Long Term Alteration Cancelation Policy

[Wayne330]

How many host are aware the new policy where a guest can make a reservation of 30:days or longer and then alter/ cancel the reservation upon occupancy without your approval or a penalty?  For example, the guest makes a 3 month reservation nine weeks out from the start date.  This will block your calendar for those dates once the reservation is completed.  The guest takes occupancy and the next day decides to leave after 30 days.  Under this scenario the host does not have to approve the change and there is no penalty for the guest leaving early.  Even though he blocked your calendar for 9 weeks and you lost all those opportunities to lease your space while he had it blocked.  Also you made plans as the host based on the guest 3 month commitment and it is over in 1 month.  No penalty, nor approval, this is wrong and unfair to the host.

[Jessica-and-Henry0]

@Wayne330 

The long-term cancellation policy is not *new*. That is how it's always been. 

[Helen3]

Yes that's how the long term policy works, nothing new, been that way for the four years plus that I have been hosting,  that's why I don't think Airbnb is suitable for longer term bookings @Wayne330  

I would say as a general rule of thumb a host should never count on any STR income until it is in your account and hosts should be familiar with the cancellation policies they are accepting bookings under.

[Wayne330]

Thanks for your replies.  I was not aware of this policy and thought it was new because it took two different case managers and almost three weeks to get a response from AirBnB.   With this policy, Airbnb is the wrong platform for to do longer term rentals.  This is sad because most local governments are making any rental less than 30 days more restrictive and difficult to do.

[Helen3]

Do you use Airbnb Help? @Wayne330 

It's good for the basics around how Airbnb works.

https://www.airbnb.co.uk/help/article/1361/how-do-changes-and-cancellations-work-for-longterm-reserv...

No STR platforms are good for doing longer term bookings, particularly in somewhere like the US where tenants have legal rights 28 days +

[Wayne330]

I would disagree, there are several platforms that once the tenant commits to the rental they are obligated for the full term payment or there is penalty for breaking the commitment.   If you go lease a furnished apartment or long term stay facility for 2 months,  you can’t sign the leasE or make the commitment and walk away after 30 days without a penalty.   Otherwise, these industries can’t function or operate efficiently.  Something as simple as buying an airline ticket, if you want to change it, there is usually a substantial penalty.