Airbnb is the popular platform that connect property owners, as your co-host like us, with travellers who are looking for a place to stay. As a property management platform user and manager, hosts manager, we offer various services to help vacationers and hosts manage their properties, including handling locked-in bookings, cancellations, and deposits for cleaning.

Locked-In Bookings:

When a guest makes a booking, the reservation is considered a locked-in booking. This means that the guest has committed to staying at the property for the duration of the booking and the host has committed to accommodating the guest. If a host needs to cancel a locked-in booking, they are subject to the specific platform's cancellation policy, which can vary depending on the circumstances.

In some cases, like Airbnb for example, it may allow a host to cancel a locked-in booking without penalty, such as if there is a serious issue with the property or if the guest is violating Airbnb's terms of service. However, in most cases, hosts are required to honour locked-in bookings and can face penalties, such as loss of Superhost status, business opportunity loss, or fines, if they cancel without a valid reason.

Cancellations:

Guests may also need to cancel their bookings due to unforeseen circumstances, such as a change in travel plans or a family emergency. In these cases, we have a cancellation policy that outlines the penalties for cancelling a booking.

If a guest cancels a booking within 48 hours of making it, they will receive a full refund. If they cancel more than 48 hours after making the booking, they may be subject to a cancellation fee, which varies depending on the booking's time frame and the property's cancellation policy.

Hosts, co-hosts can also cancel a booking on behalf of a guest if there is a serious issue with the property or if the guest is violating our terms of service. In these cases, the guest will receive a full refund and the host, or even us, may face penalties.

Deposits for Cleaning:

We and our hosts, of the brand-managed ones, are required to keep their properties clean and tidy for guests. As part of this, hosts may charge a cleaning fee to cover the cost of cleaning the property after the guest checks out.

When a guest makes a booking, they are required to pay the cleaning fee in addition to the nightly rate. This fee is typically refundable, but the host may deduct a portion of the fee if the guest leaves the property in a dirty or damaged condition.

If the host finds that the property requires additional cleaning beyond what the cleaning fee covers, they may charge the guest an additional cleaning fee. The host can do this by submitting a request for payment to us, which will be reviewed and processed according to our policies.

In conclusion, we address locked-in bookings, cancellations, and deposits for cleaning by enforcing strict policies and penalties to ensure that both hosts and guests are protected. By providing clear guidelines and support, we help guests and hosts manage expectations and hosts manage their properties and provide a positive experience for guests. 

We only use Airbnb as a platform.