long term guest cancels midway

[Deborah8]

My guest booked for 4 months but left after the first month . I got paid out for the second month partially but now air b n b say they want it back and have withheld my new guests payment . Can they do this .  I  thought this was their policy >>

If the guest books a reservation and decides to cancel the reservation during their stay, the guest must use the online alteration tool in order to agree to a new checkout date. Regardless of the checkout date chosen, the guest is required to pay the host for the 30 days following the cancellation date, or up to the end date of the guest’s original reservation if the remaining portion of the original reservation is less than 30 days.

Can someone advise me please ? 

[Alice-and-Jeff0]

If the guest is able to prove an Extenuating Circumstance or a failure in the minimun standards, they will be entitled to a refund.  What you're looking at is the basic rule, HOWEVER, there are exceptions to that rule.  What reason did the guest give for leaving after 1 month?  What did Airbnb say about that guest's cancellation?  

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/1320/what-is-airbnb-s-extenuating-circumstances-policy  

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/544/what-is-airbnb-s-guest-refund-policy

https://www.airbnb.com/terms/guest_refund_policy

In essence, yes, Airbnb is entitled to make the decision to refund and since you were already paid, they are entitled to withhold additional payouts until the refund is paid back to them in full.  Read the Terms of Service agreement you have with them.  https://www.airbnb.com/terms

[Deborah8]

thank you @Alice-and-Jeff0

[David126]

There are get outs, could your guest have persuaded ABB there were extenuating circumstances?

[Deborah8]

thanks for the advice @ David