How to unblock my calendar after a cancellation? It's showing grey without being able to modify

[Sussy0]

Hello everyone, I'm new and I need help, today by mutual agreement the rental got cancelled, but my calendar doesn't show available again it's showing is still blocked, is there a waiting period from AIRBNB? How do I get it back to available? Thanks

[Clare0]

@Sussy0 This is a very common new host mistake.  Hosts can't cancel without severe penalties imposed by Airbnb.  You need to read these help articles from the Help section: 

https://www.airbnb.co.uk/help/article/990/how-do-host-cancellation-penalties-work

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/849/extenuating-circumstances-for-host-cancellations

You might want to contact Airbnb to explain the situation and ask if they can waive the penalties.  Hopefully the mutual agreement to void the reservation is on your Airbnb message thread so they can see the discussion. 

A word to the wise, never cancel a reservation unless there are extenuating circumstances and absent that before you discuss the circumstances with Airbnb so they can assist you.  

[Sussy0]

Thanks Claire:

I didn't get any penalties because it was my first time, do I still need to contact AIRbnb to get my calendar unblocked?

Thanks

[Clare0]

@Sussy0, gee, I'm not aware of a "first time" penalty waiver unless Airbnb is waiving your penalties.  If the reservation was cancelled within 7 days of check in the normal penalty is $100 deducted from your next payout. 

But to answer your question, yes, only Airbnb can unblock your calendar.  And, you should ask them to remove the automated cancellation review as well. 

[Robin4]

@Sussy0 @Clare0.....Hi Sussy, you have already received a penalty..... you now have a cancellation statement in your review window which will stay there for one year! and your next penalty will be when you host your next guest. A fine will probably be deducted from your next payment! 

Claire is right....Sussy, you must read the Airbnb rules before you take it on yourself to 'play God' with a booking. You may have had the very best motives for cancelling this booking but the Airbnb automated system won't see it that way!!

Cancelation by a host is a really serious offence as far as Airbnb is concerned because, the consequences for a guest can be considerable in that they may have invested a serious amount of money based around that reservation which they stand to potentially lose

I possibly don't have a lot of sympathy for hosts who don't take the time to understand what they are doing, because it reflects on myself, Claire and on all of us who strive so hard to give guests the best experience possible, but all I can suggest is that you do as Claire suggests and contact Airbnb and throw yourself at their mercy and see if there is some way that they can bypass their time honoured way of dealing with hosts who cancel a guest booking.

Sorry Sussy to sound so calous but this is one of the most common questions on the CC forum and although we all want to see you be that wonderful host that you can no doubt be, hosting on Airbnb, like just about everything else in life, has a set of rules....and you must follow them....cheers....Rob

[Sarah1549]

It sounds like no one read the first question properly.  The original post said it was cancelled by mutual agreement.  I am in a similar situation. I accepted a reservation and then the guest backed out but my calendar is now blocked for the dates requested.  I will not cancel as the advice here says that’s a bad idea, but how long will it take after a guest changes his mind for my rental to appear available? 

Thank you. 

[Letti0]

@Sarah1549  You are going to need to call AirBnB and have them call the guest, so they can cancel and free up your days. Also I would change your cancellation policy to at least Moderate if not Strict.  

DO NOT CANCEL this reservation, DO NOT ACCEPT any message about cancelling, changing or refunding DECLINE it a loophole that comes back to bite you and gives guests back their service fees and/or voids your cancellation policy (changing dates) or the cancellation is now on you, not the guests. DO NOT REFUND anything until actual cash has been given to you by AirBNB. If you refund they will take the money from you and a lot of times guests get refunded from both AirBnB and you if you do this, then you have a fight to get your money back. Tell the guest you do not deal with the booking funds that is all on AirBnB's end. 

AirBnB number:

United States and Canada

+1-415-800-5959 +1-855-424-7262 (toll-free)