Can Airbnb Hosts Cancel? Everything Great Hosts Need to Know

There’s a lot of mystery around the question, “Can Airbnb hosts cancel?”. It can be hard to know your rights as an Airbnb host and whether or not you can cancel on someone.

In this article, we will explain everything you need to know about whether Airbnb hosts can cancel. First, we’ll cover the basics, such as when you can cancel and how much notice you need to give.

Plus, we’ll go over some of the more complicated aspects of an Airbnb host’s cancellation, such as cancellations for extenuating circumstances. So, whether you’re a new host just starting out or wondering about your rights in a tricky situation, read on!

Can Airbnb hosts cancel?

Airbnb understands that cancellations might be inconvenient and ruin guests’ travel itineraries. That’s why they offer to rebook and refund protection to guests. However, in exchange, they do expect Hosts to keep all confirmed reservations.

A Host is responsible for canceling a reservation if they cannot fulfill it owing to an unforeseen event or other conditions beyond their control.

However, If the booking check-in time is within 24 hours, the option to cancel online (for the above reasons) will be disabled by Airbnb, and the Host will need to contact Airbnb directly.

Cancellation is not permitted for any reason that contradicts Airbnb’s Non-Discrimination Policy.

Exceptions

Of course, there are some exceptions to this rule. For example, if you need to cancel because your listing is unavailable (due to renovations, for instance), you can do so with just 24 hours’ notice.

And in some cases, Airbnb may allow you to cancel without giving any notice at all. But in general, if you follow the two rules above, can Airbnb hosts cancel is pretty straightforward.

Extenuating Circumstances

Now let’s talk about cancellations for extenuating circumstances. These are situations where a guest can’t stay at your listing, even if you give them plenty of notice.

Examples of extenuating circumstances include natural disasters, severe weather, and mandatory evacuations. If these things happen, can Airbnb hosts cancel without following the usual rules?

In these cases, Airbnb will usually allow you to cancel without giving any notice at all. And in some cases, they may even waive the 48-hour rule. So if you need to cancel because of an extenuating circumstance, don’t worry about following the usual rules. Instead, just contact Airbnb as soon as possible, and they’ll help you figure out what to do.

Unauthorized Parties

When you invite guests into your home, you naturally want them to respect your property and follow the house rules.

Unfortunately, sometimes guests may try to hold an unauthorized party or event at your listing, which can cause damage and be disruptive to your neighborhood.

In these cases, the Airbnb party and event policy allow hosts to cancel reservations without adverse consequences.

They review evidence such as message threads or previous reviews that mention parties, and if they confirm that the guest intends to hold an unauthorized party or event, they will allow the cancellation.

This policy is in place to protect both hosts and their properties, and all hosts should be aware of it.

Canceling Instant Book Reservations

Airbnb’s Instant Book feature is a great way to save time when booking accommodations.

However, there are some circumstances under which a host may cancel an Instant Book reservation without penalty.

For example, if the guest appears to be in violation of the Host’s house rules or if the listing does not appear to fit the guest’s needs, the Host may cancel the reservation.

Additionally, if the guest has several unfavorable reviews or the guest’s profile lacks important information, the Host may cancel the reservation.

Hosts are allowed to cancel up to three Instant Book reservations without penalty each year. After that point, hosts will need to contact Airbnb in order to cancel a reservation without penalty.

Hosts who cancel a lot of their Instant Book bookings may be forced to deactivate the Instant Book function.

Penalties to Hosts Who Cancel

There are a few different ways Airbnb can impose penalties on hosts who cancel.

Penalty Fees

For example, if a host cancels more than three times in a year, they may be subject to a cancellation fee.

The penalty depends on when you accepted the reservation, how soon before check-in you canceled it, and whether or not you provided notice:

• For hosts that cancel more than seven days before check-in, a $50 penalty can be deducted from your next payout
• For hosts that cancel less than seven days before check-in, $100 can be taken from your next payout

Calendar Blocking

If you cancel a confirmed booking, Airbnb may actually block or restrict those dates on your calendar that you canceled. That means won’t be able to take another booking that overlaps with the one that has been canceled and could have a large potential revenue loss.

Automated Review

Believe it or not, if a host cancels a reservation before check-in, Airbnb can place an automated review on your listing’s profile indicating that you canceled one of your reservations.

You have the option to write a public response to clarify why you had to cancel, and these reviews may not be removed.

But remember, if you cancel on the day of check-in or during the reserved dates, guests will also have the option to leave a public review on your listing’s profile.

Account termination

As mentioned before, be careful of how many times you cancel a reservation. Airbnb might suspend or deactivate your listing if you cancel three or more reservations within a year.

Losing Superhost Status

And finally, since Airbnb requires a cancellation rate of less than 1% to keep Superhost status if your rate goes above that, you may risk your hard-earned Superhost status.

Best Practices for Host Cancellations

Canceling a reservation can be a difficult decision for a host to make. On the one hand, hosts may have valid reasons for doing so and not want to disappoint their guests. On the other hand, cancellations can cause inconvenience and financial hardship for guests, as well as damage the reputation of the community. In order to make the best decision, hosts should weigh all of the factors involved.

In general, it is best to avoid canceling reservations whenever possible. Guests often have non-refundable travel plans that they have made based on their reservation, and a last-minute cancellation can leave them stranded. Additionally, cancellations can reflect poorly on the community as a whole and discourage future guests from booking.

However, there are some circumstances where canceling may be the best option. For example, if there is an emergency situation or unforeseen repair that needs to be made, it may be necessary to cancel in order to ensure the safety of guests. Likewise, if a guest has misrepresented themselves or their party, it may be necessary to cancel in order to protect other members of the community. In these cases, it is important to communicate with guests as soon as possible so that they can make alternative arrangements.

Final Thoughts

Canceling a reservation can be a difficult decision for a host to make. On the one hand, hosts may have valid reasons for doing so and not want to disappoint their guests. On the other hand, cancellations can cause inconvenience and financial hardship for guests, as well as damage the reputation of the community. In order to make the best decision, hosts should weigh all of the factors involved.

In general, it is best to avoid canceling reservations whenever possible. Guests often have non-refundable travel plans that they have made based on their reservation, and a last-minute cancellation can leave them stranded. Additionally, cancellations can reflect poorly on the community as a whole and discourage future guests from booking.

However, there are some circumstances where canceling may be the best option. For example, if there is an emergency situation or unforeseen repair that needs to be made, it may be necessary to cancel in order to ensure the safety of guests. Likewise, if a guest has misrepresented themselves or their party, it may be necessary to cancel in order to protect other members of the community. In these cases, it is important to communicate with guests as soon as possible so that they can make alternative arrangements.

When making the decision to cancel a reservation, hosts should consider all of the potential consequences before taking action. By taking the time to weigh all options, hosts can make the best decision for their guests, their community, and themselves.

Do you have any experience with canceling reservations as an Airbnb host? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

FAQ’s

Q: Can Airbnb hosts cancel if the guest is being disruptive?

A: Yes, you can cancel if the guest is being disruptive. Airbnb’s party and event policy allow hosts to cancel reservations without adverse consequences. They review evidence such as message threads or previous reviews that mention parties, and if they confirm that the guest intends to hold an unauthorized party or event, they will allow the cancellation.

Q: I need to cancel last minute because of an emergency; what can I do?

A: If you have to cancel last minute because of an emergency, don’t worry about following the usual rules. Just contact Airbnb as soon as possible, and they’ll help you figure out what to do. Airbnb will usually allow you to cancel without giving any notice at all in these cases.

Q: Can I cancel if the listing doesn’t fit the guest’s needs?

A: Yes, you can cancel an Instant Book reservation if the listing doesn’t appear to fit the guest’s needs. Just remember that you can only do this up to three times per year without penalty. After that point, you’ll need to contact Airbnb in order to cancel a reservation without penalty.

Q: I accidentally accepted a reservation. Can I cancel?

A: Yes, you can cancel if you accidentally accept a reservation. Just contact Airbnb customer support, and they’ll help you cancel the reservation and refund the guest. They may also give you some tips to avoid making this mistake in the future.

Q: The guest has several unfavorable reviews; can Airbnb hosts cancel?

A: Yes, if the guest has several unfavorable reviews or if their profile lacks important information, you can cancel their Instant Book reservation. Just remember that you can only do this up to three times per year without penalty. After that point, you’ll need to contact Airbnb in order to cancel a reservation without penalty.

Q: I want to cancel because the guest is requesting a change to the dates/number of guests/etc.

A: You shouldn’t cancel because the guest is requesting a change to the dates/number of guests/etc. However, you can edit the dates yourself on the reservation.

Q: The house rules were violated. Can Airbnb hosts cancel?

A: Yes, you can cancel if the guest violates your house rules. Just make sure to document the violation with photos or messages, and then contact Airbnb customer support. They’ll help you cancel the reservation and refund the guest.

Q: Can Airbnb hosts cancel if not comfortable with the guests?

A: It depends on the reason. Did they violate house rules? Make sure to review Airbnb cancellation policy carefully.