Several times I've tried to book a place and when the host doesn't reply to the request after 24 hs, the request get expired right? but the problem is that the place gets locked for that same dates period (same exact dates period) for a long time, i.e. it's been more a week and the place is still blocked for that same dates. So I (in fact nobody) can't send another request. It already happened to me 4 times, with different places.
I don't know if this is a bug or what.. I thought airbnb would release the soft hold 24 hs after the expiry. It's a shame places got blocked that much time when a user doesn't reply to a booking request..