In response to the passage of California SB 644, AIRBNB’s new policy states: “To improve the booking experience, Airbnb will apply this 24-hour free cancellation period to all reservations for stays in California.”
California SB 644 applies to bookings at hotels and short term rental properties only; the law explicitly exempts stays of 30 days or more (long term rentals). Why is AIRBNB applying this new 24 hour cancellation refund to all reservations booked in California, both short and long term?
We do not support this intentional overreach by AIRBNB and further abuse of Host good faith. The dynamics of long term rentals are ***entirely different*** than those of short term stays; the fall-out and financial peril of a cancellation so very near the arrival date is much greater for the host when a stay is 1-12 months in duration, and potential alternative candidates seeking same/similar durations and timing are unlikely to surface.
After all these years, Airbnb really needs to show that you ‘get it,’ meaning that you understand and support the operations of these properties and the financial parameters within which we work in order to drive revenue. Why does AIRBNB persist in NOT aligning with state laws? Why the overreach? Does AIRBNB know which side its bread is buttered on? Do you want mid to long term stay business?
As owners of both licensed short term rentals and properties that are restricted by local ordinance to rent for 31 nights or longer (San Diego), it is unreasonable that AIRBNB has unnecessarily blanketed all stays with this new, excessively guest friendly policy.