Your cancellation policy may be overridden in certain situations. In these cases, the guest may be given a full refund in accordance with our Terms of Service. Such cases include the following: The place is inaccessible, unclean, unsafe, or there's an animal that wasn't declared.

Yes, a host on platforms like Airbnb or Vrbo has the authority to voluntarily override their stated cancellation policy to issue a full or partial refund to a guest, even if the policy says "non-refundable." This is typically done as a gesture of "goodwill" for extenuating circumstances like a family emergency or a significant travel disruption. While the platform's automated system will strictly follow the "Firm" or "Flexible" rules you agreed to at booking, the host can go into their "Resolution Center" or "Booking Management" tools and authorize an additional payout. In 2026, with Airbnb’s introduction of "Dynamic Cancellation Policies," the system is more automated, but the human element remains; if you need to cancel outside the window, your best bet is to message the host politely and explain your situation. Keep in mind that hosts are not obligated to do this, and many rely on the cancellation income to protect their business.