Unsure if being told the truth

[Rachel3136]

Hi,

A host told me they are selling the property so needed to cancel. Fair enough. Then they send a message saying I need to cancel it. When I went to do that, and clicked on the option about the host - it says the host has to cancel.

We had booked somewhere as a place to stay whilst our son is taking part in a big race. He had warned me when people learn about these things they often cancel and up the price.

I'm suspicious and not sure what to do.

Any advice?

[Shelley159]

Hi @Rachel3136 

Regardless of whether they're actually selling or trying to get out of the booking for a better rate, you're not the one who wants to cancel. The host should - they may know this very well and are trying to not have the cancellation reflect on their host profile (multiple cancellations can seriously hurt a host). The fact that the host is concerned about their profile, could mean that they may actually continue hosting the listing and they may well be looking for a higher price. Meanwhile, you would have to pay more for an alternative if you cancelled now (and will you get all your money back under the cancellation policy?). I would refuse if I were you. So sorry that they're putting you in this terrible position!

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Rachel3136 Firstly DO NOT CANCEL. It is entirely the host's responsibility to do so but they would no doubt prefer you to do so otherwise they will be fined by Airbnb. However if you cancel then you may not get all your money back.

Secondly if you can find a similar place at a reasonable price then call Airbnb and ask them to force the host to cancel or agree to cancel your booking

Finally do not take recent Martin Lewis advice to book a replacement and then cancel. Doing this on Airbnb guarantees you will not get the Airbnb fees back.

[Shelley159]

Hi @Rachel3136 

Seeing the reply here just made me think of something else: @Mike-And-Jane0 is excellent at identifying whether a host is a repeat offender by studying their profile. We don't know who this host is (and you can't identify them publicly here), but you could take a look at the text in past reviews and see whether others perhaps complained about the same type of thing.

[Rachel3136]

Thank you for your advice. I will do as you suggest. I am a relative novice at all things Air bnb so hadn't realised all that. I can't work out how to contact Air bnb tho. Can you point me in the right direction please? 

There's a big event on over the weekend I had booked. We are driving from the UK to Sweden to see our son take part in an Ironman event. It had all felt so promising. Booked a while ago. Now trying to look for an alternative knowing most reasonably priced places will probably be booked up :(.

[Helen3]

Your host is being highly unscrupulous. @Rachel3136 

if they have taken bookings they can't honour because they have decided to sell then they need to cancel not you.

it could be they want to cancel so they can accept a higher rate .

what are their previous reviews like?

contact Airbnb and tell them what has happened and you believe the host wants to cancel as there is a big event in the location and they can charge a lot more . 

[Rachel3136]

That's what I was wondering.....tho I hope I'm wrong. I can't work out how to contact Air bnb on the website or the app. Any ideas? Sorry if I am being thick!

[Frances3408]

@Rachel3136  Here is a link to Airbnb article on when hosts cancel plus you can see the contact us button on top right hand corner. 

https://www.airbnb.com.au/help/article/1250

[Rachel3136]

Thanks very much 🙂