Airbnb new cancellation policy...

[Frannyhy]

As a host, I would like to mention that airbnb have changed their cancellation policy. You won’t get money back if the event you are attending is cancelled, your flight is cancelled or the many other reasons that my past guests have come up with to get their money back.

Sometimes airbnb have agreed with the guest and refunded them. Other times it’s been with me. Now it is entirely down to the host’s goodwill, except in a few exceptional circumstances.

When we can book summer holidays again, please think carefully. If there is a another last minute lockdown, you won’t get a refund if travel is banned. Some people who were responsible and obeyed the law at Christmas have lost a lot of money.

To be honest I don’t agree with this, and would refund. Many hosts won’t.

Hello! Thanks for the above information, really helpful.

Would you know what does it mean when a listing says “cancel before xyz date to get a full refund, minus the first 30 days”.

If the booking is for 20 days, then it means zero refund, is that correct?

Thank you

That's very kind of you to point it out.

Don't the rules vary for different properties though, presumablybased on what the host is willing to offer? Or is this the 'blanket' rule? I booked a week's stay for July in early Jan and the cancellation policies were different for different accommodation so I picked one that offers free cancellation up until the day before, and only charges for the first night and the service fee if cancelled on the day of arrival.

We have booked an Atol protected package holiday for much later in the year in order to be protected. Paid the deposit by credit card.

Air bnb's policy is that the host's cancellation policy holds despite new restrictions. So it's the host that is choosing not to refund. They could easily state in their add that they would fully refund if the rules change.

Thanks for raising. I’m certainly not going to be using AirBnB again. Is it even lawful for the host not to cancel themselves (and therefore provide a full refund) if it is illegal for them to rent out the property due to a lockdown???

I'd assume that the contract would be frustrated and therefore unenforceable if another lockdown happened but not in the case of event cancellations, flight cancellations, having to quarantine etc.

Have always been suspicious of Air b&b. No way would I book now. I think its had its day

I've booked holiday accommodation with Airbnb several times. I'd do so again, just not taking the risk at the moment. Most of the places we've stayed have been on other booking platforms as well.

I've got an air bnb booking abroad. We bought tickets in 2019 for an event in 2020 which was cancelled. I booked the air bnb last April when it was rescheduled fully expecting it go go ahead this summer. It now looks likely to be cancelled again. I'm very worried about the money I have paid for the air bnb as it wasn't cheap. I'm really hoping the host will let us change the dates to next year but if she doesn't I will lose £600. I am kicking myself for booking it but it is an area with not a lot of accommodation which gets booked up quickly so I wanted to get in before everything was fully booked in the area. ☹️

I’ve booked with Airbnb for the Uk this year but only properties where I can cancel for full refund right up until departure

I was absolutely done over by an Airbnb host at Christmas. Never again!

I don't understand this - they all seem to have different policies and I've just booked one that offers refunds for cancellations up to the day before travel. Are you saying that may not be the case? Or do you mean that if the host has a more stringent cancellation policy that it will still apply even if a lockdown is ordered? Most of the properties I saw had free cancellation up until a few days before travel and since lockdowns don't tend to be issued overnight I would have thought most people would be safe with those. I didn't consider any of the few properties that couldn't be cancelled after the first few weeks after the booking. Obviously everyone needs to be making sure they have insurance in case they can't go through illness/needing to isolate though.

My hosts cancellation policy was full refund 48 days after booking then 50% up to a week before. I just assumed all the cancellation policies were the same for all bookings. My first time using Air bnb.... Probably my last. Wish I'd booked a hotel instead. £600 is 50% so I'll lose all of that if I can't change the dates. It took me 12 months to save that money. Just hoping she will be reasonable.

@looseddaughter Or do you mean that if the host has a more stringent cancellation policy that it will still apply even if a lockdown is ordered?

Yes, it's this. So whatever the host's cancellation policy, it will apply even if legally we are not allowed to stay due to restrictions. Incredibly annoying.

I think

I've used airbnb quite a lot and found it really useful to get a reasonably priced apartment with kitchen (to be able to make own meals) in otherwise expensive cities.
I had a lot more trouble getting a refund from Booking.com (spectacularly unhelpful, had to contact the hotel myself) than airbnb when the first lockdown occurred so I think you have to be a bit wary whoever you go with :-(

People need to realise that Airbnb is just a booking platform, they don't own or run the properties. This change is because they went against their contracts last year and gave refunds when owners refused. People were booking stuff then using Covid as an excuse if they wanted to cancel.

It is not owners responsibility to insure your holiday. If you book now you know Covid is a risk so take out relevant insurance. Tourist businesses have suffered enough.

Airbnb is so far beyond the initial spare room platform it used to be and really has not adapteded accordingly. Whilst I will check it out when looking for somewhere the prices are usually not competitive and free cancellation is less usual than, for example, booking.com. I also really resent the huge service charges so it has to be a really good deal or an area with few accommodation options to consider it.

I have in the past had airbnb hosts cancel when they have obviously accepted a longer booking and there is no way to leave feedback and warn others. The system of reviewing is also geared to discourage leaving negative reviews as a guest. I feel far better supported by other sites as a traveller. If I am paying hotel prices I want the same standards, facilities, liability insurance, booking and protections and a booking platform. You can get apartments/homestays/private lets on other platforms so not sure why people continue with airbnb.

As long as the policy is not retrospective and is very clear (perhaps a separate tick to say 'are you sure, no refunds if your event or travel is cancelled' (or similar words), then I am Ok with it.

AirBNB have recently lost a few small claims court cases due to the change in cancellation policy. Mostly because they cannot circumvent UK legislation which means a refund must be given in the case of a last minute lockdown.

Would keep that in mind as a host. As AirBNB is likely to recover costs from hosts.

I've got 2 Airbnb bookings for later in the year. Both give full refund til a week before, after that 50%. I think that's fair enough tbh.

Guests, please do talk to Which? if a cancellation occurs because of UK government rules.

Most of the problems is because the guests don’t read the hosts cancellation policy
I’ve booked numerous times and I always read the small print
I often book with free cancellation till 3pm the day before arrival
After that If you cancel you get your money back minus the service & cleaning fee and the day that you cancel you lose
And I need to cancel by 3pm

I never quite understand why people use Air BnB instead of Booking.com for holidays, if there is a choice. I find Booking.com so much better! But maybe I’m weird 😂