Booking.com Ordered to Pay Compensation Over Construction Noise in Rental
A court ordered Booking.com to pay 2,500 NIS in damages and legal fees after a family's Greek vacation rental turned out to be an active, noisy construction site.
Booking.com Ordered to Pay Compensation Over Construction Noise in Rented Apartment
Online booking platforms can sometimes turn a dream vacation into a frustrating experience when the rented property fails to match expectations. In a recent legal case, a tourist who booked a summer vacation through Booking.com in July 2025 discovered that his rented apartment in Greece was located inside an active and noisy construction site.
The plaintiff stated that critical information regarding the massive renovations was hidden from him during the reservation process. For four consecutive days, construction workers were constantly present on the apartment's main balcony, severely violating the privacy of his five-member family, which included teenage daughters. The family endured extreme drilling noises, a broken elevator, a non-functional shower, and a faulty toilet mechanism. Consequently, the family filed a lawsuit claiming 8,170 NIS in damages.
"The evidence presented by the plaintiff indicates that the defendant's website displayed material information that was incorrect and outdated regarding the condition of the apartment," the court ruled.
Court Rejects Platform's Intermediary Defense
Booking.com argued that it merely acts as an intermediary and is not a party to the agreement between the guest and the accommodation provider. The company claimed that property owners input their own information and photos, and the platform cannot proactively monitor millions of listings worldwide.
However, the court firmly rejected this defense, emphasizing that there was a massive gap between the luxurious presentation on the website and the dilapidated, noisy reality encountered upon arrival. Video evidence confirmed that scaffolding blocked the windows and workers performed loud renovations directly on the apartment's balcony.
The court ordered Booking.com to pay the plaintiff 1,500 NIS in compensation, alongside an additional 1,000 NIS to cover legal expenses and court fees.
