Why are Airbnb still taking bookings during lockdown

[Chris13903]

Why are Airbnb still taking bookings during lockdown, has anyone else had such bookings?

[Sarah977]

@Chris13903  Not sure what you mean by "Airbnb taking bookings"- individual hosts take bookings. 

In most places where there are lockdowns, there are some exceptions for hosting essential workers, people relocating and needing housing, etc.

Hosts who are taking bookings from guests outside those designations, like regular tourists, are obviously contravening regulations.

If you are saying you got a booking or booking request, that's your issue to fix. You can snooze your listing, block the calendar, or make sure that guests who want to book are allowed to. Which means turning off Instant Book so you can vet guests.

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Chris13903 A few answers:

1) We are taking bookings for the post lockdown timeframe as holiday makers do like to plan ahead. If lockdown continues these, under English law, will be refunded even if a host has a strict cancellation policy.

2) We are also taking bookings, as allowed under English law, for workers who have to come to our area to work.

3) Finally we are taking bookings , again allowable under English law, for people moving house.

We are lucky that our apartments are classed as entire homes and so there are no shared spaces which allows us to do all the above.