Airbnb Host Says She Will Cancel My Booking

dealmeister on 13/09/2021 - 09:11

Booked 5 days stay in Lorne (VIC) between 21-25th December using Airbnb. Immediately got our booking confirmed. Payment has been processed.

And just a few hours later, received a message from the host saying that they only accept min 7 day bookings during that period.

Weird part is below:
The proprerty already appears to be booked between 16-20th December.
And also appears booked from 26th December to 2nd of Jan.

So, technically there is no chance for the host to get a 7 days booking if they cancel mine (21-25th December). I guess there is another red flag for them or some dodgy thing going on. So, they are asking me to cancel.

Any opinions?

I have a very positive profile in Airbnb. Several travels during the last 10 years and 100% positive reviews so far.

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Comments

  • Hybroid on 13/09/2021 - 09:15
    +20

    Does it say that in the listing? I wouldn't cancel yourself personally. If they want to, then they should initiate it, not ask you to do so.

    • dealmeister on 13/09/2021 - 09:30
      +2

      Nope. Checked the entire description and policies. Nothing about min 7 days.

      • xuqi on 13/09/2021 - 09:39
        +21

        I wouldn't ever cancel. Let the host/s cancel, so you can leave the appropriate feedback informing others of the host behaviour.

  • mbck on 13/09/2021 - 09:18
    +17

    Maybe they can't be arsed going out to clean on a Christmas day for the next people lol

    • bohn on 13/09/2021 - 09:27

      heh this is most likely the reason

    • dealmeister on 13/09/2021 - 09:32
      +5

      As a host they can easily mark specific dates as unavailable beforehand. So no one can bookit. But agree with you.

    • Jolakot on 13/09/2021 - 14:42
      +1

      Then they should have blocked the time out first, no real excuses, most people do this years in advance

  • Big Lenny on 13/09/2021 - 09:19
    +13

    she probably found a better rental offer from someone else, hence trying to give you the flick

    all these airbnb hosts care about is money

    has happened to me a few times

    • dealmeister on 13/09/2021 - 09:42
      +2

      I can understand that pandemic has smashed the hospitality sector very hard. And with the limited peak season opporttnuties they’re trying to get the max while they can.

      But very unethical.

    • [Deactivated] on 13/09/2021 - 13:03

      what dicks…

  • oscargamer on 13/09/2021 - 09:20
    +16

    Me, I would ignore the request.

    Booking made, accepted and paid for.

    They want you to cancel, they cancel you and you can leave neg feedback.

  • bobbified on 13/09/2021 - 09:21
    +8

    So, technically there is no chance for the host to get a 7 days booking if they cancel mine (21-25th December).

    Feel free to reply to the message and ask them what the heck is going on? Let them cancel it in case there are any cancellation fees or a negative impact on your account status.

  • RockyRaccoon on 13/09/2021 - 09:26
    +4

    Could be simple, some who has booked either side of you wants extra days.

    If you cancel they can give them to those people (probably offering more)

    If you dont they have to cancel you and bear any consequences. If you cancel, they didnt do anything wrong with Airbnb

  • JimmyF on 13/09/2021 - 09:32
    -8

    Any opinions?

    If you are within the 'free' Cancel window, then cancel. The host doesn't want you their etc.Go find something else.

    I'm guessing the main reason is, you are checking out on xmas day!? They won't want to clean/pay crazy xmas day rates to the cleaner.

    • Shadowsfury on 13/09/2021 - 09:43
      +1

      Surely whatever the rates are for that you'd make it back from the fact you'd be earning 5 nights worth of booking

      Or if that really is the problem could have asked OP to cut a day from the trip.

      =========
      I would say don't cancel - let them do it but look elsewhere just in case so you have a plan for when they do something.

      • JimmyF on 13/09/2021 - 10:00

        Surely whatever the rates are for that you'd make it back from the fact you'd be earning 5 nights worth of booking

        I don't disagree, I'm just pointing out a reason why they might not want the booking. Checking out on xmas day is most likely the worse day of the year to get a underpaid cleaner out to clean a house before the next people to check in..

        Or if that really is the problem could have asked OP to cut a day from the trip.

        The OP could offer to drop a day if that works for them.

        I would say don't cancel - let them do it but look elsewhere just in case so you have a plan for when they do something.

        Also up to the OP, I was just saying the host has expressed they don't want them there, and that can end in tears, fake claims for everyone if the OP pushes ahead with the booking.

        Airbnb rules are not like normal hotel/resort rules :)

        • Ponka on 12/11/2021 - 14:00

          If that is the case, then they should be honest rather than make some bogus claim about 7 day bookings. And even then, the host should cancel the booking if they don't want to pay christmas cleaning fees, not OP. That is their problem and should take the bad rep/cancellations fees associated with it.

  • jjjaar on 13/09/2021 - 10:23
    +1

    OP probably wants to use the property for those already “booked” days, which is why they’re not free and shorter, but it does make it confusing as to why they would have a 7 day minimum if you can’t book 7 days.

    Either that or they want the property for the days you’ve just booked and they forgot to update it.

    Just send them a screenshot and tell them you couldn’t physically book their minimum and let them decide what they want to do. But make sure they cancel, not you. Tell them if they want to cancel the booking they can do so on their end and you’ll gladly find somewhere else.

  • raptormesh on 13/09/2021 - 11:26
    +5

    Let the vendor cancel, it's their idea anyway??

  • Jolakot on 13/09/2021 - 14:20
    +8

    The host is 100% being a prick here, they're either doing this to get more money by raising the price for those days or they want to use it themselves and forgot to block the dates out

    So let them cancel you, nothing you can really do about it other than give them a negative review

    But make sure to complain to Airbnb support and ask for credit as compensation to book somewhere else; insist that their platform failed by letting you book below the minimum despite the host clearly having set this up (Don't make it a problem with the host, make it a problem with the platform by using their own words) and how this has been a horrible user experience

    They'll generally compensate you with credit and then chase up the host to chastise them for being dodgy, this sort of crappy behaviour should not be rewarded

  • st1ng on 13/09/2021 - 22:22
    +3

    If the hosts cancels a booking, those dates are blocked from being booked again (with limited exceptions for extenuating circumstances). So they are only going to kick an own goal if they cancel your booking. Whatever you do, do not cancel the booking yourself. Get them to cancel it, and take a financial hit.

  • hijupic on 29/09/2021 - 07:37

    What was the outcome?

    • dealmeister on 08/11/2021 - 09:24

      I was waiting for the host to take an action (either cancellation, or communicating with me). Non happened so far.
      So, given the circumstances (prices are skyrocketing around Lorne and most of the places are already gone), I'v decided to keep quiet :)

      Thanks

      • hijupic on 29/03/2024 - 01:29

        Sorry for necro.

        Did you end up staying there without issue?

  • R1ngSt1nger on 12/11/2021 - 12:27

    The host is asking you to cancel as there's no penalty on them if you do the cancellation. If they cancel on you, then they get charged a USD$50-$100 penalty and get a 'negative' review on their profile saying something like: "The host cancelled this reservation on the guest".

    Something sounds a little dodgy, they probably made a mistake or got a better offer.

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