Host cancelling due to natural disasters

[Dan17084]

Hoping that you can help.  Our listing is Sunbury Cove Cozy retreat, and we need to cancel due Hurricane Fiona - we are in PEI and have been without power for > 72 hours at this point, with no ETA on restoration.  We have no internet, and are running on a generator.  Our guest was still intent on coming, but we are housing neighbours without power in our airbnb.   Note that almost all of pei has not come back on line with the electric yet.

After detailing how we couldn’t provide them with the experience for their vacation that we would hope, they did agree and requested we cancel.  

I am hoping that you would not be proceeding to apply the host cancellation fee in the face of these circumstance.  Can you please confirm?

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Dan17084 this is a community forum not customer support. If hurricanes are unusual in Canada (they are) and especially if a state of emergency has been declared you should be able to persuade Airbnb to do a neutral cancellation. Having the guest agree to it on the message system should help you.

[Gwen386]

@Dan17084 When you contact airbnb, say its extenuating circumstances—Hurricane Fiona has knocked out power with no ETA of restoration. If you say you are housing neighbors in your ABNB, it may create confusion with the outsourced CS as to why you can’t host ABNB guest then. Just a thought. 

[Helen3]

If a national or local emergency has been declared in your area which means people can't travel to your area you can claim as a host EC. @Dan17084 

I wouldn't mention your hosting your neighbours in your listing as that shows your listing is operational.