Retired school principal Frank Muehlheausler and his wife Karen save up every year so they can afford to escape St. Louis' freezing temperatures and spend a couple of months in Florida. The Muehlheauslers used VRBO, as they had in years past, to reserve a condo on a Sarasota golf course for January and February. The couple paid a $5,700 deposit for the first month’s rent plus the VRBO fee of $795. Frank and Karen’s excitement over their winter break turned to worry in December after the host, Houzlet, an online property management platform that posted the listing on VRBO, canceled their reservation. The email said the property would not be available due to a family emergency.