels, hostels, rural houses, and all types of accommodation. They work by time, by coins or tokens.”

From the TikToker’s previous videos it seems he spent a month-long trip in the Iberian country, indicating the Airbnb was in Spain.

Many commentators were equally outraged.

“That’s crazy. My Airbnb in Cuba even had free ac and Wifi,” one said.

“I would’ve left and gone to hotel,” another commentator.

“Instant 1 star review,” added another.

Some though had sympathy for the host, with one writing: “Yeah, it’s called electricity and it’s really expensive. The air is free, cooling it isn’t.”

While one added: “You have no idea how crazy expensive power is here. People are literally going poor because of it.”

An article in The Times in September 2021, claimed the Spanish government faced “a growing crisis after months of rising electricity bills that have led to popular discontent at some of the highest rates in Europe.”

The cost of electricity in Spain had reached “historic peaks” with customers paying an average of $159 per megawatt-hour,” a threefold increase on the previous year.

This story originally appeared on The Sun was reproduced here with permission.