Can Airbnb host refuse you?

Airbnb hosts may: Except as noted above, Airbnb hosts may decline a booking based on factors that are not prohibited by law. For example, except where prohibited by law, Airbnb hosts may decline a booking with pets, or to guests who smoke.



Yes, an Airbnb host has the right to refuse or decline your reservation request in 2026, provided their reason does not violate Airbnb's Nondiscrimination Policy. Hosts are considered "independent operators" and can decline a guest for several valid reasons: if the guest has no reviews or negative reviews from past hosts, if the guest's communication is unclear or rude, or if the host realizes their home is not a good "fit" for the guest's specific needs (such as accessibility or pet requirements). Additionally, a host can decline a request if the guest is attempting to "book on behalf" of someone else (which is against Airbnb terms) or if the guest's profile isn't fully verified. In 2026, many hosts utilize the "Instant Book" feature which bypasses this process, but even then, a host can cancel a booking if they have a "valid safety concern" or if the guest mentions they plan to hold a party. If a host declines you, your payment is not processed (or is immediately refunded), but the host's "response rate" is affected. It is a "pro-tip" to always send a polite, detailed introductory message to a host before requesting a booking to build trust and increase your chances of acceptance.

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Before we get into exactly how to decline bookings, let's review some of the most common reasons why Airbnb hosts decline bookings: Scheduling conflicts. Sometimes hosts forget to update their calendars. They may have to then decline dates for which their properties should have been marked off as unavailable on Airbnb.

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By hosting on Airbnb, you agree to abide by our terms and policies, including our Terms of Service, which we reserve the right to enforce at our sole discretion. In the event of repeated or severe violations, we may suspend or permanently deactivate a person's account.

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Reasons Why Airbnb Host Listing Gets Suspended or Paused Maintaining low overall ratings. Slow response time. A few accepted reservations or too many cancellations.

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You can submit a complaint via our webform. Once your complaint has been submitted: You'll receive an automated acknowledgement of your email when we receive your complaint. An Airbnb case handler will be assigned to your complaint and will aim to make initial contact with you within 96 hours.

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You can file an arbitration case against Airbnb for wrongly deactivating your account. Our attorneys file arbitration cases against Airbnb and VRBO regularly on deactivation issues.

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The short answer is yes. In case of guest complaints or unfortunate accidents, property owners can indeed get sued. This is why you need to know how to protect yourself from a potential lawsuit and assess if being sued is a real possibility.

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Airbnb has been prioritizing safety over the past few years in hopes of keeping both hosts and users safe. The company announced a global ban on all parties and events at its listing in 2020 after several people were killed at rentals arranged through its platform. Airbnb made the party ban permanent last year.

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To help provide Hosts and guests with peace of mind, security measures like security cameras and noise monitoring devices are allowed, as long as they are clearly disclosed in the listing description and don't infringe on another person's privacy.

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Always follow your gut. A short response thanking him for his interest in your apartment but stating you can't facilitate a check in that date due to personal commitments should sufice. In actuality, you don't have to write any reason or response at all when you click Decline.

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The cities mentioned — which also included San Antonio, Nashville, Denver, New Orleans, Seattle and Orlando — all saw revenues drop at least 34.8% from May 2022 to May 2023, according to Gerli's calculations. The city with the biggest decline was Sevierville, Tennessee, which suffered a drop of 47.6%.

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If guests show up with extra people, you have the right to turn them away. Airbnb does not offer customer service or insurance to people who don't have an official reservation through the platform, and any liability waivers you may offer your guests won't apply. Did this article help?

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Host liability insurance covers you if you're found legally responsible for:
  • Bodily injury to a guest (or others)
  • Damage to or theft of property belonging to a guest (or others)
  • Damage caused by a guest (or others) to common areas, like building lobbies and nearby properties.


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Some of the most vocal grievances center on cleaning fees. In the US, only 15 percent of Airbnb listings don't have cleaning fees, and a NerdWallet analysis found that cleaning fees now make up about a quarter of the total price guests pay.

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Airbnb will review the issue and contact you as a host. They will also do a follow-up investigation and report back to the neighbor. The good news is that Airbnb is unlikely to suspend or take down your listing, but having many complaints won't be good for your vacation rental business.

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Travelers should use Airbnb's resolution center to submit a claim within 60 days of checkout. Through this process, you can request money for incidents related to your Airbnb trip. If you and the host aren't able to come to an agreement within 72 hours, there is an option for Airbnb to mediate the claim.

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Airbnb told TechCrunch that its decision to ban people who are associated with prohibited users extends to any type of safety-related issue, not specifically background check removals.

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If your host lets you know that they can't accommodate your stay anymore, don't cancel for them. Instead, send them a message asking them to cancel. That way, you'll be eligible to receive a full refund.

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Yes you can. Just be ready to show the cops the booking info and to change the locks or keypad codes. I own an Airbnb management company in the SF Bay Area Guesthop.com, we have had to deal with much worse situations. The police are very accommodating when they know someone has no legal right to be on your premises.

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