That this Airbnb host deserves a terrible review

[Finknottlesnewt]

My sister is travelling to my home town for my other sisters' daughters (our niece) wedding . The date has been long known . 6 months ago she booked a cottage nearby for her husband and three children. Paid a large deposit and the balance taken last week. (By Airbnb - it seems the host doesn't get the money until after the first night).
They are going to make a week of it - so a 6 night booking.
Last night - at 10:30 the host sent a message to say that she would have to cancel the booking as she had hurt her arm and couldn't clean the property between guests.
My sister is distraught. Cannot get anywhere else to stay. (We are in a popular holiday area and it's a BH weekend. ) The prices are also 3x what my sister paid - and she paid over £1k for 6 days ! the amount stated at the time of booking.
Obviously we are not going to let my sister and family miss the wedding so will literally put them up on any floor space we can find between my home and my other sister but we all already have other family staying so will be a very tight squeeze.

No my question. Whilst driving to my sisters to drop off some stuff for the wedding I passed the cottage my sister had booked. Only to see a car parked in the drive with a roof box on top and a man and woman obviously unloading suitcases ...

It is also obvious what has happened. The host got a 'better offer' and dumped my sisters booking in favour of this one. With less than 12 hours notice. . and didn't have a single moral issue with screwing up someone else's long made holiday wedding plans for simple greed.

AIBU to say that my sister should write a review of this 'host' to warn others off.. as well as telling Airbnb what she has done. ?

Oh that's so rude! Absolutely yes leave negative feedback 😠

Your poor sister 😞 I’d be surprised if there’s anything that could be done, but I have no knowledge of this whatsoever so am probably wrong. I think at the very least in your sister’s I’d have to email back saying that you have been advised that there were new renters in the property, and outlining the consequences for the wedding/ planned break. Wouldn’t expect a response though.

• in your sister’s position

People shouldn’t get away with this treatment but I sadly fear they will. The fact she had such a rubbish excuse shows she doesn’t care. I mean who doesn’t rent out a place because they can’t personally clean it. Obviously the cost of cleaners is going to be much much less than the rental payment.

Glad the wedding went well.

@Duchess379

Oh that's so rude! Absolutely yes leave negative feedback 😠

I dont think you can leave negative feedback if you dont actually stay in a place

It's a very short-sighted ploy, but I wonder if a minority of AirBnB hosts actually just treat it as an 'insurance' policy - i.e. you believe that you've made a firm agreement to be honoured by both sides, but they see you as a guaranteed booking for their financial peace of mind, which they can simply cancel and refund with a pathetic excuse if they get a better offer or otherwise change their minds.

I know AirBnB take a dim view of this and sanction them if they keep doing it, but is it possible to just keep signing up again with a new account?

Haven't read all posts but if the host doesn't cancel via air bnb does it register as the stay "took place" and therefore a bumped guest could leave a review?

@WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll

This really does need to go through air BnB. And the newsagents shop!

I completely agree - however, so many people in small/close-knit communities are anti AirBnB and tourists in general (even though this was family visiting a local to attend a local wedding), you might find they unswervingly side with the owner and take the attitude that, if you're going to allow tourists in, you might as well take them for the maximum amount you possibly can.

I dunno, I find that people are often pissed off with the owner. After all, if they didn't let it out, there wouldn't be any antisocial guests.

You can't claim damages based on her profits only based on actual loss but there also needs to be a cause of action causing the loss eg breach of contract, negligence...

She has done a very crappy thing though.

What did your son think OP?

Instead looking at legal options shouldn't the first point be to complain to Airbnb?

I would think that Airbnb would remove them from hosting or at least ban them for awhile.

Local Facebook page? This is the kind of thing ours loves....

OP, whatever your son says, I think your sister needs to tell AirBnB what has happened. She presumably has a copy of the message that the owner sent cancelling the booking. Can she forward that to AirBnB, then tell them what you've told us? Even if your son reckons that your sister has no legal redress, it might at least prevent the owner from doing this to anyone else. If she gets away with it this time, she might be inclined to do it again in future.

OP,
Make sure you get photos of the house occupied with the picture dated.

This type of profiteering is why lots of people now don't use airbnb.

The rotten owners can take a booking, but in scenic spots can cancel last minute if the weather forecast is great, and demands sky rocket.

I wouldn't want to let this go.

Any local paper might be interested in the story.

Name and shame.

I don't suppose you have much of a legal come back but sending a paper to the holiday home asking for a comment from those staying there might take the smile off the owners face.

Also it might just be me but last minute sudden cancellations with airbnb on a bank holiday weekend with lovely weather are a bit suspect IMO.🙄
I think it would be no harm to tell those in there EXACTLY how they were so lucky to get such a house.
Any decent person would be furious to be caught up in such poor business practice.

There is absolutely no way they do not know they will really cause maximum upset/stress to those they are doing this to.

Everyone reading a story like that would instantly identify with your sister, that is why a paper would likely be interested.

Glad the wedding was a success.

@DrCoconut

Haven't read all posts but if the host doesn't cancel via air bnb does it register as the stay "took place" and therefore a bumped guest could leave a review?

This. There will be a message saying that the owner cancelled the booking but you can't leave a review. You should contact Airbnb they may be able to find alternative accommodation. You will be refunded 100% because the host cancelled. Airbnb pay nothing to hosts until 24hours after arrival. The host cannot rebook the period via Airbnb as the calendar will be blocked, but of course a booking can be made via another platform

Of course the first thing is to seek redress from Airbnb. Hadn't the poster's sister already done this? And it's clear that cancelling bookings has ramifications for host. Suing, criminal prosecution, stalking harrassing and photographing the current occupants, 'naming and shaming', damiging the property; it's the usual Mumsnet craving for drama and utter idiocy.

Uuurgh. So frustrating. Looking forward to the outcome from this!

@mrsbitaly

Absolutely awful but just to play devil's advocate are you sure it wasn't her family coming to stay?

Read the thread

Not just 'read the thread', click on 'all posts' to see what the OP has said, where things are up to. That link is there for a reason, not least so you can cut through all the battiness.

OP, has anything further happened with this?