Leaving early

[Paulina220]

Hello,

i booked this place for a three month stay now I want to leave a month early. It’s nothing wrong with the place I just found a cheaper one and I had a discourse with a flat mate which lead me to that decision.

i wouldn’t ask if it was about one or two nights, not even about a week but I leave a month early. What can I do to get some of the money back? Do I have any rights?

[Susan151]

@Paulina220  Here is the long term cancelation policy:

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/1361/how-do-changes-and-cancellations-work-for-longterm-reservat...

[Ana7]

I had a long term guest who had to leave earlier than foreseen. He just changed reservation - shortened it and left, got all his money from airbnb.

[Anonymous]

@Ana7  This procedure requires the host's approval. 

[Ana7]

@Anonymous Funny, I also thought so, but I was only notified by my guest that she had to do it and I wasn't even asked, neither by her nor by Airbnb....

[Luana130]

You will need to talk to the owner, you will only get the refund if he/she decides to give it. You block their calendar and it is difficult to get last minute bookings because of it. As for shortening the stay, the owner will have to approve that for you to get the refund.

I would stay put if there is nothing wrong with the place so as not to lose your money, but you can try to negotiate with the owner, maybe if they get a new reservation they might be open to refund you, otherwise probably not.

[Sarah977]

@Paulina220  So you think because you found something cheaper and want to cancel the rest of your stay that it's fine to shaft the host with a loss of income after you held the host's calendar hostage for all this time so they likely wouldn't be able to fill those dates now? Chances are you also got a discount for a long-term stay. 

You agreed to the cancellation policy in place when you booked- it's a contract. Reneging on a contract has consequences.

Perhaps the host would agree to refund you if she is able to rebook nights you want to cancel, but expecting or demanding anything beyond that is unreasonable and entitled.

If you buy a non-refundable airline ticket and have to cancel it, do you think the airline is going to ignore the fact that it was non-refundable and give you back your money?

[Katrina79]

@Paulina220 If and when you do cancel your reservation if the host agrees to refund you 100%, you may be shocked to see the host has only collected a percentage of the amount you paid. Airbnb has collected up to 20% of your payment as their fee. You will not be refunded that 20% by Airbnb. If you found a less expensive accommodation is it indeed less than 20% inexpensive? If this property is charging 20% or more less, have you figured out what value you will be losing with your move elsewhere? You may find in the end if you get what you want from your current host, you’ll be sacrificing value and saving nothing in cost.