Consumer9/15/2026

Booking to Pay Compensation for Apartment in Building Under Renovation

The plaintiff booked an apartment in Greece through Booking.com for a family vacation, but upon arrival discovered extensive construction work. The court found that the information published on the platform differed materially from the property's actual condition.

Key facts

•Plaintiff's claim: 8,170 shekels
•Compensation: 1,500 shekels
•Costs and court fee: 1,000 shekels
•Booking: July 2025
•The case number is not specified in the source
•The court's name and the date of the decision are not specified

What Happened

The plaintiff booked the apartment for a summer vacation in July 2025. According to him, workers were constantly present on the main terrace for four days, while the family of five, including teenage girls, suffered from noise, loss of privacy, and a sense of insecurity. The plaintiff also reported a malfunctioning elevator, shower, and toilet mechanism, and sought 8,170 shekels.

Booking's Position

Booking argued that it was merely an intermediary and was not a party to the agreement between the customer and the accommodation provider. The company explained that property owners independently upload descriptions and photographs, and that the platform could not be expected to continuously verify millions of listings. It also claimed that the infrastructure defects had not been proven.

What the Court Found

The court relied on the photographs and videos submitted: the building was undergoing extensive renovation, scaffolding and protective netting had been installed outside, and a worker was carrying out noisy work directly on the apartment's terrace. The court found it proven under the civil standard of proof that the accommodation was effectively located on an active construction site, yet this material information was not disclosed on the website. Booking's argument that the matter concerned only defects in the apartment was rejected.

Decision and Payments

The court granted the claim, stating that the website contained material, inaccurate, and outdated information about the condition of the accommodation. The court concluded that had the customer known in advance about the renovation of the apartment and the building, he would not have completed the booking. Booking was ordered to pay 1,500 shekels in compensation and an additional 1,000 shekels for legal costs and the court fee.

What this means for you

An online platform's status as an intermediary does not, by itself, exempt it from liability when a description published on the platform differs materially and demonstrably from reality. For consumers in similar situations, materials recorded during the stay—photographs, videos, and evidence of what information was absent at the time of booking—may have practical significance.

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Case analysis based on court rulings