Need advice on guest who won't cancel booking

[Fiona179]

I have a guest who booked to stay for a month from mid November to mid December and we agreed on a special offer.  Now he has to amend his dates because his work visa didn't get approved, however that's still up in the air.  He's sent a request to extend the booking from mid-December to mid-January, however, I can fetch double the rental over the holiday period.  I've sent him a request to change the dates, but with a new pricing, and he's just sitting on the request.

So now I have a month of dates blocked out as unavailable, and he's not actioning the cancel request or accept new terms.  

If I cancel his booking outright, then I'll get penalized and look bad for canceling last minute.  But every day he delays responding is another day of no tenancy.  What power do we have as a host in this situation to cancel his booking and unblock those nights?

Apologies if this has been asked before, I did try searching for more info/hosting rules and reguations, and appreciate your help and guidance to this particular case.  Thank you!!!

[Hugh0]

I suggest you withdraw the amendment and get your place back on the market. I assume you have a strict cancellation policy. Encourage your guest to cancel or rebook - the option for an amendment no longer is available 

[Marzena4]

If you have proof in the messages in Airbnb inbox, then get Airbnb invlolded in it, @Fiona179. Use Twitter or the form: https://www.airbnb.com/help/contact_us#/

[David126]

They have booked for a month so the long term booking conditions apply and you get paid assuming they can not persuade ABB to apply extenuating circumstances, obvious a risk with any booking.

Now this is not an extenuating circumstance but you just never know.

Do not change the dates, they can book with the new dates when they have their visa.

Not a booking I would have taken too little protection when using the ABB system