Guest wants to change reservation below minimum number of nights

[Lina21]

A guest booked two days ago for next week. The day after I accepted her reservation, she changed it to one night.  We have a two-night minimum. 

How should I respond?  This is a private room in our home and I don't want it to be awkward, but I don't want to accept her change.  We have a two-night minimum because I go to great pains to turn over my room after every guest, clean, etc. 

She didn't even bother to message me asking if she could make a change or anything.  If she asked for a favor, I would be inclined to accept it.  It feels like she booked knowing we have a two-night minimum and then making a change in order to get around my rules. 

Any advice? 

[Linda108]

@Lina21  The guest has to initiate the change and when it comes to you, do not agree as it is against your rules.  Then she will have to cancel.  You don't agree to that either or you will be penalized.  You are probably dodging a bullet by this guest cancelling.

[Jann3]

I would never accept this. My husband & I discussed things like this last night - as we're prepping to become Hosts for a studio. Cleaning is the main thing for us. Longer rentals = less daily cleaning. What is your cancellation policy? Strict, moderate, fair? 

So to give my opinion, disallow the change, force HER to cancel. She found your property, booked it then knew she could probably strongarm the change by doing it this way.

Just my $.02

[Lina21]

Thank you.  I just changed my cancellation policy to moderate from strict recently, as it's been kind of slow but I didn't want to decrease rates.  

You're right - I will force her to cancel if she wants to. 

Thanks for your input. 

[Marit-Anne0]

@Lina21

I had a similar situation just before Christmas last year - guests had booked 3 nights (my minimum), then failed to book rail tickets in time, trains were sold out, so they had to shorten their stay with one night. My offer was to cancel or keep the three nights. They chose to stay 2 nights and pay for 3.

[Andrea9]

@Lina21

Wow, I didn't know it was even possible for a change to be made under the given minimum nights.

I'd simply remain very professional and decline her change and send her one for that one night but for the price of two, telling her to please understand that you have the two night minimum for a purpose because of all the work involved with preparation and cleaning.

Or you could be really nice and knock off a ridiculously slight amount, haha.