Same as Tomislav,
I had to cancell withing minutes after I accepted the booking. And the booking was done weeks in advance.
There is a bad review + some sort of penalties that reflect on hosts status.
I called Airbnb to clarify, we are talking couple of minutes. Such a glitch can happen!
I actualy recieved a warning that there will be water works in the street....lasting several hours over 2 days. Booking was for a week or over but still. No water, no guests.
But no luck, robotic responce.
Of course, I had an option to copy the anouncement. We did not have one...asked neighbours if they kept theirs, they didn't....and so on. I just did not have time no will to call cauncil or whoever and get started on gathering paperwork so that I would not have "bad rep". This whole thing, for genuine private hosts, I don't know about pros with 10 propertis....it is very, very time consuming.
I never cancell!
Once we had to relocate guests + cancell next as the gas pipe was leaking: National Grid business ....lasted about a month and we were acording to National Grid LUCKY!
So....all sorts of things are happening in London. It is an old city. Part of the charm I suppose.
I believe that in Tomislav's and my case Airbnb responded in usymphatetic, rather militant way.
Far from initial ethos of "oh, we are all sharing here". Also, this was a platform of friendly hospitable amateurs, we are not boutique hotels! Or are we? (acording to a recent BBC documentary about a 1/3 of London properties on Airbnb are advertised by professional multi property owners and agencies.