Last minute request for reservation time change

[James10]

Hello,

We have a guest with an urgent family situation and they want to reschedule their stay to later in the year. We have a strict cancellation policy and it is less than one week until their scheduled stay begins. We want to be supportive but are very concerned that if we reschedule their stay now, we will not be able to find another guest for the upcoming time. We would like to charge a cancellation or rescheduling fee of 50% or so. Any suggestions on the best way to do this - either thru or outside the airbnb system? 

Thanks. 

[Dave-and-Deb0]

Hi @James10,

You could have the guests cancel and offer to refund them 50% IF you can get it rented for the times they had booked for.  You could also have them cancel and offer to give them 50% off their future stay OR you could have them cancel and they live by the cancellation policy they agreed to when they booked.  They may also have an extenuating circumstance in which case they may get a full refund.

I would keep it entirely through Airbnb though.

Dave