Mutual cancellation of AirBNB strict rental

February 12, 2023 4:58 AM

Airbnb (UK) filter. How to cancel a “strict” rental, where cancellation is mutually agreed upon between host & guest, that doesn’t cost host or guests significant $$ or ratings?

We have a booking with an airbnb in May in the UK. It was booked with strict rental rules. If we cancel before the end of April (2 weeks before rental) we’re liable for 50% of the cost.

We want to cancel now and we are sure this won’t hurt the host! We booked it just before a *very* large event was announced in the city - prices *shot* up and every single hotel sold out in a matter of hours. If we cancelled now - 3 months in advance - with the knowledge of the host, they could make a lot more money on the rental. How do we either i) use airbnb or ii) contact airbnb to do this - with what language?

If we just hit cancel, we lose 50% (I don't want to rely on their honesty just sending us the money back thru other channels). If they cancel us unilaterally, we get refunded but I believe this effects their rating as a host which they might not want to do. There must be another way.

posted by lalochezia to Travel & Transportation around England (5 answers total)

I think you're going to have to trust the host to some extent on this one - contact them, tell them you need to cancel, ask them to refund the remaining 50%, and get them to agree to it in writing (ideally in the AirBnB app internal messaging, which would make it easier to complain to AirBnB if they renege).
posted by mskyle at 5:14 AM on February 12, 2023

Get them to do the cancellation. Airbnb loves hosts and they can work it out on the phone with Airbnb and prevent the ratings ding.
posted by nouvelle-personne at 6:14 AM on February 12, 2023

If this is about the coronation, I’m guessing there will be a lot of other people in the same situation and Airbnb will be more than willing to help settle the strict penalties and let their cut of the price-gouging roll in!
posted by staggernation at 6:42 AM on February 12, 2023

Best answer: Contact airbnb support and explain you want to cancel and that the host has agreed to a full refund. Airbnb will contact the host to confirm, and support will cancel and refund with no fees or damage to ratings for either of you. I'm a host myself and this has happened to me more than once. It's easy, airbnb support is actually pretty good with stuff like this.
posted by ananci at 6:45 AM on February 12, 2023 [3 favorites]

Not helpful: hoping you're talking about Eurovision!
posted by socky_puppy at 11:50 PM on February 12, 2023