Covid booking requests

[Sarah3410]

My calendar is blocked off due to covid-19 by Airbnb and I have now had this occur 3 times....

people are sending a request to book for later dates then sending me a message to stay tomorrow, next week etc. 
I reply with a no but then have to decline the artificial future booking. 
will my superhost status/statistics be effected as it looks like I’m declining future bookings. 
aargh people are so inconsiderate and sneaky. 
thank you in advance

sarah

[Anonymous]

@Sarah3410  Superhost status is not affected by declines.

If you receive an Inquiry, rather than a request, it's not necessary to decline it, you only have to write a response within 24 hours. It's baffling that people would send a binding Request for wrong dates, considering that they're on the hook for payment of you accept it. 

[Linda108]

@Sarah3410  These sneaky guests are trying to get you to not only bypass Air BNB but also to ignore your area regulations.  Not only do you decline but you should also report the profile.  This type of behavior is not what is desireable in a guest.  If more hosts would report this type of guest, more hosts would be spared the consequences of guests that have no respect.  Meanwhile, your messaging on the system will substantiate your claim.  Not sure how successful you will be with contacting Air BNB staff given all the problems people are reporting about customer service, unfortunately.

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Linda108  @Sarah3410 Airbnb are blocking dates even though there are significant groups of people allowed to book under current UK legislation. I welcome these people to inquire about any date they want if they are legally allowed to stay in our place.

[Helen350]

Hear, Hear, @Mike-And-Jane0 ! I would positively WELCOME this type of inquiry, & host as a private arrangement, in view of the fact that the guest is not able to book through Airbnb! - Providing that the guest would be staying for work, not on a jolly.

Unlike @Linda108, I wouldn't view them as an undesirable guest, at all, just one using their initiative to arrive at a mutually beneficial arrangement. - Please DON'T report them @Sarah3410 !

In the early days of lockdown only essential workers were allowed to book accommodation. Now our government is saying people should go back to work; ie not just the health & social care & public safety/services people. Everybody back to work? Not us in the accommodation business, sadly!

I've hosted a few (legal) ex-airbnbers during lockdown, folk who had my email/phone no. There would have been gaps for more, had someone, previous guest or not, messaged me on  Airbnb... Then I could have told them to continue the conversation on "SpareRoom", were I squeamish about  off platform bookings....

In normal circumstances, I WOULD solicit the booking & payment through Airbnb, - when that's how they found me, but with Airbnb blocking the calendar, needs must  find another way! 

We are allowed to host on multiple platforms so this is not a crime against Airbnb, & should NOT be reported, i.m.o.

[Kate867]

Actually Helen, I have seen numerous posts by you.... and also checked out your property.  ALL  your rooms are in shared property.  What on Earth makes you feel that under current circumstances you can host...?    Seriously??    All Airbnb hosts right now are suffering!  I have a completely isolated cottage (which I do not live in) and yet seriously vet ALL enquiries.... since March I have allowed one set of Key Workers stay for a week, and one family returning from Dubai who needed a place until their own home was vacated..  I have turned away numerous people looking for a break!   My cottage is my income... BUT.. there is no way that I will compromise anybody’s health OR break the law to do so.... I would suggest you have a bit of a re-think... before someone does it for you?

[Helen350]

I'm disappointed by your discouragement @Kate867 !

You begrudge me my only income & a chance to provide a valued service to key workers? And I write this TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS! To show how things can work if you are careful. Not to flout rule breaking, cos I'm not!

- I am hosting within the law!

- The doctor, carer & social worker staying with me CHOOSE to do this! The carer could not afford to travel 300 miles to do low paid work if he had to pay more than the £20 pounds a night I charged. I had NO contact with him post Covid, just left the keys in a pre-arranged place. The doctor doesn't think staying at mine is a problem! The social worker has been staying well over 3 years, I could hardly evict him!

When my nuclear worker who'd been here 5 months stayed into the lockdown, his boss said "Where are you staying?" He replied "with a landlady, I'm upstairs, she's downstairs." "Good! said his boss, If you'd been in a hotel, I'd have had to send you home!

I can assure you Kate that I have no contact with these chaps in my house, & they are only here one at a time. I have observed ALL the social distancing rules rigidly, (unlike my neighbours, & the 20+ locals who were partying on the beach this evening from home,) heck, I only shop for food one week in four! Hosting the way I do is LEGAL & probably more socially distanced than in a hotel. These guys have got to stay somewhere, whilst working far from home!

And I'm proud to be doing my bit for the war effort!