Cancellations

[Krista11]

Hi Everyone,

I have been hosting for about seven months.  We have a beautiful yurt that has been renting really well; guests love it and we have enjoyed meeting people from around the world.  Sadly, the COUNTY has recently sent us a letter that we have to tear down the yurt.  We have reservations beyond the shutdown date two months hence.  How can we avoid paying the cancellation fees that airbnb wants to charge us? We have provided quite nice revenue for air bnb over the past seven months, so I am hoping there is a way around the 50.00 fee per reservation we will have to cancel.

Heartbroken,

[Alice-and-Jeff0]

You need to contact Airbnb and see if they will work with you on this.  I have my doubts that you will get much statisfaction from them as the conditions are that you are legally able to rent the space you post on Airbnb which, it sounds, like you were not.  Never hurts to try: https://community.airbnb.com/t5/Community-Help/Contact-Airbnb-A-Community-Help-Guide/m-p/16165#M728%...

[David126]

Somebody I know had a big argument with my County about a Yurt, they classified it as a tent?

She eventually won but took a few years.

I would cliam extenuating circumstances but does beg the question if you delete your listing and account assuming we are not talking a lot what they would do.

[Rachael26]

Well you can write to all the future renters asking them to request the cancellation after you explain the situation - but remembering that they will receive their refund less abb fees which isn't fair on them. So probably the most honorable way would be to discuss with abb while informing your future renters to cancel and you will refund their charged fees which may be less than the $50 each. Good Luck!

[Deborah1]

They take it from future bookings but if you have no future bookings, they have no way to deduct the funds.

[Amber1]

I had a similar problem...after the marina we were in gave permission for us to operate Airbnb, I did so for over a year before coming home one day to find an eviction notice on my boat. When I spoke to the manager he said it was because of Airbnb and that they had changed their policy. No mercy really...just we changed our minds, you have till the end of the month to get out. 

I called Airbnb and they actually went ahead and canceled the remaining reservations on my behalf, no penalties, and just asked that I explain the situation to each of the guests who had already booked. In the meantime I still don't have a new marina to live in and it has been a month. 

And in case anyone is wondering, because it's a boat not a home, I have no legal recourse. 

[Amber1]

Also.. out of curiousity what reason did they state as to why you had to tear it down?