Host confirmed amendment but then declined official request

[Alison746]

HELP!!

We booked to go to NYC next month but due to government advice due to COVID-19 thought about amending the dates. 
Before amending we contacted the host and asked his advice and he agreed amending from Nov to Feb instead would be a good

idea because of the current situation. We checked via the amend function on Airbnb and selected a new date in Feb and it gave us an amend price, and also when we looked at making a new booking the dates showed as available. We changed our flights and sent the request through to the host and he declined the change saying those dates were taken! When we check before amending they were available and now suddenly 5 hours later they were not.....and we amended our flights with the airline. 
We contacted the host again upset as he didn’t mention any dates being not available in Feb and it was available to make as new booking. Putting this aside we asked the host what dates are available and gave our availability of a couple different options and the host replied a second time confirming a date which was available. So again we contact our airline and paid to amend the flights a second time based on what the host confirmed. We put the new change request through to him straight away and he declined it again saying he now changed his mind he might not want to renew his lease in January!

can anyone help with some advice?? Had the host said from the beginning no changes allowed we would have left the booking as it is but twice he confirmed via the air BnB chat available dates, the second time specifically.. how is it fair after we pay twice now to amend our flight that he can decline this for no reason? Surely he has some responsibility to accept the change request after confirming the dates are available and he knew we were changing the flights with the airline ....

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Alison746 I would contact Airbnb and say that the host, having agreed to amend the contract (in writing via messages) has now reneged on that contract by 'changing his mind'. As a result you should request a full refund from Airbnb. Make clear to Airbnb that you are only cancelling because the host changed his mind having agreed in writing to amend the dates. Had he not done so then he would have every right to maintain the original booking terms.

The host has been most unprofessional and deserves to lose the booking and give a full refund.

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

@Alison746  just make sure Airbnb sort this out (or you cancel) 7 or more days in advance

STRICT POLICY

If the guest cancels less than 7 days in advance or decides to leave early after check-in, the nights not spent are not refunded.