Airbnb blocked single nights on my calendar

[Gichele0]

For months now I have been unable to accept single night bookings. They don’t seem to be able to figure out the problem. In fact they don’t even offer timing on a solution. I have had over 10 missed opportunities with guests and am feeling like Airbnb should compensate me until they figure out their problem. Has anyone experienced something like this?

[Emiel1]

@Gichele0 

It seems to be possible to book a single night on your  listing, for example 12 july (see screenshot)

But the cleaning fee is higher then the nightly fee and price for 1 or 6 persons is the same.

So what exactly do you mean by "unable to accept single nights bookings" ?

[Gichele0]

The problem is when you actually try to reserve it blocks you and says I’m not accepting bookings 

[Gichele0]

I’m also unsure of that listing price and cleaning fee, neither are what I have listed 

[Christine615]

Yes - you are right. Here's screenshots of me trying to book 1 night and then 2 nights. It let me proceed with a 1 night only to block it and said you had it blocked. But seemed fine when I put in two nights instead.

Any chance your listing settings accidentally changed to 2 night minimums?

If not - another explanation is that Airbnb has been slammed in the news about high cleaning fees. People have complained that the cleaning fees are higher than the nightly fees. I'm not sure - with the size of your space, why you would want to only do single nights? I raised my own rates and went to a two night minimum and have been making more even with a Covid-19 buffer between guests.

If this persists - You are in Chicago and your rates are too low. Lower your cleaning fees and raise your rates to compensate. What I suggest is to set my price for two people then charge extra per night for every person over that.

Have you reached out to customer service?

[Gichele0]

Thanks for this. I have been speaking to CS they have no solution. I have single nights available in my settings. No one has ever complained about the cleaning fee. I do have auto price on.. I will take a look at adjusting 

[Sarah977]

@Gichele0  There have been so many reports lately of awful guests throwing parties, that you actually might be better off not taking one nighters.

Also, although you seem to want 1 night bookings, having such a high cleaning fee compared to the nightly price is what hosts sometimes do to discourage, not encourage 1 night bookings.

[Gichele0]

You do have a point.. it may be for the best

[Michelle53]

@Gichele0  Listings in Chicago have an automatic block on one-night reservations. It's been in place since last year, June, and was made permanent by the new STR ordinance last September.

https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2020/09/09/one-night-rental-crackdown-chicago-parties/

You might also want to familiarize yourself with the new STR registration system via the new portal, which requires an annual fee of $125.

https://webapps1.chicago.gov/chicagohouseshare/

[Gichele0]

Thanks for this.. I had asked Airbnb reps in the ban was still in place and they didn’t seem to know.

[Christine615]

@Gichele0 

Customer service is awful right now. I read an article that Airbnb switched to third party vendors who then use freelancers to answer the calls.

But I agree with the others. One night renters were often the messiest and really hard on my apartment. It's Chicago, you could easily do fine with a two-night minimum and a higher nightly rate.

Pretend to be a "guest" wanting to book in Chicago. Look at the listings in "map view" and determine what other hosts are charging. Be at that rate or just slightly below it. We did that and our bookings went up.