Cancelling on Reservations…Is it worth it?

[Jennifer4215]

Hey there! So we have a guest that has already been in our house for 2 months, and has extended through November. He wants to extend through May 2024. However, we have 2 bookings in December (4 nights total), that we would have to cancel. He’s offered to pay the cancellation fees, but is it worth it to have the cancellations listed on our account. We’re new to this all, and just kinda want some opinions! 

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Jennifer4215 Tell him he can go on vacation for four days. Or find him a place to move to locally.

[Helen744]

@Jennifer4215 the long term stay is probably more lucrative to you at this stage and removing all of the current guests belongings,plus doing a super clean up to get back to the freshness desired for STR as well as mind shift, will be a lot of work . So I would just face facts , cancel your groups and realise you are not really doing STR at the moment . The sooner the better for your future guests... H

[Lorna170]

@Jennifer4215   Before you cancel the other guests, what kind of contract do you have with the current guest?  It seems to me that you are opening yourself up to a having a TENANT.  

[Jennifer4215]

I don’t have a current contract with him. He originally booked for a shorter time, and has just asked to extend it a couple of times. Initially he booked it as he was transitioning from one city back to his hometown, so it was just for a shorter time frame. He just asked about staying until May. 

[Fred13]

One would think since the LTR fellow's interest is to stay another 5 months, on such short notice, the least he can do is give it up for a mere 4 days. It is him that should be addressed. Secondly, the 2 STR renters, you never know. Your self-interest in trying to find a solution to accommodate both is a most understandable one.

[Helen3 · Accepted solution]

I would never cancel confirmed booking for a guest who wants to extend @Jennifer4215 

When I was in that situation  I told my guest who wanted to extend that they needed to find somewhere else for the periods I had confirmed bookings which they did).

Not only would this be highly unfair to the guests with confirmed bookings - but you will face fines and it will show on your profile that you cancelled guest booking twice - which could put  future guest off from booking with you.