Note, these are hypotheticals, but based on actual events ......
A guest books on September 7 using Instant Book for September 12 - 15, a booking with a value of $1,210. The booking is for 6 adult guests.
My rules include no pets, no events, a max of 9 guests and that all humans - regardless of age - are to be included in guest numbers at the time of booking and that they are to be charged the accommodation fee. I have a Strict cancellation policy.
On September 11 the guest finally responds to my booking message and informs me that they're having a family reunion and will be holding a BBQ dinner on my pool terrace for 16 people. They also mention that the group staying consists of 6 adults, 4 toddlers and a labradoodle. So they've broken 4 house rules - pets, parties, max guest numbers and haven't included all guests on the booking.
I then ring Airbnb to get the booking cancelled because of rule breaches. (I have to do it via phone because it's 24 hours prior and therefore I can't just tick that box to cancel). The booking due to start the next day is cancelled. I am left $1,210 out of pocket, the guest gets off with no penalty.
That's bad enough, but what if these are particularly smart and devious guests....
A slightly different scenario. 3 couples get together on a Saturday night and over a boozy dinner and, realising that they've all got a few days free in the coming week, decide on the spur of the moment to take a mini-break in Sydney. They get on the app and book my place - 6 guests, 3 days starting on Monday at a cost of $1,210. By Sunday afternoon they've sobered up and decided it isn't such a great idea after all. Realising it's too late to get any of their fee refunded, they come up with a cunning plan. They'll get me to cancel the booking.
They send a message mentioning their plans to throw a party. They also inquire about the availability of extra beds for their 18 month old triplets and reassure me that their Irish Wolfhound is super well-behaved. So guess what, I ring Airbnb, the booking is cancelled, I'm $1,210 out of pocket and the guest gets off with no penalty.
Yes, this does seem a pretty extreme and far-fetched scenario, but it's one I recently overheard a group of 30-somethings discussing a few days ago as they tossed around ideas about how to get out of an Airbnb booking without being penalised. Yep, the worst has happened, and guests are getting more savvy and smarter about how to game the ABB cancellation policy.
It also shows how manifestly unfair ABB's application of the cancellation policy is. Guests who book with no intention of abiding by the rules should be made to wear the cancellation penalty or at the very least a substantial portion of it. Any forced cancellation by the host because of a rule breach should be treated exactly the same way as if the guest cancelled, particularly if it happens during their stay.