Hi Vanessa, good to hear from you.
The latest batch of cancellations that we have just received for bookings that we are safely able to host and that guests can travel to without restriction is the last straw. There were no extenuating circumstances relating to these bookings and we've had over £4000 worth of revenue stolen from us for no good reason. If guests chose not to travel because they are nervous about Covid 19 I totally understand and would be willing to assist (postponed stay or increased refund perhaps) but why we should foot 100% of the bill for such I cannot comprehend.
The fact is that Airbnb have no interest in or respect for their hosts financial welfare and as a result I will now be taken the legal action previously mentioned. I don't expect to come out of it particularly well but this is a matter of principle now and a small claim via County Court is actually quite a quick and inexpensive process and whatever the outcome will hurt Airbnb far more than me. The case will be as well publicized as I'm able, so that the world gets to hear about Airbnb's conduct towards the very people that helped make it what it is today.
I am a little surprised that more hosts aren't as upset as I am about this but perhaps I'm in a minority in that my holiday rentals represent the majority of my income. I will however be making more posts with a view to galvanizing hosts opinion on the matter, in the hope that Airbnb will take heed (assuming they even read this material) and come up with a sensible compensation scheme for hosts and thus eliminate the need for messy court proceedings. I remain hopeful.
I'll keep you posted, David