Third party booking for hidden business use of my property

[Elaine768]

I recently had a private individual make a booking, nothing unusual.

Two hours before check-in, I was called by this person wanting keys early, and told me there would be a lot of people coming and going. (?!)  When I questioned further, this booking was for a Crisis Care Company, bringing  a double staff covered 17yr old youth.

The chap was unaware that I have worked in this area of Care for ten years, and understand fully, the reasons potentially behind using a country location, and reasons for double staffing.

My cottage has two bedrooms, one accessed through the other, so could not conform to safeguarding requirements alone, let alone there being no “risk assessment” for the suitability of the property, location etc.

I told the person that this property was not suitable for the intended use, by clearly a third party for business use. I did not cancel his booking, nor did he.  The property remained empty during the period he had booked, and he made no contact with me.

A month on, Airbnb inform me they are refunding him… or clearly I am.

I am livid. 
can they do this?

[Debra300]

@Elaine768,

Yes, they can and did, because you told the guest that you wouldn't host them.  If they had shown up, would you have given them the keys?  When you identified that the reservation wasn't suitable for your property, because it violated Airbnb policies (using the location for a business, having an underaged non-relative as a guest, etc.), and asked them to perform a penalty-free cancellation on your behalf, including the re-opening of your calendar for the booked dates.