Why do Airbnb owners keep cancelling on us?

[Foodster]

We're looking to go for a long weekend to Cornwall in July. Our first host cancelled shortly after the booking because "she listed the wrong address for the property". Our second host cancelled because there's "maintenance issues".

However, when I look at the listings, they are still fully booked (also for the dates we wanted to go).

Is it because we have a 10 month old baby?

I'm very up front about it and we only choose family friendly properties.

Do you have a good history with Airbnb? I've seen on mn that some Airbnb owners are cancelling bookings as they now know they can charge a lot more

@wizzywig

We only used Airbnb once before, to Blackpool last year and got a good rating from the host.

Unless you have poor reviews, it's probably that they can book for more.

We're pretty sure ours at Easter got revooked for more money.

Our experience of an air bnb host is that they committed to a 6 month rental to us and then threw their toys out of the pram when we wouldn’t delay our move so they could get a bunch of money for a specific weekend that someone else had booked

In the end given they had signed a legal contract they did have to cancel the air bnb which they had apparently also agreed to but - it leaves a bit of a note in my mind that it can be less professional than other ways of finding somewhere to stay

I doubt it's anything personal, have heard a lot of stories of hosts cancelling on flimsy pretexts when it's obviously in order to charge more, especially as it becomes clear that few people will be able to/want to travel abroad over summer.

If an airbnb host cancels once you have booked then the dates get blocked out so no one else can book it. So it will look like their calendar is booked up those dates when there is actually no one in. Sounds like you've just had bad luck with hosts cancelling twice but it doesn't sound like it's anything personal to you.

Because this year holiday rentals are going for twice what their usually would and greedy hosts are cancelling when they realise this. They can let the spaces several times over unfortunately.

Yep it's more money...I'm in newquay and know people who've done this. Its so wrong

Airbnb hosts get financially penalised for cancelling so its strange to me

Many be

They probably would prefer week long bookings over a long weekend unfortunately, as it is easier to get full occupancy.

£££££

People saying it's to get more money or longer bookings are mistaken, unless the hosts are getting the bookings elsewhere and not via Airbnb. Like a previous poster said, there is a financial penalty when a host cancels. Those dates then get blocked out so that no one else can book in. Airbnb does this to ensure that hosts don't cancel for the reasons others have suggested, such as more money, etc. It reflects badly on their service if hosts cancel so they try to prevent or discourage this from doing this. Only if there are extenuating circumstances (and airbnb asks for evidence of this) can a host cancel without being fined and having the dates blocked out. For example if a property does not accept pets but the guest says in messages that they will be bringing their dog. The host could cancel but would need the messages as evidence for airbnb if they are to avoid the penalties.

I know this as I am renting a place on Airbnb right now just for the extra cash before having a baby (and selling the house after that). I have cancelled on one guest as it came to light that he intended to use the property in a way that I wasn't comfortable with. It was a 2 week booking so by cancelling I lost out on his booking and no one else was allowed to book in but that was better for me than the potential issues that this guy would have caused.

@Honeybeebloom

If an airbnb host cancels once you have booked then the dates get blocked out so no one else can book it. So it will look like their calendar is booked up those dates when there is actually no one in. Sounds like you've just had bad luck with hosts cancelling twice but it doesn't sound like it's anything personal to you.

They will be advertising on several platforms.

@joystir59

Airbnb hosts get financially penalised for cancelling so its strange to me

A small penalty for cancelling can be offset by a big increase renting on another platform

@Honeybeebloom

People saying it's to get more money or longer bookings are mistaken, unless the hosts are getting the bookings elsewhere and not via Airbnb. Like a previous poster said, there is a financial penalty when a host cancels. Those dates then get blocked out so that no one else can book in. Airbnb does this to ensure that hosts don't cancel for the reasons others have suggested, such as more money, etc. It reflects badly on their service if hosts cancel so they try to prevent or discourage this from doing this. Only if there are extenuating circumstances (and airbnb asks for evidence of this) can a host cancel without being fined and having the dates blocked out. For example if a property does not accept pets but the guest says in messages that they will be bringing their dog. The host could cancel but would need the messages as evidence for airbnb if they are to avoid the penalties.

I know this as I am renting a place on Airbnb right now just for the extra cash before having a baby (and selling the house after that). I have cancelled on one guest as it came to light that he intended to use the property in a way that I wasn't comfortable with. It was a 2 week booking so by cancelling I lost out on his booking and no one else was allowed to book in but that was better for me than the potential issues that this guy would have caused.

There are lots of platforms to rent holiday homes.

I've heard so many similar stories. They are cancelling then delisting for more money

Greed, they can cancel and re list for more money.

Sorry. she cancelled because she gave you the wrong address..what an absolute load of bs. .its money. its always money.

Because air B and B is a neighbour life ruining total scam. They can change anything whenever they please.

A small penalty for cancelling can be offset by a big increase renting on another platform

If you cancel more than 3 times in a year then they deactivate your account though? It seems like a pretty weak strategy to use as in the long run the sites will eventually stop allowing you to advertise with them if you keep cancelling bookings.

In theory the dates get blocked if a host cancels but there are ways round it. One we booked cancelled and then put up another listing at a much more expensive rate for what was obviously the same property just tweeked, with another host (obviously a relative/partner).

Also had another list the property at one price but then send a confirmation at a higher price. Reported both of these to Air Bnb, not interested, both still listed.

It's a shame because it undermines the many excellent hosts out there.

@Honeybeebloom

Did you suspect he was planning on shooting porn, or just having a few parties? ;-)

It's because it is a long weekend. It is much better to have week long let's, but the Airbnb site is rubbish for setting limits like only week long let's in summer. As an owner you set it then 3 weeks later find that the system has reset it to accept 1 or 2 night stays. It has happened to me several times but I don't have my account set to accept bookings automatically so I never need to cancel anyone.