Does the guest have to read the description before booking?

[Helen23]

This is a problem I seem to have frequently, guest books, I accept, then later get a message from guest saying they would like to cancel because there is no heating. Normally I would just go ahead and cancel, I am perfectly aware that not having heating is an inconvenience, that is why I rent the studio out incredibly cheap during the winter months, what do people expect to get for 15€ a night?

Monday afternoon a guest booked for Wednesday and asked if it was ok to arrive in the morning, 7 nights, great! The studio has been unoccupied for almost a month so as soon as I got the reservation I go out, open the doors, hang blankets, carpets, etc out to air, I spent Tuesday morning cleaning, put clean linen on beds, when I had just about finished and was making sure everything was ready got a message from another airbnb user "my friend booked you cabin for us. it looks really nice. but i think it is better for summer. he booked to soon. can we please cancel this."... Really?

My question  is when guests book do they have to click anywhere saying that they have read the description?

Would you give them a refund just because they didn't like what they booked? I am a bit divided, I do not what unhappy guests, but I also need the money and do not enjoy doing all that work cleaning for free.

[Helen23]

Unfortunatly our electricity here is to unstable and shorts out to requently for electric heaters to work and I don't trust guests with gas ones as last summer I had some guests explode our oven by turning on the gas without the flame!

We are looking at ways to install a wood burner hopefully this winter, but in the meantime it a case of only rent it if you are happy with what is offered.

Since this issue I have now stated refusing any guests who do not send a message saying that they have read the full description. Even with that I have noticed that some people just say it without reading as a feew days ago I had guests who were scared of dogs.

I have also made it a policy to give a full refund any time I am able to rebook.

[Paul154]

Head them off at the pass.

Heating is important to many guests and you know that you have had problems with guests' understanding.

So prevent misunderstanding.

Immediately after booking, Send them a thank you for their booking. Mention that your cabin, while romantic, can get cold in the winter.  Elicit a response to your question "Would that be ok?"

At this point, the guest can cancel and find better digs and you won't be dissappointed with a later cancellation.

This makes you upstanding. If your cabin isn't for them in the winter time, they will remember you for your forthrightness and book at a more appropirate season. Or they'll suggest it to a more hardy adventurer.

I am a comfort loving America and still to this day I fondly remember that  winter in that new skyscraper style hotel built on the Andalucian cliffs on the ocean. It was so poorly constructed the sea wind funneled THROUGH the bedroom. So cold.

But I enjoyed huddling so close under the blankets...

[Linda317]

Hi hosts

I have just had to cancel a booking because the guests did not read our rules but it seems that Airbnb will now penalise me and I might lose my Superhost status and also those dates will be blocked off on our calendar so nobody else can book.  Surely this is not right.  Any advice??

[Michelle354]

Guests have to read the description. It's their responsibility. If they didn't read it then have them cancel it and tell them you're willing to fully refund them once they do it and if they do it immediately. If you have a problem, it's best to call airbnb and tell them so you won't be penalized. If some time has gone by and you think you'll have a problem rebooking the dates, I would hold them to your refund policy.

[Tracy0]

Even when you have IB on and they have to tick the box to agree to what's in the box I still get 'omg it's a room and not a whole flat can I cancel?' and 'oh I didn't realise I couldn't check in until 8, can I cancel?' or 'I missed the part where it says I have to ask first for a checkin on a Saturday'. 

Guests. Don't. Read.   IT IS IN THE FIRST LINE OF RULES IN THAT BOX THEY AGREE TO.

I've used up all 3 no-penalties for Guests. Not. Reading.  These shouldnt' count toward the 3 strikes/out as it's Not. My. Fault. Guests. Don't. Read.

So enfuriating.

[Jeff158]

@Tracy0 never cancel, tell the guest to ring the number on their booking confirmation to cancel, you'll get a message asking if you want to refund in full.

[Julia838]

Is there no electricity? Could you plugin a space heater or two?

[Tia-and-Anthony0]

Boy am I glad I found this thread. Thank you all for sharing your stories. It's helped me feel not so alone in some of our recent issues with guests.