CONCERNED about AIRBNB (new?) Cannot Decline Reservation Requests policy

[Lauren18]

After 11 years with AIRBNB and mostly with superhost status,  and having a charming "enclave" on my property as well as renting rooms in my home,  I am not comfortable with what I assume is a new corporate policy.  I do not do "instant book", and I reserve the right to reject reservation requests.  Obviously, this has nothing to do with racial or gender discrimination, and I applaud AIRBNB that they do not show photos until after the request is accepted.  

BUT:  I AM NOT A MOTEL 6.  I'm a private home and property that mainly accepts long term residents, and I have to live with the people who stay here.  One of the things they appreciate is a friendly and comfortable environment, and many friendships have been made here with guests. 

I have a right to deny a reservation to someone who:   1) does not introduce themselves and seems rude, 2) Feels unpleasant or incompatible with the environment, or 3) feels dangerous in some way.  I also have a right to reject a reservation request if I am waiting for a longer or shorter reservation.   

Recently, because I rejected 3 reservation requests I received a notice from AIRBNB that I would be penalized or de-listed because I decline requests!  I called help, and after much discussion learned from AIRBNB's rep that yes, this was true.  I COULDN'T DECLINE RESERVATION REQUESTS much without being bumped, superhost status and 11 years of hosting.  This really does not feel right to me at all, and completely NEGATES THE FACT THAT MANY OF US, IF NOT MOST, ARE PRIVATE HOMES, not motels.  So much so that I am considering it is time to find other ways to rent my tiny houses and rooms in my house,  because I reserve the right to not have to live with people that I don't feel comfortable about.

[Gordon0]

It is absolutely right you shouldn't feel pressurised into opening up your home to those who you'd feel uncomfortable to host. However, Airbnb is a business, and being turned down by a host (as a guest) is a pretty rubbish experience and reflects poorly on Airbnb, and this you'll understand, @Lauren18.

Examples 1 & 2 are a little subjective, and if you're getting lots of requests from these types, you'll need to beef up your description so they don't come your way in the first place.  3 - naturally this makes sense. But no, you can't biff a would-be guest because you're waiting for a different duration booking.

From a personal perspective, and I host in my own house too, I can count the number of bookings I've declined on one hand, but we're all different. 

Maybe Airbnb isn't for you after all, and that's your choice, but us hosts are little more than a number, and there will be another waiting to fill the void you leave in a jiffy.  

[Lauren18]

I never decline a reservation in a way that hurts someone's feelings - usually I say that I am waiting to hear from a previous guest.    But one can get a good idea of how someone you potentially would be living with for months on end might be by how they introduce themselves.  Or don't bother to introduce themselves, which tells me they think I'm a hotel.    One would not take on a roomate  without getting to know something about them - since my average guest stays 1 to 2 months, and I have had some who stayed for years and became good friends, I don't think it's unreasonable at all to need to know something about them.  I might also add that a woman sharing her home especially needs that.

And no, hosts aren't just a number.  They are uniquely individual, which is often why people want to stay in their homes when they travel.  And households can be communities.  

[Mim317]

I just received the same deactivation threat from ABB for declining three recent reservation requests. One request was for someone to stay in our apartment other than the ABB member who made the request, which was declined per ABB policy. Two were because the guests did not provide all verification and did not have  positive reviews from at least two previous ABB hosts, as spelled out in the listing. Hey, ABB, if you want to de-activate me because I don't feel comfortable with these type requests go ahead.

The guests that we do accept are for the most part trouble free and wonderful people and we feel blessed to have known them for only a short time. But it's my house, my rules. I'm not lowering my standards because of some B.S. ABB threat. 

[Lauren18]

THANK YOU!   If I cannot any longer, after 10 years of being a Superhost,  decide who is going to live in my home with me..... if I can't do that any longer, then it's time to stop.  I have a great deal of appreciation for AIRBNB, but this new rule strays very far from where they began and the premise of home sharing as being about people and community.  It reduces our homes to impersonal motels, and disregards our need for safety in our own homes. 

This summer, because of that notice,  I accepted several reservations I didn't feel right about.  Both were troubled people (one was a raging alcoholic) who caused a great deal of damage to the property,  and made me feel very uncomfortable having to live around them.   Since I have several "casitas" I rent on my property,  it was unpleasant for my other guests as well.  It caused me to block out listings, and try posting locally for long term roomates.  So such a notice, in the long run,  hurts AIRBNB I believe, and I wish there was some way to let them know.